KARACHI: Spotify celebrated the anniversary of its global K-Pop playlist, K-Pop ON! , which is dedicated to helping listeners discover and tune in to the best of the genre. To commemorate the milestone, the world’s most popular audio streaming platform launched a special Spotify Singles series as part of “My First K-POP Crush Campaign”, headlined by ENHYPEN, SHOWNU X HYUNGWON (of MONSTA X) and STAYC
Rising K-pop powerhouse ENHYPEN kicked off the series with their rendition of BTS’ “I NEED U.” Their unique take on the beloved track, produced exclusively for Spotify, was the first of three Spotify-exclusive covers from this all-star line-up of K-Pop artists, each paying tribute to the sunbaes (seniors) who fueled their passion for the genre.
“This Spotify K-Pop ON! Single means a lot to us. Besides bringing a new song to ENGENES (our fans), this was our chance to tell the stories of our early days with K-Pop through a song that the members loved,” said ENHYPEN. “We’ve always appreciated Spotify’s support for our music, so it’s an honor to be a part of its K-Pop ON! Anniversary celebrations. We hope listeners enjoy our rendition of “I NEED U” and we can’t wait to hear their First K-Pop Crush stories too!
Following in the footsteps of SHOWN X, MONSTA X’s HYUNGWON paid a heartfelt tribute to the legendary 2PM with their cover of “I Hate You”. Filled with British garage beats and R&B-inspired arrangements, the duo’s rendition reflected their admiration for the iconic track and its profound influence on their musical journey.
Rounding out the set was K-pop pioneers STAYC who paid tribute to TWICE with their rendition of “FANCY”. Adding an R&B twist to the 2019 electropop hit, STAYC’s cover captures the essence of the original while showcasing their signature style and innovation.
These Spotify K-Pop ON! The singles are not only a nod to each fan’s journey into the genre, which began with the first K-pop artist who made their hearts flutter with his artistry and talent, but also a call to K-pop fans around the world to join in celebrating a shared passion for the genre and the artists that started it all.
In 2014, Spotify launched its flagship playlist for the genre as part of its efforts to encourage the discovery and introduction of K-Pop to its global audience. Since then, K-Pop ON! has been “saved” by more than 5.3 million Spotify users worldwide and has garnered billions of streams for Korean artists.
The power of Spotify’s platform, along with its intentional mindset to drive music discovery, has fueled a massive acceleration in K-Pop streams. Since 2018, K-Pop streams on Spotify have increased by 182% in the United States, by 423% in Southeast Asia, and by 362% globally.
Listen to “I NEED U – Spotify Singles” by ENHYPEN, “I Hate You (2024) – Spotify Singles” by SHOWNU X HYUNGWON, and “Fancy – Spotify Singles” by STAYC on K-pop ON Spotify! (온) playlist today.
