Netflix plans ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ global concert tour
South Korean pop music has emerged as a major ticket seller in recent years
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[LOS ANGELES] Netflix is planning a KPop Demon Hunters world tour, seeking to capitalise on the company’s most popular movie ever.
The streaming leader is negotiating with concert promoters to stage a live show featuring performances of the songs from the film, which have topped the Billboard charts and been a massive cultural phenomenon, according to sources familiar with the talks.
The aim is to perform around the globe next year ahead of the sequel to the animated film about three South Korean pop stars who moonlight as demon fighters.
The parties have discussed a tour that would stop in dozens of major cities with shows staged in arenas that hold 10,000 to 20,000 fans, said the sources, who declined to be identified because the exact details are still being worked out. It’s possible the tour won’t happen if Netflix can’t decide on the creative aspects of it or it proves too costly.
Netflix has yet to choose a promoter but has already been offered tens of millions of US dollars in upfront guarantees, according to the sources.
The success of KPop Demon Hunters, which was produced by Sony Pictures Animation, has opened up numerous new business opportunities for Netflix. The film was in theatres a couple of months after its initial streaming debut and Netflix has partnered with two toymakers for consumer products.
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The music has been integral to the film’s success. The soundtrack was the third-best-selling album in the world last year, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. The lead single, Golden, became the first K-pop song to win a Grammy and an Oscar and still ranks in the top 25 on the Spotify global charts.
The tour plans are still nebulous and it’s not even clear who would perform. The movie features two groups: Huntr/x and Saja Boys. Huntr/x, the group that sings Golden, performs songs recorded by the vocal trio of Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Remi Ami.
Those three singers had never performed together live until last year as part of the film’s promotion. Netflix has discussed bringing the trio on tour but has also considered using only virtual performers, be they holograms or something else. It’s unlikely the three women would perform at every stop.
Music booking agents have been eager to seize on the popularity of the movie and its soundtrack. They started pitching promoters on a possible tour last year before Netflix had decided what it wanted to do.
The talent agency WME has even been floating a tour with the three singers, should they not be included in the Netflix idaea. While they could perform the songs from the movie, they would not be able to reference KPop Demon Hunters at all without Netflix’s permission.
South Korean pop music has emerged as a major ticket seller in recent years. Acts such as BTS, Blackpink and Stray Kids have sold out shows all over the world. Netflix is live-streaming the highly anticipated comeback show for BTS on Mar 21. BLOOMBERG
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