This year, the girl group aespa drew attention with their reinterpretation of Seo Taiji and Boys’ ‘Regret of the Times’ (Image courtesy of SM Entertainment)
SEOUL, Mar. 4 (Korea Bizwire) –The trend of reinterpreting classic hits has taken the music scene by storm, with over three-quarters of users on Melon, South Korea’s leading music streaming service, having listened to a so-called ‘remake’ track released this year.
Data Lab, Melon’s analytics arm, reported that remake tracks released this year amassed a staggering 250 million streams by February 21. Remarkably, 78% of Melon’s total streaming audience has tuned into these new releases, showcasing the widespread appeal of modern takes on beloved classics.
In 2022, the platform witnessed the release of 1,384 remake tracks, marking a 13% increase from the 1,227 tracks unveiled the previous year. Many of these remakes originated from competitive music shows, although a significant number were also independently produced by artists, rising from 262 in 2022 to 338 last year, with 52 already released this year.
Melon highlighted the enduring popularity and interest in remake projects, which continue to captivate audiences with their fresh interpretations of timeless songs.
Since 2022, Melon’s 5.25 million users have collectively streamed remake tracks nearly 1.94 billion times. These songs have consistently made their mark on major music charts, including Melon’s Top 100, with several reaching the number one spot on daily charts. Hits such as Lim Jae-hyun’s ‘Rhapsody of Sadness, NCT Dream’s ‘Candy’, Huh Gak’s ‘Of Course’, Tei’s ‘Monologue’, Wheein’s ‘You, You’, and Kassy’s ‘Always Love You’ have all garnered significant attention.
Kim Min-seok of MeloMance achieved remarkable success with his remake of Feel’s ‘Drunken Confession’, climbing to third place on the annual chart for 2022 and holding the number one position for 42 days, exemplifying the potential of successful remake projects.
This year, the girl group aespa drew attention with their reinterpretation of Seo Taiji and Boys’ ‘Regret of the Times’, while Mamamoo’s Solar made waves with her version of Kim Kwang-seok’s ‘Though I Loved You’. Infinite’s Kim Sung-kyu also made headlines with his unique renditions of Jaurim’s ‘I’m Sorry, I Hate You’ and Lee So-ra’s ‘The Wind Blows’.
In a statement, Melon commented on the popularity of reinterpreted tracks, noting, “Remake projects have firmly established themselves as an indispensable trend in the music industry of the 2020s, offering fresh perspectives on classic tunes.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
