BLACKPINK celebrated their seven-year journey from being a rookie K-pop group to becoming one of the world’s top girl groups with their global tour “Born Pink”
During the tour, the members reflected on their past and faced the uncertainty of the future, particularly regarding Lisa’s contract renewal issue. Despite the ongoing discussions, the concerts were overwhelming, with a grand scale and a non-stop parade of hit songs. BLACKPINK’s future remains uncertain, but as Jennie mentioned during the concert, their commitment to becoming an even more fantastic BLACKPINK is the only clear resolution at this moment.
Lisa’s importance to BLACKPINK both musically and in terms of popularity is mentioned. Her contract negotiations pose a significant crossroads not only for the group but also for their agency YG Entertainment. BLACKPINK’s achievements over the past 7 years have solidified their status as one of the greatest girl groups in K-pop history, with massive global popularity, unique image and tremendous brand value.
BLACKPINK’s debut was a sensation, and they updated YG Entertainment’s girl group formula with a more luxurious and global image. They consistently built their image and music to cater to the preferences of the new generation’s global market. Their music was catchier and more addictive than many contemporary girl groups, their stage presence was charismatic, and their music videos and photoshoots were lavish and glamorous.
What’s remarkable is that BLACKPINK’s fully formed star image was showcased from their debut. Unlike many K-pop girl groups that initially present themselves with a cute and innocent image and then transition into a more mature and sexy concept, BLACKPINK combined aggressive and tough female images with beautiful and glamorous visuals, essentially pioneering a new model for modern, urban K-pop girl groups.
As K-pop entered its third generation, entering the global market became not just a choice but a necessity. BLACKPINK was perfectly suited to meet these demands. They had a modern sound based on black music genres like hip-hop and R&B, fluent English-speaking members, polished and confident stage manners that did not falter even among American pop stars, and visuals that matched high-end luxury brands.
Foreign media even compared them to Western acts like Fifth Harmony and Little Mix. BLACKPINK’s global stature, both in terms of popularity and brand recognition, set them apart. They conquered the world of social media, gaining more recognition than most Western pop stars. The success of 4th generation girl groups currently gaining attention in overseas markets was only possible through the path BLACKPINK paved.
BLACKPINK occupies a significant place in the history of girl groups. Just as The Supremes defined girl groups in the 1960s and TLC and Destiny’s Child did in the 1990s, BLACKPINK has become the iconic girl group of the current era. Their influence on modern girl group aesthetics and music is undeniable.
Source: Daum
