ive been thinking about why i like kpop/bts a lot more than western artists, and why people that prefer western artists are so quick to hate on kpop, and in my opinion, it narrows down to three things.

1. the music. obviously, what the songs sound like is a crucial factor in liking an artist or a genre. it's hard to categorize kpop in a genre, because there are so many groups/soloists and all types of songs in kpop. many locals, however, believe kpop to be overproduced

and bubbly loud pop. which is true, there are songs like that, and it's not everyone's taste. this point really applies to all different kind of artists, not just kpop vs western, so it really isn't a main factor imo. the next two points are, though.

2. the performance. kpop isn't just about music, there is the visual aspect. the choreo, the visuals, the music videos. i think it can be said that most stans value performance just as much as the music. this can be different from locals, who might just be content with listening

and not needing dance or special effects. but in award shows, you can clearly see the difference between grammy performances and mama performances. both are great in their own right, but you can't deny that there is a difference between singing with a mic stand with confetti and

intense group choreo with perfectly timed camera angles. hard work goes into both types of performances, but to me, i think the intense, flashy performance aspect of kpop is what really sets it apart from western artists and is a main reason for why i like it more. third point.

3. the process. the music production, lyric writing, etc. many locals believe that kpop is manufactured, that the idols just sing songs given to them that are made by groups of people hired to create the perfect song. and maybe that is what happens with some groups. that does not

make them less than artists who create their own songs in any way. as most kpop stans know though, there are many groups and idols that take part in the production and lyric writing process, some more than others. and what's funny to me is that, the fact that artists dont write

or produce their own songs in kpop is so highlighted by locals and it's one of the first things brought up, yet many western artists dont produce or write their own songs either. it doesnt matter whether they do or not, but some people value the authenticity, for the artists they

like to make their own music, and that's opinion, too. many locals will say they value authenticity, but the large gap in understanding what goes on in kpop and what goes on in western music is quite obvious as both types of music have artists that produce and artists that dont.

in conclusion, the main reason there is such a difference in the way kpop and western music is perceived differently is because while most people know the intricacies of western music, most people (obv not kpop stans) do not know the intricacies of kpop. bc in the end, they are

both entertainment industries and will both have a manufactured aspect to them. it is just that for some reason, this aspect is highlighted a lot more in kpop. to locals, the in sync choreo, the large scale performances, the survival shows, the trainee system, are all very

manufactured. and it is, there's no denying that. but they fail to understand that western music is the same, and that all entertainment has a dark side. it's not fair to only focus on the dark side of the kpop industry and use it to hate on all the artists bc there is a

dark side to western ent too. and this is why i hate it when locals say that they are just expressing their opinion when disliking kpop. you cant express an opinion if you dont know all the facts. and yes, many of us grew up with western music, so we have more background on it.

but we dont have a background with kpop, so unless you are a stan, then you dont really understand the industry as a whole. just like i wont say that i dislike heavy metal because i have no experience in listening to that kind of music, it shouldnt be right for locals to say

that they hate kpop with no experience in that genre. in a way, by saying that the kpop industry is dehumanizing and manufactured, they themselves dehumanize the kpop artists that have worked and trained their lives to be on stage. it's simply a matter of misinformation and

double standards. just a thought . and also !!my opinion!!