title: K-POP Now!: The Korean Music Revolution
author:  Mark James Russell 
description: "With K-pop being the most talked-about product coming out of Korea today, Koreans and non-Koreans alike ask: <i>So what is K-pop?</i> Between the covers of this book, you will find the closest thing you can get to an answer. This is a comprehensive and timely guidebook on K-pop by someone who can describe and explain it better than any other I know, by a Western expert who has been following K-pop more closely and with more passion than Koreans." &#8212;<b>Choe Sang-Hun, <i>New York Times</i> Korea Correspondent</b><br /><br />"Mark Russell understands popular Korean music as well as anyone, Korean or foreign, and his latest effort doesn't disappoint. <i>K-Pop Now!</i> gives an honest, fascinating account of the development of the K-pop machine, and is written with obvious enthusiasm for the subject. Mr. Russell goes beyond the boy bands and girl groups, and is as comfortable discussing Cho Yong-pil as he is 2PM. Korea's star is rising, thanks in part to its music industry. If you want to know how that industry works, who the main players are, and what the future holds for them, look no further than this book." &#8212;<b>Daniel Tudor, former Korea correspondent for <i>The Economist</i> and author of <i>Korea: The Impossible Country</i></b><br /><br />"K-pop has breathed new life into global pop music, proving that catchy, hummable tunes never go out of style. And Mark Russell, with his long experience and in-depth knowledge of South Korea's music scene, has written an engaging and comprehensive account of how K-pop took over the world." &#8212;<b>Steve McClure, former <I>Billboard</I> magazine Asia Bureau Chief and publisher of <I>McClure Music News</I></b><br /><br />"The experience of looking at yourself with someone else's eyes always brings up special emotions. Sometimes it reveals the parts that you want to hide so bad that you forget about them. Sometimes another point of view creates an opportunity for positive discussion and a new interpretation. Mark has been watching and studying the changes to the Korean music scene, finding the exquisite spots where many boundaries&#8212;neither inside nor outside&#8212;cross, and moving from one such spot to another. His views are both systematic and professional, and yet he never loses balance or his sense of humor, always presenting stimulating points of view." &#8212;<b>Cho TaeSang; Director of <i>Byul.org</i></b><br /><br />"Mark Russell knows the South Korean entertainment industry inside and out. He writes about Korean pop with expertise, warmth and infectious enthusiasm. Russell gets both the trends and the context. He's a delight to read." &#8212;<b>Dr. Jeffrey Gedmin, President and CEO, the Legatum Institute</b><br /><br />"This book provides rare insights into the personalities and inner workings of the fascinating world of K-Pop. Mark Russell not only explores and explains this vibrant musical phenomenon&#8212;he provides a window onto a trend that is shaping popular youth culture throughout Asia and the world. K-Pop Now! is an essential read for everyone who wants to understand the evolving popular tastes in this vital part of the globe." &#8212;<b>Gwen Robinson, <i>Financial Times</i> Southeast Asia correspondent</b><br /><br />"Having written about Korean pop culture and lived in Korea for more than a decade, Mark Russell is uniquely qualified to talk about K-pop." &#8212;<b>Shin Hyun-joon, research professor specializing in modern Korean music at Sungkonghoe University</b><br /><br />"It's an enjoyable and informative read which strikes a good balance between out-and-out fandom and critique, and can be warmly recommended." &#8212;<b><i>London Korean Links</i></b>
zlib_text: 24                International Journal of Korean Studies • Fall/Winter 2018 
  How K-pop Broke the West: 
  An Analysis of Western Media Coverage from 2009 to 2019 
   
  Jenna Gibson 
  University of Chicago 
   
  Abstract 
   
  Over the last decade, Western publics have gradually caught on to the K-
  pop phenomenon; the Korean Wave has arrived on European and North 
  American shores and shows no signs of receding. Heightened interest has 
  corresponded with increased mainstream media coverage, both among 
  news and entertainment outlets. This article analyzes mainstream media 
  coverage of the Korean Wave from 2009 to 2019, including an 
  examination of overall trends in K-pop framing over time. This analysis 
  suggests that coverage of K-pop in Western media has proceeded through 
  four distinct stages of development: 1) Introductory Stage, 2) Gangnam 
  Style Stage, 3) Korean Wave Stage, and 4) Mainstreaming Stage. This 
  article also examines how the changing portrayal of K-pop for general 
  audiences has c