I suppose it depends on logistics, too. I don’t think we’ll have opening acts here because it’d be expensive to bring a second act over… unless they source locally and go for a P-pop group, and that won’t fly well with some fans, I feel.
Luckily my two K-pop concerts (GFriend in 2016 and Mamamoo last year) were full and wasn’t lacking in momentum. I suppose there was also the fact that there were a lot of fans seeing them live for the first time, so the atmosphere was strong. I think we were outsinging recorded Mamamoo songs!
Just curious... do you think it wouldn't fly well with fans if a P-pop group opened? It seems like a lot of K-pop fans feel they want to be wrapped up in the atmosphere of a single band when they go to these shows. That's what I've observed anyways!
I think so, for the same reasons as you articulated! And the mindset (to some) that P-pop's just a pale imitation of K-pop.
Not that it hasn't happened before—there was a benefit concert two years back headlined by Red Velvet, but with two P-pop groups warming up for them (BGYO and Bini). It wasn't packaged as a Red Velvet concert, though.
Oops I meant to add a "why" in my question haha! But that makes a lot sense! I would hope that even if the P-pop groups aren't as good, the exposure and the audience gives some valuable lessons. I've been to a few indie/K-RnB shows and almost all of them had openers (mostly from local Asian-Canadian singers).
I think what I've noticed is a lot of K-pop fans are young and this is probably their first exposure to a concert. Hence, not realizing openers are such a norm.
Very true. Although I honestly think they'd sit through it if it was announced ahead of time, rather than sprung on you on the gig itself. Awkward polite applause, perhaps, but there'll be someone in the audience falling in love...
That’s the hope! People tend to be a lot angrier on forums where they get to be anonymous. From what I have seen VCHA seemed to get a lot of love from fans there!
Thanks so much! Toronto was the only stop Xikers didn't play at, so I had major FOMO. But I saw the videos all over social media and was seriously so impressed!
So many good points on the value opening acts could bring to k-pop concerts. Maybe if the labels make the first move, the more resistant fans will adjust.
Someone who is an event organizer made a fair comment about how costly it is to bring another act over. But I would like to think one of the Big 4 companies could try it. Especially if people are already fans of one of the artists!
I've also found it odd that there are no openers and agree it's a missed opportunity. I wonder if there's a way to normalize it, because I do think that K-Pop fans are often only wrapped in their own bubble of the genre - even if an artists' show isn't their first concert. It's funny, despite so many people being multistans, there's still a certain loyalty to their preferred artists without a lot of wiggle room for others! On the contrary, the K-hip hop, K-rock and K-R&B shows I've been to always have an opener or two and this seems like a norm for the fans there.
I was floor for one of ATEEZ's 2022 shows with xikers opening and it seemed like everyone really enjoyed them and were hyping them up! But, and this is completely anecdotal, it seems like ATINY seems to skew a bit older and many I've met were seasoned concertgoers who were drawn to ATEEZ due to their love of other genres that the group utilizes in their sound. So this show wasn't their first rodeo!
Thanks for your comment! I have noticed how fans kind of act like the events revolving around a concert is like a utopia. Every ritual before and after a show has to be related to the artist they’re going to see. Almost as if adding someone else may somehow tarnish the vision.
I totally get how expensive it is to be an opening act. I think I read somewhere that the openers incur a lot of costs because they’re responsible for their own travel, production and outfits etc. But if it is all under the same company, I feel like it could end up being beneficial in the long run. Especially if the supporting acts are doing a few select shows.
You are so lucky to have seen xikers before debut. Canada was the only North American stop they didn’t go to, it appears. I watched all the videos online and was super jealous!
I actually tried to book the opening slot for that Epik High show (I think HMLT & Joiya might have also opened?)!
But when I later learnt how rare it is for K-pop acts to have openers (local or touring), I really thought that was such a missed opportunity… until I discovered that the dominant sect of younger music fans/newer industry mechanisms don’t really favour discovery in the same way they used to. It’s just a novelty! 🫠
Oh that would have been sick! The show in 2022 only had Woosung open, and he followed them the whole U.S. tour. I guess it must have been another year. In 2023, no one opened for Epik High...except for a long video that played at the top.
It's interesting that younger fans aren't as into discovering new acts in this way. It seems like most people are discovering new songs from a few lines on TikTok. I remember seeing Kacey Musgraves open for Harry Styles, then she went on to win Album of the Year months later. Felt grateful to have seen her before she really really hit it big!
I suppose it depends on logistics, too. I don’t think we’ll have opening acts here because it’d be expensive to bring a second act over… unless they source locally and go for a P-pop group, and that won’t fly well with some fans, I feel.
Luckily my two K-pop concerts (GFriend in 2016 and Mamamoo last year) were full and wasn’t lacking in momentum. I suppose there was also the fact that there were a lot of fans seeing them live for the first time, so the atmosphere was strong. I think we were outsinging recorded Mamamoo songs!
Just curious... do you think it wouldn't fly well with fans if a P-pop group opened? It seems like a lot of K-pop fans feel they want to be wrapped up in the atmosphere of a single band when they go to these shows. That's what I've observed anyways!
I think so, for the same reasons as you articulated! And the mindset (to some) that P-pop's just a pale imitation of K-pop.
Not that it hasn't happened before—there was a benefit concert two years back headlined by Red Velvet, but with two P-pop groups warming up for them (BGYO and Bini). It wasn't packaged as a Red Velvet concert, though.
Oops I meant to add a "why" in my question haha! But that makes a lot sense! I would hope that even if the P-pop groups aren't as good, the exposure and the audience gives some valuable lessons. I've been to a few indie/K-RnB shows and almost all of them had openers (mostly from local Asian-Canadian singers).
I think what I've noticed is a lot of K-pop fans are young and this is probably their first exposure to a concert. Hence, not realizing openers are such a norm.
Very true. Although I honestly think they'd sit through it if it was announced ahead of time, rather than sprung on you on the gig itself. Awkward polite applause, perhaps, but there'll be someone in the audience falling in love...
That’s the hope! People tend to be a lot angrier on forums where they get to be anonymous. From what I have seen VCHA seemed to get a lot of love from fans there!
Definitely enjoyed it when I saw xikers open for ATEEZ. I've been saying companies should do two-artist tours more. Great read!
Thanks so much! Toronto was the only stop Xikers didn't play at, so I had major FOMO. But I saw the videos all over social media and was seriously so impressed!
So many good points on the value opening acts could bring to k-pop concerts. Maybe if the labels make the first move, the more resistant fans will adjust.
Someone who is an event organizer made a fair comment about how costly it is to bring another act over. But I would like to think one of the Big 4 companies could try it. Especially if people are already fans of one of the artists!
I've also found it odd that there are no openers and agree it's a missed opportunity. I wonder if there's a way to normalize it, because I do think that K-Pop fans are often only wrapped in their own bubble of the genre - even if an artists' show isn't their first concert. It's funny, despite so many people being multistans, there's still a certain loyalty to their preferred artists without a lot of wiggle room for others! On the contrary, the K-hip hop, K-rock and K-R&B shows I've been to always have an opener or two and this seems like a norm for the fans there.
I was floor for one of ATEEZ's 2022 shows with xikers opening and it seemed like everyone really enjoyed them and were hyping them up! But, and this is completely anecdotal, it seems like ATINY seems to skew a bit older and many I've met were seasoned concertgoers who were drawn to ATEEZ due to their love of other genres that the group utilizes in their sound. So this show wasn't their first rodeo!
Thanks for your comment! I have noticed how fans kind of act like the events revolving around a concert is like a utopia. Every ritual before and after a show has to be related to the artist they’re going to see. Almost as if adding someone else may somehow tarnish the vision.
I totally get how expensive it is to be an opening act. I think I read somewhere that the openers incur a lot of costs because they’re responsible for their own travel, production and outfits etc. But if it is all under the same company, I feel like it could end up being beneficial in the long run. Especially if the supporting acts are doing a few select shows.
You are so lucky to have seen xikers before debut. Canada was the only North American stop they didn’t go to, it appears. I watched all the videos online and was super jealous!
I actually tried to book the opening slot for that Epik High show (I think HMLT & Joiya might have also opened?)!
But when I later learnt how rare it is for K-pop acts to have openers (local or touring), I really thought that was such a missed opportunity… until I discovered that the dominant sect of younger music fans/newer industry mechanisms don’t really favour discovery in the same way they used to. It’s just a novelty! 🫠
Oh that would have been sick! The show in 2022 only had Woosung open, and he followed them the whole U.S. tour. I guess it must have been another year. In 2023, no one opened for Epik High...except for a long video that played at the top.
It's interesting that younger fans aren't as into discovering new acts in this way. It seems like most people are discovering new songs from a few lines on TikTok. I remember seeing Kacey Musgraves open for Harry Styles, then she went on to win Album of the Year months later. Felt grateful to have seen her before she really really hit it big!