melissa johnson
@mjohnso.bsky.social
⭐ k-pop writer
⭐ writing at http://blog.mjohnso.com
⭐ writing at http://blog.mjohnso.com
I think this does jive with what I have been observing, where as k-pop has expanded globally, much less attention has been paid to its place in Japan, even though k-pop groups are very active there. I mean, these were the releases just from October
November 16, 2025 at 9:43 PM
I think this does jive with what I have been observing, where as k-pop has expanded globally, much less attention has been paid to its place in Japan, even though k-pop groups are very active there. I mean, these were the releases just from October
These two images have the same energy
November 5, 2025 at 12:13 AM
These two images have the same energy
Have been kicking around thoughts about Japanese pop culture/visual styles making their way into k-pop only for nugu rookie group Tomatomat to drop these teasers
September 30, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Have been kicking around thoughts about Japanese pop culture/visual styles making their way into k-pop only for nugu rookie group Tomatomat to drop these teasers
Miss those days when we came by our nonsensical signage in k-pop music videos honestly
September 15, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Miss those days when we came by our nonsensical signage in k-pop music videos honestly
FC ENM Entertainment holding auditions for members for a group they plan to debut this year, just further proves my point that the way we think of how groups are formed ( audition, train for years & agencies select from their trainee pool when making a group) is wrong, or at the very least dated
August 10, 2025 at 11:50 PM
FC ENM Entertainment holding auditions for members for a group they plan to debut this year, just further proves my point that the way we think of how groups are formed ( audition, train for years & agencies select from their trainee pool when making a group) is wrong, or at the very least dated
Big week for k-pop x anime
July 23, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Big week for k-pop x anime
Oh she's really going there
May 18, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Oh she's really going there
Related: people searching up ablume's debut single on Spotify and Apple Music get to choose between ablume (actual k-pop group) or Ablume (maybe-probably AI slop) that conveniently also has three members but are cursed with those telltale AI hands
May 12, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Related: people searching up ablume's debut single on Spotify and Apple Music get to choose between ablume (actual k-pop group) or Ablume (maybe-probably AI slop) that conveniently also has three members but are cursed with those telltale AI hands
As a survival show cynic, I'm not surprised that companies have dispensed with the illusion that the purpose of the genre is to help aspiring idols, but I am a little surprised about the names they have gotten to sign on to it
May 12, 2025 at 1:53 AM
As a survival show cynic, I'm not surprised that companies have dispensed with the illusion that the purpose of the genre is to help aspiring idols, but I am a little surprised about the names they have gotten to sign on to it
Uncharacteristically on top of updating my 2025 Rookie Groups list this month: blog.mjohnso.com/2025rookiegr...
March 5, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Uncharacteristically on top of updating my 2025 Rookie Groups list this month: blog.mjohnso.com/2025rookiegr...
Like this is Lee Soo Young's website from the 2000s, which is remarkable for just the sheer amount of pixel art but also that the archived copy mostly still works (a lot of groups from that time used Flash, which means a lot of the archived versions of them are broken/completely unnavigable)
February 18, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Like this is Lee Soo Young's website from the 2000s, which is remarkable for just the sheer amount of pixel art but also that the archived copy mostly still works (a lot of groups from that time used Flash, which means a lot of the archived versions of them are broken/completely unnavigable)
This is wild (and is somehow not the craziest k-pop group website I have ever seen)
February 18, 2025 at 12:45 AM
This is wild (and is somehow not the craziest k-pop group website I have ever seen)
There were 28 photo cards released in total: 2 cards per a member + 10 group/unit cards, with the cards with the limited edition “white borders” cards only available if you bought the first press release
January 27, 2025 at 9:23 PM
There were 28 photo cards released in total: 2 cards per a member + 10 group/unit cards, with the cards with the limited edition “white borders” cards only available if you bought the first press release
Happy 15th anniversary to the album that started it all by which I mean photo cards
January 27, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Happy 15th anniversary to the album that started it all by which I mean photo cards
Here is a sneak peek of how the numbers for rookie groups in 2024 shook out:
January 15, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Here is a sneak peek of how the numbers for rookie groups in 2024 shook out:
I finished crunching the numbers & Periodic Rookie Groups Report No. 24 is out: blog.mjohnso.com/post/7727833...
January 15, 2025 at 11:49 PM
I finished crunching the numbers & Periodic Rookie Groups Report No. 24 is out: blog.mjohnso.com/post/7727833...
Something the SBS 'Body Documentary' clued me into is former Bob Girls member Heo Yu-jeong's post-idol career. She is the CEO of a cultural arts planning company, serves as secretary of the Korea Entertainment Law Association, & works for reforms to improve trainee and artists' rights
January 9, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Something the SBS 'Body Documentary' clued me into is former Bob Girls member Heo Yu-jeong's post-idol career. She is the CEO of a cultural arts planning company, serves as secretary of the Korea Entertainment Law Association, & works for reforms to improve trainee and artists' rights
Especially as it is still fairly common for media/fans to praise and highlight idols for looking like real-life dolls or Barbie dolls. I mean I have been at this long enough to remember what a big deal the picture of G.NA next to a mannequin was
January 7, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Especially as it is still fairly common for media/fans to praise and highlight idols for looking like real-life dolls or Barbie dolls. I mean I have been at this long enough to remember what a big deal the picture of G.NA next to a mannequin was
Long lingering shots of dolls is not a choice I would have made for a documentary special in which idols recount how the k-pop industry led them to develop eating disorders
January 7, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Long lingering shots of dolls is not a choice I would have made for a documentary special in which idols recount how the k-pop industry led them to develop eating disorders
From Yujeong Oh writing in Pop City on why this dynamic is so prevalent throughout the industry:
December 19, 2024 at 11:40 PM
From Yujeong Oh writing in Pop City on why this dynamic is so prevalent throughout the industry:
But he’s just a kooky dude!
December 10, 2024 at 2:04 AM
But he’s just a kooky dude!
Forever in our hearts 🤍🕊️
November 23, 2024 at 7:49 PM
Forever in our hearts 🤍🕊️
Dusting this image off
November 19, 2024 at 12:09 AM
Dusting this image off
"[Korean History] 'Yonsama' fans trailblaze Hallyu in Japan": www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=...
October 25, 2023 at 2:15 AM
"[Korean History] 'Yonsama' fans trailblaze Hallyu in Japan": www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=...
Happy 12th anniversary to SNSD's gem of an album The Boys
October 20, 2023 at 1:58 AM
Happy 12th anniversary to SNSD's gem of an album The Boys