

[OSEN=이소담 기자] The numbers of views for girl group BLACKPINK’s music videos on YouTube are rising “monstrously”. BLACKPINK is wiring a new history of K-Pop, renewing the number of views for their videos on YouTube within a short period of time over and over again.

BLACKPINK debuted in August last year. Three of the team’s music videos have surpassed 100 million views (“WHISTLE”, “BOOMBAYAH”, and “PLAYING WITH FIRE”). The music video of “As If It’s Your Last” has surpassed 50 million views within 14 days and 18 hours (354 hours) of release. That is the largest-ever number of views within the shortest-ever period of time for a K-Pop group.

Such a record was set following the record of 10 million views within 17 hours of release; 20 million views within 47 hours; 30 million views within 107 hours; and then 40 million views within 9 days and 12 hours (228 hours). If such trend of increase continues, the video of “As If It’s Your Last” will soon surpass 100 million views. Actually, the video is recording 57,620,000 views as of July 11 at 10AM, taking one more step toward the 60 million views mark. Music fans in Korea are paying keen attention to the increasing number of views for BLACKPINK’s new music video, keeping their eyes of the number in real time.

The record set by BLACKPINK is comparable to that of globally famous artists. BLACKPINK has already gone beyond the record set by British idol group One Direction that has a worldwide fan base. It was One Direction who had held the record of the biggest number of views within 24 hours of release (12.5 million), but BLACKPINK broke the record with “As If It’s Your Last” within 22 hours.

The meaning of the number of views on music videos on YouTube is becoming more and more important. It is an important benchmark of an artist’s popularity and the size of fandom not only in Korea but also around the world. The number of views of BLACKPINK’s music videos shows that their music has appealed to not only the domestic music scene but also in the global pop music market.

As three out of the four members of BLACKPINK had lived overseas, the team’s communication with fans from around the world is smoother. In addition, all the members have learned Japanese for years, so their upcoming debut in Japan is at the center of many people’s interest. BLACKPINK’s first showcase in Japan to be held on the 20 this month at Budokan with 10,000 seats is already drawing keen attention.

2017. 7. 12.