In Kpop, whether you are in a group or solo, boys or girls, the fans has decided to label some artists as “underrated“.
But how do you decide that a group / artist is said to be “underrated” or not?
First, let’s start from the definition of “underrated“: if we take the basic translation, the word “underrated” means “underestimated“.
According to the Larousse definition of “underestimated” (french dictionnary): “Past participle of the verb to underestimate, meaning to give someone, something, a value, an importance lower than what they actually have”.
This would imply that the group or artist is not up to what he is capable of doing.
Is there a way to measure this level? Is it possible to have criteria to determine precisely which group / artist will be “underrated” or not?
If you ask fans what their criteria would be in order to determine this level to specify whether the group qualifies as “underrated” or not, what comes up most often is:
- The number of views on the group’s MVs (official channel);
- The number of participation in TV shows, whether musical or not;
- The amount of promotion in foreign countries;
- Participation in end of year ceremonies;
- The number of fans on the fan café;
- The percentage of foreign fans compared to Korean fans;
- The personal activities of each member…
By getting a little closer to certain criteria, we notice that these are not necessarily well defined.
At the time of writing this article, if we look at the criterion “number of views on the official channel of MV“: we have groups like BLACKPINK with their video “Ddu-du ddu-du” having 1.1 billion views or BTS with the MV of “DNA” and its 900 million views. And others, like N.TIC and the video for “Fiction” with 17 thousand views or IMFACT with the video “Lie” and its 64 thousand views.
What would be the level limit that would have the group pass over the “underrated” threshold. Is it 100,000 views, 1 million, 10 million, 100 million?
If we take a limit of 100 million of views, only BLACKPINK has all of its MV above this threshold. However, BTS has titles like “Dope” (40 million) or “N.O” (62 million) on its official channel which do not cross this threshold. Can we then assume that BTS is “underrated” compared to this example?
Should we lower the bar to 100 thousand views? GREATGUYS has all of its MV above this threshold, so with this choice the group should not be considered “underrated“. Except all of its fans see it that way.
On this criterion we note that it is still difficult to determine the degree of “underrated” or not, and therefore to find a set limit.
Let’s try with a second criterion: “the number of participation in TV shows” and more specifically musical shows like “The show, Mcountdown, Music Bank …”.
After various researches, on average, during the promotion of a comeback, participation in this type of program lasts between 3 and 4 weeks.
After having gathered the opinion of different fans, we could understand that the groups / artists known as “underrated” did not participate in these kind of shows or were doing very long promotions, well over a month.
If we take look at MY.st, which made its debut at the end of March 2020, indeed, the group is still on promotion in music TV shows, which would confirm this criterion.
This second criterion is therefore once again difficult to check, because depending on the choice of agencies for participation or not, also according to the choice of programs that want one group more than another, groups / artists will participate more or less in these musical TV shows. What we were able to notice, however, is that groups of medium or small categories of agencies can be called back during the broadcast of some shows to fill the lack of artists over certain weeks.
So, let’s take a final criterion to see if we can determine whether there is a possibility of claiming that a group / artist is “underrated” or not.
Let’s chose the criterion of “promotions abroad“. Indeed, many groups / artists called “underrated” would hold promotions / concerts abroad in countries where few groups go, or, with an almost exclusive promotion in Japan.
Indeed, many kpop artists have a career in Japan, touring the domes, like BIGBANG, SHINEE … but this remains huge venues with thousands of fans and a calculated promotion.
If we keep this promotion in Japan, it turns out that several young groups make their debut in that country before debuting in Korea. It was the case fore group AWEEK. Others, who can not fill huge venues, as they have not debuted yet, or their success is not yet achieved, are promoting in small places, like BLACK6IX, D-CRUNCH …
Some fans even tell us that there is a place they would call “the last chance venue“.
Apparently, this criterion could be a good indicator of groups / artists “underrated“, should it still be applicable to all the groups that we wish to qualify as such. And it turns out that the girls groups partake little in that kind of promotion, therefore making the analysis once again difficult.
Given these 3 examples, we have tried to show if there were precise and quantifiable criteria to qualify groups / artists as “underrated“.
Each time, for each of the criteria, it turns out that there are always exceptions, whether it has to do with the choice of the agencies, the way of carrying out a promotion, the places. In addition, depending on the era, a group / artist can go from “underrated” to “non-underrated“. Like for example the group BTS in its first years compared to now or alternatively the group F(x) with its first songs and the ones from these last years.
In the end, if we look back on the first definition, “give someone, something, a value, importance less than what they actually have“, each fan may think that the group / artist they appreciate so much is “underrated” depending on the value they grant to it.
BLACKPINK could be “underrated” because of doing little promotion in TV shows, and having very few MVs released in a year and during their current career.
2PM could be “underrated” because it has no group activity since the members are in the army.
FAVORITE would be “underrated” due to the 41 thousand views of its MV for “Loca“.
…
Therefore, the word “underrated” can very easily be attributed to almost all artists depending on what each expects from them.
And you, what is your criterion to define that a group is “underrated” or not? Does “Underrated” rhyme with “underestimated” or “lack of popularity“?
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Corrections: Lyva
Source: Youtube
