This was a big year for fans of K-pop at Coachella, especially because we had a younger group and two Second-Gen icons perform at the festival. First up we had KATSEYE, who made headlines following the will-she-or-won't-she-appear speculation regarding Manon. Then we had TAEMIN, who made headlines as the first K-pop soloist to play at the festival. Following that, we had the one and only BIGBANG, who finally got their time to shine in the desert after their previous performance was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

As Coachella has grown, so, too, has K-pop. And, in a world where concerts are getting more expensive and other music festivals like Lollapalooza are gaining ground ... where does K-pop fit in?

Is landing a spot at the biggest music festival a smart brand investment or is it merely a vanity performance? Let's discuss.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• A brief overview of the history of K-pop at Coachella
• The K-pop "multiverse" at the festival (according to us)
• The presence (erm, lack of?) Manon at the festival
• Our takeaways from the key K-pop performances at Week 1 & 2
• KATSEYE: Pinky Up — Is this the group's signature sound now?
• TAEMIN: The MJ references and his perfectionism on full display
• BIGBANG: Why the second weekend was the better show for older fans
• Our Big Q: What is K-pop's place at Coachella and is it worth it for artists?
• The reality of how industry connections determine the artist lineup
• The K-pop groups we think will debut at Coachella next year

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: itsakpopthing@alkemielab.com

*This is Part 1 of a mini-series on the Return of BTS*

We're trying something new on the pod ... a mini-series! It's been nearly 4 years since the 7 members of BTS released new music as a group and there's plenty to talk about. To mark the occasion we're taking a close look at what this moment means for BTS and for the industry as a whole.

To kick off this mini-series, we're rewinding a few weeks to the group's first performance in Seoul in front of Gwanghwamun in Seoul, South Korea. We chat with a journalist and fan who saw the comeback concert in person and was lucky enough to be up close to center stage. We also discuss the album's rise to the top of the charts and whether or not the Netflix livestream lived up to fans' expectations.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Setting the Stage

• ARIRANG's dominance on the Billboard charts
• The album in numbers: the sales, streams and milestones
• Crowd attendance: How many people actually showed up for the comeback?
• About the director of the Netflix Livestream: Hamish Hamilton
• Why the Netflix livestream maybe missed the mark
• What K-pop fans really want to see during a performance

Interview with Philiana Ng

• Winning a raffle prize on WeVerse - what are the odds?
• What the concert was really like for fans in the audience
• What the cameras didn't capture about the members on stage
• Does the new album represent BTS 2.0?

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Philiana Ng is an entertainment journalist who regularly covers television. You can find her work on publications like Yahoo! MSN, the Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Tonight, among others.

• Instagram: @philiana1
• X: @insidethetube

SHOW LINKS & ARTICLES:

• BTS the Comeback Live: Arirang’: 10 things you didn’t see on TV during the Netflix special (Gold Derby)
• BTS rampages back to the top of the charts (NPR)
• BTS stays at No. 1 on the charts — and thwarts Ye in the process (NPR)

CREDITS:

This episode was produced, recorded and edited by Theresa Avila. Our theme music is by Edna Lugo. Our cover art design is by Alejandro Abarca.

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: itsakpopthing@alkemielab.com

"NCity is on fire."

That's what it seems like for NCTzens everywhere who, in the last few days have faced the unexpected bombshell news of Mark Lee saying goodbye to NCT and SM Entertainment. As if that wasn't bad enough news, days later, TEN also announced that he was leaving the company. But, crucially, TEN clarified that he would remain a part of NCT and WayV.

Still, it's little salve for fans of the group (us included!) who have to now reckon with an uncertain future as key members of NCT have officially departed the group.

It's also hard NOT to think about other recent K-pop departures. So if you're in your feels about this era of NCT coming to a close, tune in and process thing with us.

Tune in to hear:

• What made Mark Lee's departure all the more shocking
• What impact each NCT member had in the group
• Mark's history at SM Entertainment — we saw him grow up!
• How Mark's Christian faith influenced his music
• How we define an "Ace" member in K-pop
• What Danielle, Heeseung, Manon and Mark have in common
• How 2nd and 3rd Gen K-pop groups dealt with missing members
• Our theories on why Mark left the group
• What might be next for Mark next
• Our hopes for NCT moving forward

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:

• It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
• Alexis: @hoe_doyan
• Theresa: @theresa__avila

CONTACT:
E-mail us at: itsakpopthing@alkemielab.com