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The Digital Transformation of the Korean Music Industry and the Global Emergence of K-Pop

Author

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  • Jimmyn Parc

    (Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA), Sciences Po Paris, France and Institute of Communication Research, Seoul National University, Seoul 150599, Korea)

  • Shin Dong Kim

    (Media School, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Korea)

Abstract

There are a number of voices who blame digitization for having a number of negative effects on the music industry including a decline in album sales, copyright infringement, unfair royalty payments, and competition with foreign multinationals. Yet, the global emergence of Korean pop music or K-pop suggests a different narrative, particularly given that its growth was largely unexpected among industry experts. Understanding the key to its international breakthrough can thus produce meaningful lessons for the music industries of other countries for their own further take-off. This constitutes the focus for this paper. Digitization has influenced various sectors of the Korean music industry such as business, society, and consumers. It has also transformed the management focus of the industry from analog to digital, from offline to online, from albums to songs, from specialization to integration, from domestic providers to international suppliers, from audio sound to visual images, from possessing to accessing, and from limited integration to synergistic network. This signifies that embracing technology advancement can enhance the competitiveness of cultural industries.

Suggested Citation

  • Jimmyn Parc & Shin Dong Kim, 2020. "The Digital Transformation of the Korean Music Industry and the Global Emergence of K-Pop," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:18:p:7790-:d:416751
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Joon-ho Kim & Seung-hye Jung & Jung-sik Roh & Hyun-ju Choi, 2021. "Success Factors and Sustainability of the K-Pop Industry: A Structural Equation Model and Fuzzy Set Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, May.
    2. Joon-ho Kim & Kwang-jin Kim & Bum-tae Park & Hyun-ju Choi, 2022. "The Phenomenon and Development of K-Pop: The Relationship between Success Factors of K-Pop and the National Image, Social Network Service Citizenship Behavior, and Tourist Behavioral Intention," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-30, March.
    3. Xu Chen & Chunhong Liu & Yao Jiang & Changchun Gao, 2021. "What Causes the Virtual Agglomeration of Creative Industries?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-18, August.
    4. Kim Amee & McGoun Elton G., 2022. "K-Pop and K-Car: The Underpinnings of 21st-Century Korean Cultural and Industrial Successes," Journal of Management and Business Administration. Central Europe, Sciendo, vol. 30(1), pages 103-134, June.
    5. Joseph Kim & Seung-Ho Kwon, 2022. "K-Pop’s Global Success and Its Innovative Production System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-17, September.
    6. Asma Maqsood & Sumera Batool & Nimra Zaffer, 2022. "Consumption Patterns of South Korean Content: Cross-Cultural Acceptance of Romance and Beauty among Pakistani Youth," Journal of Policy Research (JPR), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 8(3), pages 329-338, September.
    7. Kim Amee & McGoun Elton G., 2022. "K-Pop and K-Car: The Underpinnings of 21st-Century Korean Cultural and Industrial Successes," Journal of Management and Business Administration. Central Europe, Sciendo, vol. 30(2), pages 103-134, June.
    8. Xu Chen & Chunhong Liu & Changchun Gao & Yao Jiang, 2021. "Mechanism Underlying the Formation of Virtual Agglomeration of Creative Industries: Theoretical Analysis and Empirical Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, February.
    9. Ti-An Chen, 2022. "Business Performance Evaluation for Tourism Factory: Using DEA Approach and Delphi Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-19, July.

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