How are M! Countdown, Music Bank, Music Core & Inkigayo influencing the music market?

Music programs have been coming under fire lately due to several controversial issues that have arisen with their growth and popularity. 

While they were previously criticized for using the programs to secure idols in other variety programs, music programs have once again been brought up to the chopping block due to viewers questioning their actual importance.

Korea currently has four music programs, three on public broadcasting channels (KBS, MBC, SBS), and one cable channel (Mnet). Excluding MBC’s “Show! Music Core,” Mnet, KBS, and SBS utilize a ranking chart that brings together various data to determine the winning artist for the week.

What viewers found, however, was that there was no differentiating factor between all four.

▲ Performances are repeated several times weekly

A total of seven artists including Kan Mi Youn, Song Ji Eun, G.NA, IU, Lee Hyun, and 5dolls appeared on all three of the public broadcast programs from the week of March 4th through the 6th.

Artists that appeared on only two of the three programs were Dalmatian, TVXQ, Kahi, Dal Shabet, Lady Jane, Insooni, Flower, HAM, Hong Kyung Min, and Kim Hyun Jung, which rounds out to 10.

Artists that made appearances on only one of the three programs amounted to 10 teams, including Big Bang. Out of the 27 total teams that performed this week, 17 of them have repeated appearances at a minimum of two programs.

Viewers have expressed that they’re not understanding why they must sit through four days of the same performances by the same artists on all four programs. If music programs were asked to name one thing that set them apart from others, they reasoned, none of the programs would be able to come up with an answer.

Korea is actually the only country in the world that has a promotional music program for each of its broadcast stations.

▲ “I can’t attend this and that because of music programs.”

Most viewers know now that artists must sacrifice their entire day to perform for three minutes on a music program. They’re forced to go in for hair and make up early in the morning, as well as outfit fittings later in the day. By noon, they have rehearsals, and then they’re asked to remain on standby in their waiting rooms until further notice.

It’s difficult for artists to schedule anything else on days they’re set to perform, which, in effect, is of great loss to them expense wise. Artists earn a lot more by performing at outside events and advertisement filmings, which they give up in order to perform on music programs.

Still, there’s a long line of ready and willing artists hoping to perform on music programs since the system is set up so that music programs remain the sole opportunity for an artist to promote his or her music.

With a skilled manager, artists can secure several weeks and episodes worth of performances, which goes to show the importance of influence and company backing as well.

▲ Music programs have become the narrow path towards broadcast appearances

The issue of music programs forcing artists to take ‘package deals’ has been a hot debate topic for months now, and the issue remains largely because the Korean music industry has failed to figure out a promotional system outside TV media.

Music programs don’t bring in high viewer ratings, and are lucky if they jump over 5%. Last week, KBS, MBC, and SBS each recorded 4.3%, 4.7%, and 7.4% in viewer ratings respectively, which are all considerably low numbers compared to the other programs on the networks.

The reason broadcast companies don’t give up on music programs, however, is because of the ‘package deals.’ Companies can secure an appearance from top stars, like Big Bang last week, on another of their variety program by securing them a performance slot in their music program in return.

▲ What about the concerts?

Music programs are, without a doubt, positive influences on the music industry and the Hallyu wave. Much of the success behind Korean idols overseas is reasoned to be the training they receive by making repetitive performances all week long on music programs.

What this hinders, however, is the concert market. The music market has been rearranged to cater to digital media while the global music market is focusing on garnering the majority of their income from concert profits. Korea is lagging behind in the concert department compared to their global counterparts.

It’s unheard of for an idol to open concerts on early in their careers, and even if they do, it’s made a big deal of because of how rare it is. In the neighboring Japanese market, idols are easily able to hold not only concerts, but nationwide tours, which is an aspect that the Korean music market needs to pick up.