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Artist News Media
BBC podcast series looks at the K-pop phenomenon from a fan perspective
By Chris Cooke | Published on Wednesday 12 October 2022
The BBC has posted a new podcast series exploring the evolution and global rise of K-pop from the perspective of six super fans. Hosted by journalist Lucy Ford, the Beeb says that the series “traces the evolution of the South Korean music genre from its beginnings in South Korea to its rise up the music charts to catapulting into mainstream global culture”.
Ford adds: “I’m so excited to be hosting this series which looks at the history of K-pop, its place on the global stage and the real-life experiences of the people who love it – the stans! A lot of conversations about K-pop mischaracterise or leave fans out of the equation altogether, so I’m really THRILLED to be centring them in this conversation and letting them be the ones to tell their stories!”
“Having been a huge K-pop stan for so long”, she goes on, “it’s amazing to be a part of sharing with the world why it’s so meaningful and fun for fans, and maybe – just maybe! – convert a few more newbies in the process”.
As well as the fans, the series also features people involved in the K-pop business, plus Radio 1’s Adele Roberts, who appears because she was the first person to play a track by BTS on the BBC pop station.
Roberts says: “In 2017, I gave BTS its first play on Radio 1, marking the beginning of my journey of discovering K-pop, meeting stans and icons and even travelling to South Korea. Of all aspects of K-pop, for me it’s the fans that make this movement so special; the feeling of togetherness, kindness and inclusion that they embody is just incredible”.
So yeah, basically, it’s all about the fans, which is why they are the focus on this podcast. You can access ‘K-Pop: A Stan Story’ here.
