Tag: generation z

Cómo México se convirtió en uno de los mayores hubs de K-Pop en Spotify

August 13, 2025

Con una mezcla vibrante de pop, hip-hop, R&B, electrónica y rock, el K-Pop en México no es solo un género: es una forma de vida. Con más de 14 millones de fans del K-Pop en Spotify, México se posiciona como el quinto mercado más grande del mundo para este fenómeno, y el único país de habla hispana dentro del top 10 global. Desde picos de reproducciones hasta enormes comunidades de fans, la pasión por el K-Pop en México se vive con fuerza.

Para celebrar el Día Mundial del K-Pop, destacamos las tendencias de escucha y el poder del fandom que han hecho de Spotify un epicentro para la escucha de K-Pop en México. Descubre los datos clave en nuestra infografía.

Un fandom como ningún otro

La ola coreana es un movimiento que lleva años tomando fuerza. Llegó a México en los 2000, cuando los dramas coreanos y sus bandas sonoras despertaron curiosidad. Pero fue en la década de 2010, con la llegada de grupos como BTS, BLACKPINK, TWICE, Stray Kids, y Red Velvet, cuando el K-Pop realmente explotó. Desde entonces, los streams de K-Pop en Spotify México se han disparado, creciendo más de un 500% solo en los últimos cinco años.

¿Qué hace diferente al fandom mexicano? No es solo la cantidad de horas que pasan escuchando—sobre todo la Gen Z—sino la forma en que viven y respiran el K-Pop. En México, los fans no solo escuchan: se organizan, crean y celebran. Llenan conciertos, hacen eventos temáticos y bazares, y construyen comunidades vibrantes. En redes sociales, son una fuerza imparable: marcan tendencias, apoyan a sus idols y difunden la cultura del K-Pop por todos lados. Incluso integran el sabor local, incorporando elementos de la cultura mexicana en fan art, memes y todo tipo de expresiones creativas.

Por qué el K-Pop conecta en México

La narrativa emocional y los visuales deslumbrantes del K-Pop han tocado una fibra muy especial en los oyentes mexicanos. Las canciones abordan temas universales como el amor, la amistad y el superar obstáculos, creando un sentido de comunidad y pertenencia entre los fans. Para muchos, el idioma no es una barrera: la música y los artistas se sienten cercanos y auténticos.

“Los artistas de K-Pop conectan con sus fans al mostrarse reales y hablar abiertamente de sus emociones, algo que resuena profundamente con los jóvenes en México”, dijo Alejandro Grageda, Head of Music de Spotify México. “También promueven una visión optimista del mundo—algo que inspira a los fans a soñar, creer en un futuro mejor y construir comunidades fuertes y solidarias.”

En Spotify nos enorgullece haber sido parte del crecimiento del K-Pop en México, ofreciendo un espacio para descubrir nueva música y celebrar a sus idols favoritos. Seguiremos apoyando a la comunidad, a los artistas y a los momentos que hacen tan especial a este género.

Dale play a la playlist insignia de Spotify K-Pop ON! (온) para escuchar los últimos hits. Y mantente al pendiente de una serie de videos especial que celebra la pasión y creatividad de los fans mexicanos del K-Pop, muy pronto en @spotifymexico.

How Mexico Became One of the World’s Biggest K-Pop Hubs on Spotify

August 13, 2025

A vibrant blend of pop, hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and rock, K-Pop is more than just a genre in Mexico—it’s a way of life. With more than 14 million K-Pop fans on Spotify, Mexico stands as the genre’s fifth-largest market worldwide and the only Spanish-speaking country in the global top 10. From streaming surges to massive fan communities, Mexico’s passion for K-Pop runs deep.

To celebrate World K-Pop Day, we’re spotlighting the streaming trends and fandom power that make Spotify an epicenter for K-Pop discovery in Mexico. Explore the highlights in our infographic below.

A fandom like no other

The Korean wave is a movement that’s been building for years. It first hit Mexico in the 2000s, when Korean television dramas and their soundtracks sparked curiosity. But it was the arrival of groups like BTS, BLACKPINK, TWICE, Stray Kids, and Red Velvet in the 2010s that truly ignited a K-Pop explosion. Since then, K-Pop streams on Spotify in Mexico have skyrocketed, growing by more than 500% in the last five years alone.

What sets Mexican fans apart? It’s not just the hours spent streaming—especially among Gen Z—but the way they live and breathe K-Pop. Devotees in Mexico organize, create, and celebrate. They fill concert venues, host themed events and bazaars, and build thriving communities. On social media, they’re a force—starting trends, supporting their idols, and spreading K-Pop culture far and wide. And they put their own spin on the movement, weaving Mexican culture into fan art, memes, and other creative content.

Why K-Pop resonates in Mexico

K-Pop’s emotional storytelling and dazzling visuals have struck a powerful chord with Mexican listeners. The songs explore universal themes like love, friendship, and overcoming obstacles, helping foster a sense of community and belonging among fans. For many, language isn’t a barrier—the music and artists still feel personal and relatable.

“K-Pop artists connect with fans by being real and speaking openly about their feelings, which really resonates with young listeners in Mexico,” said Alejandro Grageda, Head of Music, Spotify Mexico. “They also promote an optimistic vision of the world—something that inspires fans to dream, believe in something better, and build strong, supportive communities together.”

Spotify is proud to have played a part in K-Pop’s rise in Mexico, offering listeners a place to discover new music and celebrate their favorite idols. We’ll keep supporting the community, the artists, and the moments that make this genre so special.

Press play on Spotify’s flagship K-Pop ON! (온) playlist to hear the latest hits. And stay tuned for a special video series celebrating the passion and creativity of Mexican K-Pop fans, coming soon to @spotifymexico.

How South Africa’s Gen Zs Are Reshaping Maskandi Culture for a New Era

June 17, 2025

In South Africa, the rebirth and resurgence of the vibrant folk genre Maskandi has captured the attention of music fans, becoming the country’s fastest-growing sound on Spotify over the past two years.

Steeped in Zulu storytelling traditions, Maskandi has spanned generations and has typically resonated mostin rural parts of the country, including the KwaZulu-Natal province it originated from. But as artists fuse Maskandi’s sound with Amapiano, gospel, and hip-hop, urban Gen Zs are embracing the genre as a way to reclaim their heritage and express their cultural fluency. The result? A full-blown Maskandi renaissance, fueled by pride, experimentation, and authentic storytelling.

A genre reinvented for a new era

On Spotify, nearly half of Maskandi’s listeners are under 35, and many are gravitating to our Bhinca Nation playlist, which is the destination for the genre’s hottest hits. Averaging more than 2 million plays each month, the playlist has grown by more than 3,000% since 2022.

This growing spotlight has also translated into dramatic rises in streams for many of Maskandi’s biggest names:

  • Umafikizolo, Mshinwemali, and Sminofu have all seen their fusion-forward sounds resonate across demographics. Since 2023, their streams are up 897%, 495%, and 258%, respectively.
  • Genre torchbearers Inkos’yamagcokama and Mzukulu continue to lead with consistency, with their streams growing 86% and 79%, respectively.
  • Meanwhile, LIMIT NALA and MENZI MUSIC are quickly turning heads and generating buzz as newcomers to the scene.

These aren’t just stats—they’re signals. Listeners are hungry for music that’s both culturally grounded and globally fluent. More than just a streaming destination, Spotify is soundtracking a movement and reshaping what it means to be proudly Zulu in a hyperconnected world.

Capturing a generational shift

As Maskandi’s revival grows larger, we want to uplift artists and help them build deeper connections with loyal fans, while introducing them to new listeners around the world. That’s why we’ve kept an ear to the ground, and working with the Consumer Insights Agency, we recently commissioned an in-depth report uncovering the trends driving this movement.

Read on for the six key trends shaping the future of Maskandi, revealing how this age-old art form is being reinvented for a new generation.