…in the USA, that is. Now I don’t live in America (instead I’m from London), but back in March, there was a quite buzz at the amount of several Asian Pop artists (three solo artists and one group) that I thought had a good 30% chance of breaking into America as an Asian artist, Sadly, it’s now October and it’s dropped to 5%. Why? I’ll tell you why…
I have to say that, for some reason people never seem to take well to asi ans in music. From what I’ve learnt over the years before and after listening to Asian music, Nationality is the issue. I hate to say it but it’s true. I don’t think Americans are very responsive to any sort of Asian artist/group. I mean, can you name any local Asian-American act that’s actually made it big? So the chances are probably slimmer than my predicted percentage.
I don’t live in America but I can tell you that if I ever saw BoA’s song, I wouldn’t give her a second glance, I would most possibly call her mixed-race which is…stupid. Yeah, and anyways living in London, some British people wouldn’t respond well too, especially how we don’t have enough asians over here too, the other day I showed my sister SHINee and she called them gay (You can imagine how pissed I was), she didn’t even let me explain that there are music differences in other cultures.
Here are some of the artists who, if they had planned their steps correctly, would have made a breakthrough into America.
Name: BoA (보아)
From: Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Stragtegy to breakthrough:
- Worked with Sean Garrett for her self-titled album, BoA.
- Radio interviews
- Performed at MTV Studio in Times Square
Analysis:
In a way, BoA and SM’s tactics were promising. She worked hard in most of America’s states to get her name known and from what I’ve heard, her songs, Eat You Up and I Did It For Love were playing on the radio a certain amount of times which is decent. But still, like many Asian/Asian-Americans breaking through to America, they will be quickly forgotten. You cannot disagree with this point. She has departed back to Japan to promote her newest single but to me, it seems like her plans for America are on halt. What remains is if she will ever promote in Korea again.
What long legs! ^O^
Name: Se7en (세븐)
From: Seoul, South Korea
Stragtegy to breakthrough:
- Worked with Darkchild who created songs best known for Destiny Child, Spice Girls and many more.
- Album Preview party
Analysis: Se7en’s advance to breakthrough seems to be the longest and most prepared, however it also seems to be pretty useless for him to try in the first place. There seems to be a great lack of promotion towards him making a decent debut and I hardly think he was acknowledged much to America. Nevertheless, his single Girls feat. Lil-Kim was enjoyable for me since I have been waiting for a song from him in 2 years since I found out about Se7en and got into K-Pop.
Still, what I am most excited about is that his comeback to Korea has been confirmed and my prediction some time ago last month was correct. ^_^ I cannot wait!
Name: Utada Hikaru (宇多田 ヒカル)
From: Tokyo, Japan [Born: New York, United States]
Stragtegy to breakthrough:
- Radio interviews – specifically on largest popular radio program, Z100
- Appeared on Elvis Dunran’s Morning Show
- Increase in promotional schedule and international album release on May 12th
Analysis: If you refer to my United 4 – The true Queens of J-Pop, you can find out who she is.
A solo artist. Singer-songwriter. Fluent in English. Utada fits the image perfectly to breakthrough since solo artists in America mostly write their music. The sole Japanese artist out of the four, has also released two English albums in the past; Precious (1998) and Exodus (2004). Her advance seems to have made more progress due to the widely popular radio program, Z100, she went onto as well as Elvis Dunran’s Morning Show. However, where is she? Utada is like a butterfly; in sight blooming and then disappearing without us knowing. Sources tell me she is writing songs that are supposed to be released this month but what is going on really that can be confirmed?
Name: Wonder Girls (원더걸스)
From: South Korea
Stragtegy to breakthrough:
Jonas Brother tour – all concert dates
Analysis: By appearing, Wonder Girls are beginning to gain recognition and people are most likely to question their identity and why they are being presented alongside the Jonas Brothers. However, I hope America acknowledges the Wonder Girls because I believe they have a fair chance of success. They seem to be the only artists of the four who are still currently trying to breakthrough for over 7 months. So what’s their next step? Rumours say that they are releasing an American album but aren’t they also trying to advance into the Chinese market? I wonder what JYP has up his sleeves then.
So, what’s your opinion on this?
allkpop posted their own view on Asian Domination and who would breakthrough in America, my guess is…none really. But I have a feeling if they played 2NE1′s Fire anonymously, people would love it.
I don’t think that nationality is the issue (or at least in my part of America, which is probably one of the most ethnically diverse areas).
The main problem is artiste image – boybands in Asia have images that are too feminine (or gay) for Americans to handle. People look at my desktop background (which is currently Japanese boyband NEWS) and say “Ew who are those girly guys?”
It’s stupid, but true.
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I think nationality has a very big part in the music realm however, the music industry, itself, is really hard to get into period.
There’s already lots of talented people in the States that have yet to make it big. A lot of people still remain very big underground but haven’t made it big yet.
Asian pop stars have a harder time because of the culture difference/language however, internationally they still have a lot of fans.
I think this Japanese all girl group has a chance – Foxxi Misq. Their music should catch on
http://japansugoi.com/wordpress/foxxi-misq-is-the-japanese-version-of-destinys-child/
I had a look and I have to disagree. Their style would probably be considered differently, reminds me of Mis-teeq.
im from the states, and i don’t think 2ne1 would succeed there.their so called attitude is so boring. my friends don’t like them at all.
And im sure your sister wouldn’t have called 2pm or mblaq gay. of course she will think SHINee look gay, who doesn’t?
i Love Utada Hikaru!!!
Many Americans Love her Black and White!
ReaLLy If Chris knows this, he will freak out… He’s a bLack American who loves Asian Music… oh well.. he is the one updating me about her.. hahaha…
I think 2NE1 and Bigbang will aLso make it to US Market. 2NE1 is even mentioned in Perez Hilton’s bLog. Check here who is Perez Hilton is ->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perez_Hilton
http://perezhilton.com/2009-07-09-new-2ne1
i Love Asian Music! We Rock! *_*
NyNy, I think this could be an answer…
I hope YG will contact Perez Hilton and ask him to promote them… Perez Hilton is a BIG name in Hollywood..
A nice comment from his page..
“Re: Peridotfella – I think its about time we had some major asian celebrities, if u look at all the good movies that come from asia the americans translate it, but put white characters in replace. I think its disrespectful.
We need more asian role models for asian americans! Oh and don’t make me start on how asian racism is acceptable in society, people need to do something about it!
“
Why do those people have to make it big in America?
I know we all look up to America as the ‘big guy/brother’..
But do they really need to crawl that hard to make themselves a huge hit?
I don’t wanna sound racist but it’s better for Asian music personalities to first focus on the Asian market..
We respect how Americans comment on them as ‘gay’ or ‘cheesy’ or whatever.. We are all free and subjected to our own opinions..
But why leap when you know it’s real danger?
I know there are other strategies..
I only say that this issue on Asian domination in foreign realms is not a problem..
Home will always be where the heart is.
I live in the US and of Asian descent(SE Asian) and personally I don’t think nationality or een ethnicity is the issue. I lived in a SEAsian country for many years prior to moving. My personal take: East Asian style is outdated to US style. East and some parts of Southeast Asia are still into boybands whereas ‘boybands’ here in the US have taken a step further and matured(BSB doesn’t sound like the BSB back in the 90′s) while boybands from Taiwan and Korea are smore similar to the US boybands in the 90′s. The US music market is a lot different from the Asian market. If these guys want to break into America, they should put into American perspective: bring something fresh into the US. Just look at the Latinos who successfully crossed over: they appealed to the non-Hispanic population because they sound fresh unlike Asian talents who try to breakthrough the US who are using a faded formula.
This might not be exactly related but here’s my proof that nationality/ethnicity does not matter: Manny Pacquiao, the Philippines’ most celebrated boxer in years is actually popular among non-Filipinos(even though he’s not that good in English — actually his is heavily accented), mostly Whites, Blacks, and even MEXICANS(the ethnicity/nationality which Pacman used to defeat before moving on to fights). Americans in general can appreciate people from other parts of the world. You jsut have to prove youself.
I can even name a few Asian Americans who are looked up in the entertainment industry in the US. Asians in Asia don’t hear much about them since in the East, it’s just the top-of-the-mainstream they hear about. Blame it on the Asian media.
In addition to that, I hope fellow Asians won’t get mad at me for saying this. I think another problem for a big failure is overexaggeration. Think of Charice Pempangco. the Filipino media would say she is that ‘big’ in the US, having guested at Oprah, Ellen and having duet with Celine. But, the truth is, she even hardly gets an airplay here. Statements done by the media can be not only MISLEADING but also destructive. Even in Filipino stores, they don’t sell her CDs although they have CDS of local talents(in the Philippines) like Regine, Sponge Cola, Christian Bautista, etc.
i totally approve to that since i am a filipina myself..
i am not insulting anyone even my nationality or charice herself..
but i do believe many Filipinos made a big deal out of it..
it’s the one problem of the media anyways..
sometimes they’re making things blow out of their proportions..
I was really, really hopeful for Utada’s “debut”. I honestly thought she was going to make it this time. And for a while it seemed like she was, what with all the radio promotion and interviews. (I was lucky enough to hear her on the Elvis Duran morning show.) I personally don’t think it has much to do with her actually being Asian – rather, it became problematic when she ceased all promotion of her album back in, what, April? If she had kept up with her promotional schedule I truly believe she could have gotten the recognition she was aiming for.
Wait! She ceased it back in April?
Then what the hell is she doing now? She’d better be making a new Japanese album.
Well, it’s my understanding that she stopped promoting because she was ill. Which I guess isn’t *that bad* if you think about it.
She is working on some new Japanese material though. Plus, and I’m not sure if this is confirmed or not, but I believe she’s putting out another single from This Is The One in 2010. So hopefully she’ll start back up where she left off.
I know…this is annoying….:P What we need is like an Asian Beyonce….Let’s bring Lee Hyori!!! ^^ (Or Son Dam Bi…) Once people pay attention to her, it should lead to some others.
I think WG made a good move with the JB tour. However, now all the 7 year olds think they’re WG fans. Can they sing “Tell Me” in Korean (from memory)???? I don’t think so.
BoA’s real problem is that SM Entertainment has such horrible promotions (too preoccupied w/ f(x), SNSD, SuJu, DBSK, SHINee). That’s why she’s got more success in Japan-Avex Trax actually promotes. That being said, Avex should handle her American promotions.
Hey, i live in london too. em fingy, yea dude exactly its true innit, i swear general british doesnt respond to asian music at all or whateva links to them.
I heard that hwangbo was in lndon few months ago to do promotion here, her new album somefin like that, but em its not working haha. feel sorry fr her innit em.
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Everybody’s opinion is different, but I think another reason is that stars from another country can not always make it in another country. Not many American artists make it in Asia, and it’s sort of vice versa too.
Even though Korean and Japanese artists can not breakthrough into American mainstream, the indie-rock genre actually have a good handful of Asian artists. My favorite music includes K-pop and indie-rock, so I know there are many Asian-American singers that can “make-it” in the US.
For example indie-folk band, Thao with the Get Down Stay Down. The singer, Thao Nguyen, is a Vietnamese-America song-writer.
There is also indie-rock band, The Smith Westerns from Chicago, with two Japanese members, Cullen and Cameron Omori.
The American rock band, Blonde Redhead, whose vocalist is Kazu Makino. I have read they perform in Japanese, French, and Italian besides English.
My favorite band, Little Dragon has a half-Japanese singer, Yukimi Nagano. Little Dragon is Sweden-based, but has a big American fanbase.
The American rock-band, Hoobastank has singer Doug Robb, who is half-Japanese. Hoobastank is pretty much an American mainstream band.
The idea that Asians can not “breakthrough” into the American music industry is wrong. It’s a misconception, but just because Asian-singers are not in the American pop genre, it doesn’t mean indie-rock band members doesn’t count. I suppose in general, it all depends on a person’s favorite music genre too know.
In the end, I love indie-rock and I enjoy K-pop also. But I’m a bit upset that “Nationality is the issue” in the pop genre, but in the indie-rock genre Asian singers have make it pretty big and their ethnicity have not been a problem.