3 Things That Happened In March That Indicate K-Pop Is Headed For Global Domination

Over the past decade or so, K-Pop has steadily been gaining fans in the far corners of the globe. This is partly due to the non-stop infectious beats, colorful and creative music videos, and scads of good-looking, talented young stars - and partially thanks to the internet's various social media platforms (such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter).

At the moment, it seems like K-Pop's moment in the spotlight is only just beginning as every day Korean idols continue to break records and gain new fans from all over the world.

So far, 2014 is shaping up to be K-Pop's most internationally successful year to date. March has come and gone, leaving behind it a legacy of global proportions and if the current trend keeps up, we are looking at a major shift in the music industry by the end of the year.

Looking back at the past month there are several milestones that stick out, but three in particular are major clues that the spread of K-Pop's influence has only just begun.

2NE1-Girls' Generation Showdown

March was a big month for two of K-Pop's leading girl groups, 2NE1 and Girls' Generation. Embodying two very distinct sides of the genre, both groups made major comebacks in March and duked it out on the music charts.

2NE1's CRUSH album and Girls' Generation's Mr.Mr garnered tremendous interest from media outlets around the world, keeping both groups in the spotlight for much of the month.

As news coverage continues, fans can expect to see the two groups pop up in all sorts of entertainment platforms in the coming months, including 2NE1's scheduled appearance on the upcoming season of America's Next Top Model.

SXSW: K-Pop Night Out

With each passing year Austin, Texas is getting more and more Koreanized. Every March the city is taken over by the prestigious SXSW festival, a celebration of all things music and entertainment. This year's festival saw the biggest participation from Korean artists to date.

On March 11, SXSW hosted the 'K-Pop Night Out', a showcase of the varied talents of some of Korea's biggest and most influential stars.

This year, hip-hop sensation Jay Park, 4Minute and Troublemaker member HyunA, as well as popular rock bands Nell and Crying Nut performed for the SXSW crowds bringing the house down and ensuring that Korean musicians will be a welcomed addition to the festival for many years to come.

Krowdpop and the Age of Crowdsourced K-Pop

K-Pop boy band Teen Top made history this past month by becoming the first Korean band to successfully tour the US through a crowdsourcing platform.

Krowdpop, a new site that allows fans around the world to suggest, vote for, and pre-fund local concerts by their favorite K-Pop groups and singers, kicked off in March with Teen Top's 'High Kick' world tour and four stops in North America.

The new crowdsourcing platform is on track to becoming the predominate method for Korean groups to preform live shows abroad and reach a greater number of fans worldwide.

March may have been a big month for K-Pop and its ever-expanding popularity, but it's only the beginning. The spring season is expected to bring with it a host of comebacks, debuts, and collaborations that fans all around the world are eager to experience.

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2NE1
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crying nut
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