The resurgence of K-pop’s popularity in Japan is palpable, with concert attendance figures from the first half of 2023 signaling a strong recovery that likely eclipses pre-pandemic levels. According to the All Japan Concert & Live Entertainment Promoters Conference (ACPC), K-pop artists attracted 2.75 million fans across the country during this period. This surge is expected to lead to a yearly total that surpasses the 3.56 million concertgoers of 2019.
Ticket sales for popular groups like Blackpink and Seventeen are booming, with the average price of a K-pop concert ticket at about $86, a significant premium over other music genres. These performances accounted for one in ten of all concert attendees in Japan in the six months reviewed.
The broader live entertainment scene in Japan has also seen a robust return of international artists, buoyed by the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and changes to immigration control laws that facilitate longer stays for performers. North American artists led the pack with 422 shows, while the Asia-Oceania region saw a substantial increase in performances.
This revival is further supported by legal adjustments that have simplified the visa process for foreign artists, promising an even more vibrant concert season ahead. With the appeal of outdoor festivals growing, Japan stands as a critical market for K-pop’s global expansion, suggesting that the upbeat trend in live entertainment is set to continue.
