is it?

They're like boybands though. Fanbase who buys albums and goes to shows but their songs--Gangnam Style aside--never get played in the radio or are known by the GP

Exactly! People only stan because they fall in love with the characters they portray on those variety shows and because they create visually pleasing videos. Even the people sticking up for Kpop on this forum are saying that they needed to watch a video a certain amount of times in order to make themselves like the song

On average Kpop artists are just playing catch up to Western artists, they just have better visuals. Its not mistake that almost every song by a boyband sounds like it could be on JB's Purpose album

I don't know about that, but, BLACKPINK slays literally on all fronts! I am obsessed with them. Both of their songs and videos are great, especially WHISTLE. It is so visually striking, and just perfect. Lisa SLAYS.

I also really like a corny song by MASC called Strange. The way the guy sing talks during the chorus is ill.

And EXO's song GROWL

modern k-pop is designed to go global.

it's protected and subsidized by the Korean government as a marketing plan to improve tourism and cultural breadth and be seen as cool by the world stage.

A year ago I wouldn't believe it but mostly everyone on stan twitter is becoming a kpop stan, most people thought that it was a fad that would end in 2013 but they are providing something that western pop culture is not delivering anymore, an amazing show+choreography+visuals+vocal delivery.

it has only started tbh, Black Pink will be huge.