As a music reviewer, what do you want to see more in today's artists? Whether in K-pop or in the west. For me, it would be more innovation and creativity, and not a gimmick to sell records and make money.
First off, I want to see more talent! I've always said this about kpop groups but really, the ratios between outstanding voices, so-so vocalists and completely useless members are so messed up. A group with 2 strong singers is considered "talented," and that's probably one of my biggest frustrations with kpop. This is a MUSIC industry, and these idol groups exist because they release MUSIC -- if they cannot even contribute to their own primary products then why are they in the music industry at all? You don't see bad dancers allowed in dance troupes/groups just because they "sing well" or are pretty, do you? Athletes in teams may not always be outstanding, but they at least have to know how to play the sport. I really, genuinely don't understand why the music industry seems oblivious to this.
And I'd also like to see a shift back to the practice of making good music and not just profitable music. Music and marketing *can* go hand-in-hand, yes, and in the current industry they definitely should -- but good marketing is no excuse to slack off on making good material. I say this not because I think all of pop is sub-par, but because I have seen countless talented, brilliant musicians and practitioners take pop music seriously as a legitimate form of music -- and I have also seen how hard they need to fight the industry to get their work. I have seen, firsthand, what good music and good marketing can do together but I also know the blood, sweat and tears that went into productions like those.
And I'd also like to see a shift back to the practice of making good music and not just profitable music. Music and marketing *can* go hand-in-hand, yes, and in the current industry they definitely should -- but good marketing is no excuse to slack off on making good material. I say this not because I think all of pop is sub-par, but because I have seen countless talented, brilliant musicians and practitioners take pop music seriously as a legitimate form of music -- and I have also seen how hard they need to fight the industry to get their work. I have seen, firsthand, what good music and good marketing can do together but I also know the blood, sweat and tears that went into productions like those.
