If you haven't been living under a rock all this time, you've certainly heard about k-pop. Just to refresh your memory, k-pop refers to a popular music genre from South Korea. Now, it's present everywhere, ranging from Netflix dramas to Korean skincare products. K-pop has quickly transformed into a global phenomenon and it's not hard to understand why. The songs are addictive. We can all remember PSY's Gangnam Style. Plus, there's the slick choreography. 

The question now is: Is k-pop just another social media fad? Of course, it's not. South Korean pop has proved that it's a spectacular cultural phenomenon. To be more precise, it didn't happen by accident. K-pop groups have succeeded in reaching out to international audiences. The cultural values are integrated into the contemporary youth culture, so we have a combination of Korean culture with western culture. Many say that this was a revolutionary process. Well, it certainly has been impressive. 

Recipe for success ingredients 

The success of k-pop was big and fast, which is why some people have been taken by surprise. If you take a close look at the ingredients, you'll immediately understand the recipe for success. Strategic talent management and building relationships via social media are the base of success. Let us examine these ingredients one by one. 

Strategic talent management 

The most important resource in music is talent. We're talking about smart, sophisticated talent. Those who are born with it make the best musicians. They don't spend hours at an end practicing just so that they can get it right. However, talent is the least important part of being an artist. Discipline matters more. People from South Korea know this all too well. They scout young talents and help them build discipline for their future musical career. 

K-pop musicians give their best, all the time hoping that the professional debut isn't far. Even if they've been gifted by nature, these kids take classes in singing, dancing, and acting. Some of them even become fluent in foreign languages. The point is that great efforts go into building a team of artists. It may look like success happens overnight, but it's rarely the case. It's more likely a case of success in the making.  

Using social media to build great relationships  

According to the experts at Famoid, social media has given artists control over the way they distribute their work. They now have the incredible opportunity to bypass industry conventions and reach out to fans. Social media follows in the footsteps of radio and TV. It has significantly contributed to the promotion of k-pop music. YouTube, as well as other platforms, can be used for music distribution, interacting with fans, and, last but not least, raise awareness of new music genres. 

K-pop has offered us all an important lesson in social media marketing. Maximizing various social media channels is a great way to increase exposure and build long-lasting relationships with the audience. It's important to engage with fans online and offline in the entertainment business. Anyone who uses the k-pop social media strategy is likely to be successful.