It’s a K-pop Thing

So, we did a thing! And that was be part of a panel at San Diego Comic Con 2026 — our first ever time at the convention! Moderated by Lizzy Gonzalez (Lizzy Cupcake), we joined Alexandrea Callaghan (Temple of Geek), Josh Blumenkranz (The Movie Buddy), Meosha Bean, and Maddy Myer (Maddy Mania) on a panel titled, "Building a Pop Culture Podcast."

This experience inspired us to record a bonus episode about our experience at the event, from the actual chat to walking the convention floor, plus a lot more.

Some of the other topics we discussed on this episode include:

• The ENHYPEN activation at SDCC
• Our podcast’s origin story
• How and why we pick the topics we talk about
• A lot of untold stories involving the group BTS

Plus, hear how we met at a panel at KCON, bringing this entire experience full circle for us.

REVISIT SOME OF OUR FAVORITE OLDER EPISODES:

• Kpop Demon Hunters: "Just Give Kpop Demon Hunters the Grammy and Oscar Already"
• Beast Idols in K-pop: "Play This! SB19's "GENTO" and Other Beast-Idol Tracks We Love"
• Traveling for K-pop: "Destination K-pop Concerts: NCT 127 in Tokyo and TWICE in Las Vegas"

Be sure to also check out our fellow panelists' work:

• Maddy Myer - Maddy Mania
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maddymaniapodcast/
• Alexandrea Callaghan - Fangirl Productions 13
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Forestofgeek
• Josh Blumenkranz - The Movie Buddy
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themoviebuddyjb/
• Lizzy Gonzalez - Lizzy_Cupcake
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizzy_cupcake
• Meosha Bean - Meosha Bean Official
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meoshabeanofficial

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

(Crosspost from Kpopcast)

Dive into this episode with special guest Theresa from It's a Kpop Thing Podcast where we unpack the latest comeback BAD from ATEEZ, including discussion about whether the use of Latin culture and Spanish language are more cultural appropriation or celebration. In addition, we explore their narrative universe, cultural influences, and fan engagement.

In this episode:

• Analyzing ATEEZ ongoing Golden Hour series and its narrative lore involving Sopro, and the mystical story arc.
• Highlighting Chase Infiniti’s influential role as a black woman lead in the music video and its significance for representation.
• Dissecting the musical genres fused in "Bad" — Brazilian funk, reggaeton, and trap — and their relevance to current K-pop trends.
• Exploring the cultural ties between Korea, Mexico, and Latin America amid the World Cup craze.
• Fan reactions and critiques on the song's structure, choreography, and the thematic content around Latin identity.
• The importance of inclusivity in K-pop, especially in the context of global and diaspora communities.
• Personal stories from fans and influencers about the fandom experience, cultural expression, and representation.

Connect with our guests:

• Teresa Avila - Instagram | Podcast: IKPT

Join the Kpopcast Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/kpopcast/shared_invite/zt-93kzxcv6-YNej2QkyY6vaPnhEQJxk0A

Chip in for show costs: https://ko-fi.com/thekpopcast

HIT REPLAYS:

• 아이오아이 (I.O.I) - 갑자기 (Suddenly) MV https://youtu.be/Jxgbfc89hNI?si=4uTd1eimHnfpVtMk
• UDTT 우당탕탕 소녀단 'VIPER' MV
• https://youtu.be/6WvnYSV13w0?is=6N104FHWlDTYYqmu
• from20(프롬트웬티) - BIG BOY MV https://youtu.be/AMgcKwHUCtk?si=Z1-bZxy_xLCnGCSp

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

This was a big year for fans of K-pop at Coachella, especially because we had a younger group and two Second-Gen icons perform at the festival. First up we had KATSEYE, who made headlines following the will-she-or-won't-she-appear speculation regarding Manon. Then we had TAEMIN, who made headlines as the first K-pop soloist to play at the festival. Following that, we had the one and only BIGBANG, who finally got their time to shine in the desert after their previous performance was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

As Coachella has grown, so, too, has K-pop. And, in a world where concerts are getting more expensive and other music festivals like Lollapalooza are gaining ground ... where does K-pop fit in?

Is landing a spot at the biggest music festival a smart brand investment or is it merely a vanity performance? Let's discuss.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• A brief overview of the history of K-pop at Coachella
• The K-pop "multiverse" at the festival (according to us)
• The presence (erm, lack of?) Manon at the festival
• Our takeaways from the key K-pop performances at Week 1 & 2
• KATSEYE: Pinky Up — Is this the group's signature sound now?
• TAEMIN: The MJ references and his perfectionism on full display
• BIGBANG: Why the second weekend was the better show for older fans
• Our Big Q: What is K-pop's place at Coachella and is it worth it for artists?
• The reality of how industry connections determine the artist lineup
• The K-pop groups we think will debut at Coachella next year

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

*This is Part 1 of a mini-series on the Return of BTS*

We're trying something new on the pod ... a mini-series! It's been nearly 4 years since the 7 members of BTS released new music as a group and there's plenty to talk about. To mark the occasion we're taking a close look at what this moment means for BTS and for the industry as a whole.

To kick off this mini-series, we're rewinding a few weeks to the group's first performance in Seoul in front of Gwanghwamun in Seoul, South Korea. We chat with a journalist and fan who saw the comeback concert in person and was lucky enough to be up close to center stage. We also discuss the album's rise to the top of the charts and whether or not the Netflix livestream lived up to fans' expectations.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Setting the Stage

• ARIRANG's dominance on the Billboard charts
• The album in numbers: the sales, streams and milestones
• Crowd attendance: How many people actually showed up for the comeback?
• About the director of the Netflix Livestream: Hamish Hamilton
• Why the Netflix livestream maybe missed the mark
• What K-pop fans really want to see during a performance

Interview with Philiana Ng

• Winning a raffle prize on WeVerse - what are the odds?
• What the concert was really like for fans in the audience
• What the cameras didn't capture about the members on stage
• Does the new album represent BTS 2.0?

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Philiana Ng is an entertainment journalist who regularly covers television. You can find her work on publications like Yahoo! MSN, the Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Tonight, among others.

• Instagram: @philiana1
• X: @insidethetube

SHOW LINKS & ARTICLES:

• BTS the Comeback Live: Arirang’: 10 things you didn’t see on TV during the Netflix special (Gold Derby)
• BTS rampages back to the top of the charts (NPR)
• BTS stays at No. 1 on the charts — and thwarts Ye in the process (NPR)

CREDITS:

This episode was produced, recorded and edited by Theresa Avila. Our theme music is by Edna Lugo. Our cover art design is by Alejandro Abarca.

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

"NCity is on fire."

That's what it seems like for NCTzens everywhere who, in the last few days have faced the unexpected bombshell news of Mark Lee saying goodbye to NCT and SM Entertainment. As if that wasn't bad enough news, days later, TEN also announced that he was leaving the company. But, crucially, TEN clarified that he would remain a part of NCT and WayV.

Still, it's little salve for fans of the group (us included!) who have to now reckon with an uncertain future as key members of NCT have officially departed the group.

It's also hard NOT to think about other recent K-pop departures. So if you're in your feels about this era of NCT coming to a close, tune in and process thing with us.

Tune in to hear:

• What made Mark Lee's departure all the more shocking
• What impact each NCT member had in the group
• Mark's history at SM Entertainment — we saw him grow up!
• How Mark's Christian faith influenced his music
• How we define an "Ace" member in K-pop
• What Danielle, Heeseung, Manon and Mark have in common
• How 2nd and 3rd Gen K-pop groups dealt with missing members
• Our theories on why Mark left the group
• What might be next for Mark next
• Our hopes for NCT moving forward

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

We finally have BLACKPINK's first EP since 2022, the highly-anticipated Deadline, a five-track release that includes "JUMP" and "GO." But does the EP live up to the hype? In the weeks since its release, the reaction from critics and fans alike has been mixed. That tepid response contrasts to the praise for the member's recent solo music — which includes a Grammy nomination. All of this got us wondering about what's next for the group.

And, importantly, do the member's current solo careers outshine their latest release as a group?

To help us analyze the latest from BLACKPINK, we invited Jeff Benjamin, music journalist and writer of The Crossover Newsletter. Over the years, Jeff has interviewed pretty much every K-pop idol you can think of, including Blackpink.

Tune in to hear us discuss:

• BLACKPINK's album sales
• Our first impressions on the EP
• Hits and misses from Deadline
• The response from critics and fans
• Hearts2Hearts' win over BLACKPINK on the music shows
• Our thoughts on the member's solo music

Plus, highlights from their solo careers, including:

• Rosé's songwriting and Grammy nomination
• JENNI's cohesive album and presence at festivals
• Jisoo's acting career and new drama
• LISA's entrepreneurial side quests

Lastly, we discuss what we hope to see in the group's next chapter.

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

ZEROBASEONE's time as a 9-member group has come to a close after more than two and half years. What started as a temporary, project group from the survival show BOYS PLANET (Season 1) will now continue as a 5-member boy group managed under WAKEONE Entertainment, a subsidiary of CJ ENM.

The group will continue as a quintent consisting of Sung Han-bin, Kim Ji-woong, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, and Park Gun-wook. The remaining four members, Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, and Han Yu-jin will return to their original agency Yuehua Entertainment (now rebranded as YH Entertainment). What happens next in their careers remains unclear but ZEROSE have plenty of theories.

In this episode, we hear from fans of ZB1 about how they're processing the inevitable closing of one chapter with a group that won over millions of fans and broke record after record.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Philiana Ng is a journalist covering entertainment and TV with bylines at The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Entertainment Tonight, TV Guide, Yahoo Entertainment, Netflix, The Daily Beast, The Wrap, Primetimer, Backstage, and more. After first interviewing ZEROBASEONE at KCON LA she became an avid fan of the group. Last year she traveled to see ZB1 in Seoul and Tokyo for the start of their most recent tour and she recently flew back for the final encore shows in Seoul.

• Read Philiana Ng's interview with ZB1: https://joysauce.com/zerobaseone-is-ready-to-take-on-the-world/

IN THIS EPISODE:

• How ZEROBASEONE came to be on Boys Planet
• The 411 on the members' personalities
• The timeline for contract negotiations
• Project groups and how companies split trainees
• Concert experience in Seoul and Tokyo
• Tips for buying K-pop tickets abroad
• What might be next for the 4 members in Yuehua Entertainment
• Will the fandom splinter off?
• Fan submissions on how they're processing this moment

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

What started as perhaps a run-of-the-mill corporate statement about KATSEYE's Manon taking a hiatus from group activities has turned into a PR disaster for HYBE x Geffen. In the days following the announcement, there's been a flurry of "read between the lines" speculation that's flooded the internet as fans try to make sense of what might be going on behind the scenes. Adding fuel to the fire, gossip accounts have resurfaced old claims of potential mistreatment and racism against Manon.

There’s no way we couldn’t talk about this.

To help us break it down for you, we invited Natasha Mulenga, an entertainment journalist who has covered K-pop extensively. She's also the author of the book “More Idols of K-pop: The definitive guide to the hottest bands,” and host of the podcast, A Soulful Storm.

Tune in to hear:

• What a "hiatus" usually means in K-pop
• The disconnect in official statements
• Our thoughts on Daniela's dad chiming in
• Manon alluding to mistreatment by liking a video
• The Cut cover story on KATSEYE
• The painful history of the racist "lazy" trope for Black people
• Fans' toxic behavior regarding race and Manon
• Cultural differences toward work in Europe, America and South Korea
• The immense pressure of K-pop idols' schedules
• Speculation and fan theories that have caught our attention
• How we think KATSEYE can move forward

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

ATEEZ's latest comeback has proven to be their most successful to date so far and that's thanks in large part to high album sales and streaming that led to a Triple Crown victory on the music shows in Korea and a #3 debut on the Billboard TOP 200.

Their MV for "Adrenaline," the title track off of their 13th mini album, "Golden Hour: Part 4" achieved 10 million views within 24 hours and has since surpassed 38 million views on YouTube (as of our recording). That puts the MV for "Adrenaline," on par with the total MV views for each their previous two comebacks from last summer, "Lemon Drop" and "In Your Fantasy."

Altogether, these achievements indicate ATEEZ is one of the leaders of the current scene for K-pop and especially for 4th Gen K-pop groups.

Tune in as Theresa chats with a fellow ATINY and podcaster, Mina, the host of K-pop Bookshlef about ATEEZ's latest achievements and their why this comeback has them excited.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• ATEEZ's achievements with GOLDEN HOUR PT. 4
• All about "Adrenaline"
• The B-sides we're enjoying
• San's silly sweatstain "controversy"
• The "Idol" image and expectations around perfection
• The underdog story of KQ Fellas
• What it was like to see ATEEZ at Coachella
• The reality of fan signs and fan calls in K-pop

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Joining us today is Mina, the host of the podcast K-pop Bookshelf, which, as the title suggests, features discussions on books set in Korea or about Korean society. If you want to better understand the culture behind K-pop and K-dramas, you listen to the archival episodes of K-pop Bookshelf wherever you get your podcasts.

LINKS:

• DesTINY in the Desert - Our Trip to CHELLATEEZ
• True Life: I Won a Fansign

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

The start of 2026 had seemingly everyone online reminiscing about what life was life back in 2016. Back when times were simpler, more fun and, dare we say, when K-pop music was ... better? Before you come for our necks, let us take a trip down memory lane as we reminisce about how great K-pop was in the 2010s.

In this episode, Alexis and Theresa ask themselves: Did K-pop already peak or is nostalgia giving us rose-tinted glasses? (Er, ears?)

Tune in as we discuss:

• What we consider the "Golden Era of K-pop"
• Why it feels like good K-pop releases are few and far between lately
• Sonically, where K-pop is today with 4th and 5th gen groups
• The "peaks and valleys" of when K-pop was great and not-so-great
• Why 2020 might've given us the last of the greatest hits
• 2nd and 3rd Gen comebacks that are giving us major nostalgia
• The rise and fall of great vocalists in K-pop
• APINK's comeback and why we're excited for the future
• The BEST Songs of 2016 (according to KultScene)
• Our final verdict: Did K-pop Peak? Or is it just nostalgia?

KULTSCENE'S TOP SONGS OF 2016:

Watch: KultScene's Top 25 Songs of 2016 on YouTube

Read: KultScene's Top 50 Songs of 2016 Part One and Part Two

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

Put simply: We have big and complex feelings about EXO's highly anticipated comeback following the return of all members from their military enlistment.

When news of an EXO reunion first broke, we were just as excited as any diehard EXO-L. Unfortunately, as time went on and it became evident that CBX would NOT be included in the comeback due to their ongoing legal troubles with SM Entertainment ... well, our enthusiasm waned.

What happened to the OT9 EXO reunion much of the fandom eagerly awaited? Does it make sense to release a title track called "Crown" when key powerhouse vocalists are missing? Is it even possible to support the boys, but not the comeback?

To help us make sense of our mixed feelings we invited Ashley, the host of the podcast An Album a Day to join us for a free-flowing and honest chat about all things EXO.

Tune in to hear:

• Why we think "Crown" seems like a SuperM song from the vault
• Our honest thoughts on REVERXE as an album
• Why we think the visuals and marketing didn't match the music
• The "Suju-fication" of EXO's unique sound - is this the future?
• Some quick context for EXO-CBX's legal woes with SM
• Why we're hopeful about a future reunion
• Our thoughts on fan wars and how we can move forward

About our Guest:

Ashley is a content creator, educator, and public speaker. As a music historian and an authority on the K-pop phenomenon, she has collaborated on projects and events with various domestic and international companies and brands. As the host of An Album a Day, ("A3Day"), Ashley leads listeners on a journey through every album available within K-pop with fact-based and opinionated commentary within each "shortcast" episode.

Keep Up With Ashley and An Album a Day:

• Website: A3Daypodcast.com
• Instagram: @a3daypodcast
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@a3day

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

After analyzing all of the year-in-review K-pop content over the holidays, we've come to one conclusion: 2025 was *rough* and left us wanting a lot more. So, as we kick off the brand new year in 2026, we're hoping our collective positive thinking can help us manifest the best possible year yet in K-pop!

Tune in as we chit chat about:

• Our standout releases from 2025
• What we're each manifesting for K-pop
• What changes we're hoping to see in the industry
• What's next for the podcast

Let us know what K-pop resolutions you have for the year and what you're hoping to manifest in 2026 by tagging us on social media @IKPTPOD.

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

We're kicking off 2026 with an episode we recorded at the tail end of last year that's all about Santos Bravos! Following HYBE's big experiment with KATSEYE, HYBE Latin America focused its efforts in 2025 on debuting a Latino pop boy group using the K-pop industry model.

Though the group is most definitely NOT K-pop sonically (more on that later), its creation via a music survival show, its trainee model and its obvious connection to HYBE mean it carries the DNA or building blocks of the K-pop industry. Naturally, all this means we have a LOT of thoughts on the group's debut and where they might best fit into the current music landscape. So, what did Santos Bravos get right about Latino boy bands and is it only a matter of time before everyone knows their name in Latin America?

Tune in to hear Alexis and Theresa discuss:

• The uphill battle the boys faced in the survivial show
• What it was like to watch the Santos Bravos showcase live in Mexico City
• Our takeaways on the final lineup's cohesion (or lack thereof?)
• Why we think Drew was always going to debut as the anchor for the group
• The obvious (and not-so-obvious) comparisons to KATSEYE
• The importance of a visual and sonic identity for a group

And so much more!

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

Kpop Demon Hunters arguably gave us not just the song of the summer, but the soundtrack of the year. Sound like hyperbole? It's been months since the animated musical was released this summer and it shows no signs of slowing down. Thanks to word-of-mouth and some early guerrilla-style marketing, viewership for the film snowballed so unexpectedly and so quickly that it now holds the distinction of being Netflix's most-watched original title ... EVER, with more than 236 million views as of late August.

Now, with Halloween upon us, it seems kids everywhere are eager up to dress up as Rumi, Mira, Zoey, or any of the other memorable characters from the film. At the same time, the singing voices of HUNTR/X have been making the rounds on late night TV ahead of what is arguably a campaign to get in front of the voting bodies during awards season next year. Last but not least, we have the release of EJAE's new single, "In Another World."

It's about time time we finally dove into what exactly makes KPOP Demon Hunters so successful and so sticky in pop culture.

Listen to hear our discussion on:

• How Kpop Demon Hunters capitalized on fandom culture
• The power of word-of-mouth and YouTube reactors
• Kevin Woo's marketing advantage as a real-life K-pop idol
• The choice of original songs vs. needle drops from existing K-pop groups
• EJAE's career in K-pop mirroring Rumi's character arc story
• Kids, families and keeping K-pop accessible
• Our takes on the real inspo for HUNTR/X and Saja Boys

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

After taking a break in 2025 we are BACK with a fresh season of It's a K-pop Thing! It's been a long 9 months — we could have had a baby! — and we've missed talking all things K-pop. There's tons of new things we want to try for this upcoming season so stay tuned for updates on that on our Instagram account (@IKPTPOD).

To kick things off this season, Alexis and Theresa are focusing on the current fan experience. With SO many K-pop groups touring and tickets prices being SO expensive ... we have to ask: Can we afford K-pop? In THIS economy?

Tune in and hear as we commiserate with one another and strategize on how we can make lemonade out of lemons this K-pop touring season.

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

We're back with a fresh season for 2025 and to kick things right off we're bringing you a conversation we recorded at the end of last year when Stray Kids announced their upcoming stadium tour! There's no doubt that K-pop has grown, and with it, the size of venues artists perform has grown as well. So many K-pop acts have made headlines selling out shows at stadiums across the United States and with Stray Kids embarking on an even stadium-ONLY tour, it seems a new milestone for K-pop is here: Go Big or Go Home.

But—are stadium concerts in K-pop a good thing? Alexis and Theresa dive into the heavy cost that comes with attending a stadium concert and why they might not be the best thing for the fan experience.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• SEVENTEEN Stadium Recap at BMO in LA
• The Evolution of Concert Culture in K-pop
• The Not-so-great Impact of Stadium Tours on K-pop
• Concert Ticket-buying Strategies and Tradeoffs to Consider
• Are We Going to See Even More K-pop Stadium Tours?
• How Could the Stadium Show Experience Be Enhanced?
• Final Thoughts and Wish List

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

We are back after our summer break for a brand new season of It's a K-pop Thing! In this episode, we catch up and discuss what it was like traveling to Mexico this summer to see NCT Dream and Cha Eun Woo.

Then, you don't want our advice and tips in the second half of the show! If you've ever thought about traveling to see a K-pop show in Mexico (or maybe greater Latin America), this is the episode for you. We give you the real, honest advice we would give our closest friends about what you can expect at a show, what you should look out for and more.

In this episode we cover:

• What it's like to go to Mexico for a K-pop Concert
• Cha Eun Woo in Mexico City 2024 at Arena CDMX
• What his fan meeting/concert was like
• NCT Dream in Mexico City
• What it was like getting floor seats for NCT Dream in Latin America
• How to see a K-pop concert in Mexico
• Tips for K-pop concerts in Mexico

TIMESTAMPS:

• 0:00 - Cold Open
• 1:45 - Start of Show
• 3:39 - Cha Eun Woo in Mexico City
• 19:00 - NCT Dream
• 42:23 - Advice and Tips for Traveling to Mexico
• 45:01 - TIP 1 - Don't be afraid to go alone
• 48:26 - TIP 2 - Tap your Mexican friends/mutuals for help
• 55:53 - TIP 3 - Take the right amount of cash
• 61:02 - TIP 4 - Buy the bootleg merch!
• 67:55 - TIP 5 - Do your research on local events before/after the show
• 73:32 - TIP 6 - Make friends at the show
• 80:23 - TIP 7 - "Don't piss them off"
• 88:23 - TIP 8 - Level your expectations about concert etiquette
• 97:12 - Final Thoughts
• 98:52 - End of Show

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

In this edition of Play This! we bring you a previously unreleased episode that almost didn't air. Shortly after recording our discussion about ILLIT's debut hit single, "Magnetic," news broke of the corporate turmoil and fallout going on at HYBE and ADOR regarding allegations of plagiarism.

In this episode—recorded prior to the allegations surfaced by ADOR's CEO Min Hee Jin—Alexis and Theresa discuss the similarities and differences between NewJeans and ILLIT, the evolution of girl group concepts and what makes a great K-pop debut song.

LINK TO THE FULL SPOTIFY PLAYLIST: Listen Here

RUNDOWN (with timestamps):

• Disclaimer for Episode
• Original Show Intro (2:20)
• Overview of ILLIT and how it formed (5:01)
• First Impressions of ILLIT's concept (10:18)
• Is it bad for ILLIT to be compared to NewJeans? (13:26)
• Does ILLIT have J-pop vibes? How is it different? (20:21)
• Marketing ILLIT at Fashion Week (23:58)
• HYBE's access to songwriters & the classic K-pop sound (29:49)
• Do groups have to DEBUT with a HIT? (38:49)

SONG RECOMMENDATIONS

• Overview of the best K-pop debut songs (44:26)
• NCT U "7th Sense" (45:29)
• SEVENTEEN "Adore U" (55:15)
• EVERGLOW "BON BON CHOCOLAT" (61:04)
• ITZY "DALLA DALLA" (74:15)
• Final Thoughts (85:40)

LET US KNOW: What's your favorite K-pop debut song?

TAG US ON SOCIAL: Take a photo of you listening and tag us on Instagram at @IKPTPOD and let us know what you liked about the show!

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

We have a special concert recap episode that's ALL about our recent K-pop travels, concerts experiences and even a special run-in with some K-pop idols after a concert! (No spoilers: You'll have to tune in to hear who it was!) In this episode we cover how Alexis recently traveled to Tokyo to catch NCT 127 before military enlistments for the members began and Theresa talks about how she flew to Las Vegas to catch TWICE on the last stop of their world tour.

We get into the nitty gritty about Alexis's experience buying the SM Global package and what it was like watching a K-pop show without her phone. Plus, hear about Theresa's experience giving K-pop freebies for the first time and how VCHA opened for TWICE.

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

Lately, the general consensus seems to be: K-pop is bigger than ever before —and that's to be celebrated— but it's also ... different. The music trends are changing and, depending on who you ask, it's not always for the better. Especially among multi-stans, there seems to be a newfound sense of overwhelm and fatigue due to the relentless amount of content churned out by K-pop.

All of this has us thinking: Are we entering a new era of K-pop? Is K-pop's rapid growth stalling?

Dare we ask: Has K-pop Hit a Plateau?

To help us understand where K-pop is today, we're joined in a roundtable discussion by friends of the pod, DJ Peter Lo of the Kpopcast podcast and Tamar Herman, a longtime K-pop journalist and author of the newsletter Notes On K-pop.

We don't promise to have all the answers, but maybe we can share some good thought starters!

Let us know what you think of the state of K-pop today by tagging Alexis and Theresa on Instagram @IKPTpod.

Follow Tamar @Tamarwrites
Follow Peter @DJPeterLo

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

This episode is PART 2 of our two-episode discussion on the latest K-pop and Latin music collab, "Amigos" by BIBI and Becky G. If you haven't checked out PART 1, go back to the feed and listen!

In this portion of the discussion, we dive into our top K-pop and Latine song recommendations! We focus on K-pop songs that cater to a Latine audience, by either featuring a Latine artist, they're sung in Spanish or..they simply have a Latin vibe.

EPISODE RUNDOWN:

• Intro to the discussion
• Song Rec #1 (1:11) - GOT7's "Lullaby" in SPANISH
• Song Rec #2 (7:36) - VAV ft. De La Ghetto & Play-N-Skillz “Give Me More”
• Song Rec #3 (15:25) - Super Junior x Leslie “Lo Siento”
• Song Rec #4 (22:44) - ONEUS “Baila Conmigo”
• Final Thoughts (30:17) - Plus other song recs!

LISTEN TO OUR FULL SPOTIFY PLAYLIST!
We've got more 25+ K-pop x Latin songs that highlight the growing crossover between Korea and Latin America.

REMEZCLA ARTICLE on K-pop x Cumbia/Norteña

LET US KNOW YOUR DREAM K-POP X LATINE COLLAB!
Tag us on Instagram @IKPTPod to let us know!

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

Hey everyone! We're back in 2024 with an episode we recorded at the tail end of last year when BIBI and Becky G had just released their collab track, "Amigos." It's a chill, fun song that also serves as a good introduction to K-R&B and Latin music. Given this song bridges the broader worlds of K-pop and Latin music—two of our fav genres—we naturally have have a LOT of thoughts on the song!

This episode is PART 1 of our two-episode discussion on the latest K-pop and Latin music collab, "Amigos" by BIBI and Becky G. Make sure to stay tuned for Part 2 of our discussion later in a future episode, where we give our top song recs for K-pop/Latine music collabs.

EPISODE RUNDOWN:

• Intro
• Artist Bios: BIBI & Becky G (2:36)
• Why does this collab make sense? (5:57)
• Song Review (20:45)
• When did we start seeing K-pop/Latin collabs happen? (28:23)
• Our Hot Takes (39:59)
• What's NEXT for K-pop/Latine collabs? HYBE's influence (43:18)
• What we would like to see when K-pop labels go to Latin America (59:29)
• Wrap Up (66:34)

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

For this edition of Play This! we’re discussing “Gento,” a song by Filipino-boy-group SB19. While it’s not K-pop, per se, the song has been making its way around the industry’s boy groups, thanks to numerous idols doing the “Gento” dance challenge.

But, what is it about this song that has male idols flocking to it? Is the popularity of SB19’s “Gento," maybe due to changes in concepts for K-pop boy groups? Are male idols simply missing the hard-hitting choreography we once associated with “Beast Idols” in K-pop?

More importantly—what actually happened to the “beastly idol,” or “beast idol,” or “beast-dol” boy group concepts from the 2010s?

In this episode, we share our theories behind the popularity of "Gento" and we give you a brief history of "beast idols" in K-pop. Plus, we share other songs by some of our favorite "beast-dols" as well as our predictions for where boy groups go next.

Buckle up—as MONSTA X says — "we are BEASTMODE!"

LISTEN TO THE PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY: "SB19's Gento and Other Beast Idol K-pop Songs"

EPISODE RUNDOWN (with timestamps):

PART 1: SB19 & The History of Beast Idols

• Episode Intro (1:39)
• SB19 Quick Bio (4:56)
• "Gento" Song Analysis (6:48)
• Our theory behind "Gento"s popularity (12:27)
• How have K-pop boy group concepts changed? (16:50)
• How do we define "beast idols" in K-pop? (22:36)
• A brief (and VERY unscientific) history of beast idols in K-pop (31:15)

PART 2: Other Beast-dol Songs We Recommend

• 2PM — "I'm Your Man" (45:18 )
• MBLAQ — "This is War" (50:16)
• MONSTA X — "Shoot Out" (58:02)
• B.A.P — "Warrior" (63:37)
• Special song mentions:
• DMTN, MYNAME, ZE:A, Hotshot, SPEED, Block B (72:17)

FINAL THOUGHTS

• Is Y2K boy group nostalgia up next? (75:00)

TAKE OUR POLL ON SPOTIFY: What’s your favorite “Beast-ly” Boy Group in K-pop? Do you think we should have more groups with this type of concept today?

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

If you're a K-pop multi-stan like us in the USA, you might have noticed something lately: The number of K-pop acts on tour has grown by a LOT! But with that growth, we've also seen an increase in tour dates overlapping and fans ultimately having to choose between which of their favorite artists to support.

We have to ask: Are we finally in the era of too many K-pop concerts?

To help us talk through this dilemma, we invited our friends Carolina and Kat, each one-fourth of the women behind the podcast Not Your Average Fangirls. If you've ever listened to the show, you know NYAF are some of the biggest K-pop multi-stans around!

On this episode we chat about how K-pop tours have changed, what improvements we'd like to see and—most importantly—their tips for how fans can pay for those concert tickets!

EPISODE RUNDOWN (with Timestamps):

Part 1: Overview of current K-pop tours (2:28)

• The 3 problems we've noticed with tickets (4:48)
• Our thoughts on shows not selling (8:24)
• The impact on older and newer K-pop groups
• Should promoters do more 2 for 1 sales? (13:59)
• Is the playing field more uneven? (18:34)

Part 2: Interview with NOT YOUR AVERAGE FANGIRLS (23:30)

• How do we decide what shows to attend? (30:12)
• What's unique to K-pop tours? (39:21)
• The impact of certain venues and stadiums (46:23)
• Can things be improved? How? (64:00)
• Budgeting for K-pop concerts (68:21)
• The most we've spent on tickets ... (86:00)
• Tours we're excited for! Plus a shout-out to SuperM (88:15)

VOTE IN OUR SPOTIFY POLL—Let us know what YOU think! Are we in the age of too many K-pop concerts?

CHECK OUT NOT YOUR AVERAGE FANGIRLS HERE:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nyafangirls/
X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/NYAFangirls

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

We're back with another edition of Play This! where we give you some song recommendations inspired by recent K-pop releases. On this episode, we discuss the latest collaboration between a K-pop group with a Western artist: "Do It Like That," by TOMORROW X TOGETHER and Jonas Brothers.
"Do It Like That" is a bouncy, fun pop song that's perfect for summer and it got us thinking about how rare and special it is to have a collab happen between a K-pop group and a Western artist.
Tune in as we travel back in time to bring you some of our favorite musical crossovers from years past.

GET THE PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY: Play This! Great K-pop Collabs (TXT, Jonas Brothers and More)

EPISODE RUNDOWN (w/TIMESTAMPS)

• Intro to the episode (2:09)
• What is the TXT sound? (6:36)
• How does this song bridge fandoms across generations? (10:15)
• The 411 on "Do It Like That" (16:51)
• Measuring the song's "success"(19:55)

Other Great K-pop Collabs with Western Artists We Recommend (28:57)

1. Don't Need Your Love — NCT DREAM, HRVY
2. All Night —BTS, Juice WRLD
3. Put My Hands On You — DEAN, Anderson .Paak
4. Freal Luv — Far East Movement, CHANYEOL, Marshmello, Tinashe (52:43)
5. Temple — Baauer, M.I.A., G-DRAGON
6. Let's Shut Up & Dance — Jason Derulo, LAY, NCT 127

Honorable Song Mentions (73:49)

1. Sour Candy — Lady Gaga, BLACKPINK
2. Up To You — PRETTYMUCH, NCT DREAM
3. Kiss and Make Up — Dua Lipa, BLACKPINK
4. NILIRIA — G-DRAGON, Missy Elliot

LET US KNOW: What did you think of our song picks? What would you add to the list? Tag us on Instagram and Twitter with your thoughts OR leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

Today's episode features a special interview with K-pop idol and artist, AleXa! Recently we chatted with her about her latest digital-single, "Juliet," and the 6(!) different versions of the song, which include a bachata remix sung entirely in Spanish. In other episodes, we’ve touched on the globalization of K-pop and how artists have branched out to other markets to gain traction beyond Korea. But, AleXa is the latest K-pop idol to turn to the massive fandom in Latin America and recognize them with a special release for Spanish speakers.

Tune in to hear AleXa talk about writing a ballad, what it was like winning American Song Contest, and her thoughts what makes K-pop so unique. Plus, stay tuned after the interview for our takeaways and discussion on the significance of K-pop catering to international fans.

WATCH ALEXA PERFORM"JULIET" IN SPANISH HERE:
https://youtu.be/R-5PnLajFn4

EPISODE RUNDOWN (w/TIME STAMPS)

• Intro to AleXa (2:17)
• Interview with AleXa (4:32)
  • Singing in Spanish & not sounding like a "gringa" (8:35)
  • Bringing K-pop to American reality TV (19:15)
  • Growing up in Oklahoma & finding your people (21:42)
  • Why K-pop is always "intentional" and polished (31:28)
• Our Discussion & Takeaways (39:31)
  • How do we define K-pop today? (44:13)
  • Where does AleXa fit into the music landscape? (48:07)
  • We applaud AleXa for addressing her haters (50:55)
  • Some context on K-pop catering to Latin America (58:48)
  • Final Thoughts: The impact of K-pop in Spanish (1:02)

LET US KNOW: What do you think of AleXa and other K-pop idols singing in Spanish? Tag us on Instagram or Twitter @IKPTPOD with your thoughts!

ABOUT OUR GUEST ALEXA:
AleXa (알렉사) is a K-pop singer, dancer and songwriter who grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 2019, AleXa made her multilingual K-pop debut with “Bomb,” which hit #7 on Billboard’s “World Digital Song Sales” chart. After a breakthrough comeback with mid-tempo dance track “Tattoo” in 2022, her song “Wonderland” earned a resounding win on NBC’s American Song Contest, a remake of Europe’s hugely popular Eurovision Song Contest. “Wonderland” ranked #38 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart, propelling AleXa to the 6th most played Korean artist on U.S. radio and the first female Korean act to present at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.

KEEP UP WITH ALEXA:
Official Site: https://www.alexazb.com
YouTube: AleXa • ZB Label⁣⁣
Instagram: @Alexa_zbofficial

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

We're back with more K-pop song recommendations! For this episode of Play This! we take a very *serious* look at a very UN-serious song: (G)I-DLE's latest comeback and hit, "Queencard." Sometimes in K-pop we get wacky concepts, nonsensical lyrics and unserious music—but who cares if it WORKS? And "Queencard" works fantastically, thanks to the plenty of camp elements throughout.

Tune in for our discussion on all things camp in K-pop (Hint: It's everywhere; you just have to know what you're looking for). Plus, don't miss our song recommendations in the second half of the episode! We dug into the K-pop archives for some oldies but goodies.

GET THE PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY: PLAY THIS: (G)I-DLE’s Queencard Plus Other Unserious & Camp K-Pop

EPISODE RUNDOWN (w/TIME STAMPS)

• Intro to (G)I-DLE's "Allergy" & "Queencard"
• What makes (G)I-DLE's "Queencard" camp? And why does it work? (6:29)
• What is "camp" & what does it look like in K-pop? (8:37)
• Is the song all about girl power or is it completely "unserious"? (17:39)
• Soyeon in Produce 101 & beauty ideals (22:55)

Other K-pop "Camp-y" and "Unserious" Songs We Recommend (30:05)

1. Babyface — WJSN
2. Power Up — Red Velvet (Bonus: Dumb Dumb)
3. 30 Sexy —RAIN
4. Nerdy — Purple Kiss

Honorable Song Mentions (46:11)

1. BBoom BBoom, I'm So Hot, Wrap Me In Plastic — MOMOLAND
2. Bo Peep Bo Peep — T-ARA
3. Bubble Pop! — HyunA
4. I'm Gonna Be a Star — TWICE
5. Super Duper — SUPER JUNIOR
6. DESSERT — HYO, Loopy, JEON SOYEON

BONUS: The K-pop groups we would like to see do a camp concept (51:29)

LET US KNOW: What other camp-y, fun, and unserious K-pop songs would you add to this playlist? Tag us on Instagram or Twitter with your thoughts!

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

FIFTY FIFTY's "Cupid" is still going strong on the charts, thanks to the popularity of its English "Twin" version. But where do you from there? What other K-pop songs do you queue up on your playlist? After all, you need at least a few good songs to get the algorithm to do its thing!

Lucky for you, we've got four K-pop songs for you that are in the same vein as FIFTY FIFTY's "Cupid." Tune in to hear us break down what's helping "Cupid" chart so well plus our personal song recs for you to play next.

EPISODE RUNDOWN:

• Intro
• How does TikTok factor into all this?
• Is "Cupid" an outlier?
• Other K-pop Soft Pop Hits We Recommend
  1. IU - "BBIBBI"
  2. LE SSERAFIM - "Good Parts (when the quality is bad but I am)
  3. BOL4 - "Some"
  4. Wonder Girls - "Rewind"
• What older K-pop hits would blow up on TikTok today?

LET US KNOW: What other K-pop soft pop hits would you recommend? Tag us on Instagram or Twitter with your thoughts!

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

We're back with Part 2 of our mini-series examining the state of Girl Groups in K-pop today! We have a lot to discuss in this episode, including new releases by plenty of 4th-gen acts as well as our theories on why the spotlight is shining so brightly on girl groups.
PLUS!! We share our TOP 10+ GIRL GROUPS (atm): With so many girl groups charting at the moment, we made our own list of the girl groups that have us excited for the rest of 2023! Plus, you'll hear which groups we're crossing our fingers make an epic comeback so they don't fade into the background.
(Note: If you missed Part 1 of our discussion, go back to the feed and check out our interview with music journalist Lai Frances.)

EPISODE RUNDOWN:

• Vox Pop: What K-pop Stans Think (2:38)
• K-pop Girl Groups Are Breaking Records (6:09)
• Theories On Why Girl Groups Are Breaking Through (9:25)
• Our Top 10 List of Girl Groups (for 2023) (31:25)
• Honorable Group Mentions (67:25)
• Groups We Hope Have a Comeback (72:20)

LET US KNOW: WHAT GIRL GROUPS TOP YOUR LIST RIGHT NOW?
Do you agree with our Top 10? What groups are you most excited about? Tag us on social and let us know!
HELP THE SHOW GROW
Share the show with a friend, a mutual or anyone curious about K-pop! Already done that? Tag us on IG & Twitter with a screenshot of the latest episode & what you thought about it!

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]

Something major happened in K-pop last year: For the first time since the aughts, girl groups outshone their male group counterparts. Not only did girl groups deliver hit after hit, but 2022 also saw 4th generation girl groups consistently vie for the top spot in K-pop music charts and award shows. And if “Ditto” and “OMG” are any indication of how this year’s gonna pan out, it’s looking like girl groups are gonna have another winning season.
ABOUT THIS EPISODE:
This is PART ONE of a mini-series examining how girls groups are dominating K-pop at the moment. Be sure to follow and subscribe to the show so you don't miss Part 2 of our discussion!
OUR GUEST:
To help us make sense of why 2022 was such a pivotal year for K-pop girl groups, we spoke to journalist (and friend of the pod), Lai Frances. Lai Frances, has profiled acts like Le sserafim, Itzy, and Nayeon from Twice. She’s written for publications like MTV News, UPROXX, Tomorrow Magazine, among others.
EPISODE RUNDOWN:

• 1- Intro: Why 2022 Was THE Breakout Year for Girl Groups (2:58)
• 2- Guest Bio: Lai Frances, K-pop journalist (4:58)
• 3- Interview Highlights:
• Overview of 2022's big wins (8:06)
• Is it time for boy groups to ‘step back’? (Pun intended) (14:18)
• How have girl group concepts evolved? (18:19)
• Are labels pushing out girl groups more? (21:50)
• Touring for GG in 2023 & beyond (30:01)
• HOT TAKE: Are boy groups stuck, (sonically)? (36:00)
• Will the market get saturated? (40:11)
• What's next for girl groups? (47:39)
• 4- Closing Thoughts (49:13)

LET US KNOW: DO YOU THINK GIRL GROUPS ARE WINNING?
What do you think about girl groups in K-pop right now? Do you agree that they're outshining the boy groups? Do you think they'll keep winning in 2023? Why/why not
HELP THE SHOW GROW
Share the show with a friend, a mutual or anyone curious about K-pop! Tag us on IG & Twitter with screenshots of you listening to the show.

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]