As tradition goes, Spotify and Apple Music, the two leading music streaming apps, simultaneously introduced their Wrapped 2023/Replay 2023 feature recently. This section is highly anticipated by users due to its intriguing content, reflecting music tastes and favorite artists over the past year.
K-pop, being a dynamic music market, continually introduces newcomers with a plethora of competitive and high-quality products vying for the top spot, with increasing influence internationally.
According to Spotify’s Year-end charts, BTS once again stands on top as the most-streamed group on Global Spotify in 2023. BTS also placed 19th on 2023 Spotify Wrapped’s “Top Artist of 2023”, becoming the highest and only charting K-pop Act on the chart.
It is evident that BTS’s allure has not waned despite the group’s temporary hiatus last and amid their focus on individual promotions and fulfilling military duties.
Additionally, in the rankings for Spotify’s Top Groups of 2023, 5 K-pop Acts made the lists alongside BTS. In particular, BLACKPINK is the highest-ranking female representative at #11, followed closely by NewJeans at #13, Stray Kids at #16, TWICE at #25, and SEVENTEEN at #36.
Looking back, HYBE is the most outstanding “empire,” not only in South Korea but also impressing global music fans. The emerging conglomerate has 3 out of 5 groups under its wing leading K-pop streaming in 2023 on Spotify (BTS, NewJeans, SEVENTEEN). 3 out of 4 K-pop songs in the Spotify’s most streamed songs globally in 2023 also belong to HYBE, as follows: #4 “Seven (Explicit ver.)” – Jung Kook (feat. Latto); #24 “Cupid (Twin Ver.)” – Fifty Fifty; #41 “Like Crazy” – Jimin; #48 “OMG” – NewJeans.
Source: K14
