Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

How Fans Are Inspiring the New Global Growth of Thai Pop and Boys' Love

20/11/2023

Thai music and culture have been making serious waves across the globe as of late. And they're gaining momentum in large part thanks to a fandom-fueled subgenre.

Thai music is driven by a devoted local fan base that includes the United States, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan as its top markets, extending well into the global community. As a result, listenership in T-Pop has doubled in the past year: Tracks like , , and (Just Being Friendly) are hitting massive stream numbers both on and off the T-Pop Now playlist, which has seen 3.5 times the growth of the past five years. With artists like Billkin, PiXXiE, and Tilly Birds taking T-Pop from local markets and reaching fans in countries like Sweden, Mexico, Germany, and France, the newfound visibility of the genre is proof positive that music knows no borders.

It's undeniable that we're seeing a T-Pop wave in the world right now, says Gautam Talwar, Spotify's General Manager of Asia Pacific. It's a category that encompasses multiple genres including indie, hip-hop, experimental, and the massively popular Boys' Love, which has grown tremendously in recent years.

Thai artists are putting a lot of their Thai identity and culture into their music, from the melodies to the overall vibes, says Jeff Satur, popular T-Pop artist and actor. When you give it a listen, you can immediately tell it's a T-Pop song. It's like a musical journey that lets people from all over the world experience the richness of Thai culture through music. This was something quite novel in the music scene, and it began to captivate more and more listeners globally.

Boys' Love Soundtracks Fueling The T-Pop Wave The rise of Boys' Love (otherwise known as BL or simply Y, inspired by the Japanese word yaoi ) in Thailand is a unique story and one borne out of Thailand's support of stories that revolve around the love between two men. Popular fan fiction was adapted into television dramas, and soon an entire industry was jump-started. Centering on themes of loyalty, diversity in love, and the highs and lows of a relationship, the many, many shows have garnered massive plays and a passionate fan base of mostly young women.

Larger still is the love of BL TV soundtracks from fans. Through our own Boys' Love and (Why I Love You) playlists, BL fans searching for a good laugh or a good cry can can look forward to tracks like (Ost. ) by NuNew, (Ost. ) by Nat Natasit, and (Sunset) (Ost. ) by Perth Tanapon and Chimon Wachirawit.

For the Record sat down with Jeff Satur to learn more about the global phenomenon of T-Pop.

What sets T-Pop apart from other kinds of pop? The concepts are one of a kind. It's like everyone's got a way with words, and they turn those ideas into a killer song concept. When it comes to the slower jams, T-Pop has a very distinctive Thai vibe, from the melodies to the dance moves when it's performed. All these elements come together to make the genre pretty darn perfect.

What recent changes have you noticed in the world of T-Pop? I've noticed some cool things happening with T-Pop lately. I've seen Brazilian fans singing Thai songs like they were born to it, nailing those lyrics. Over in China, there's a whole bunch of Thai artist admirers. It got me thinking, the T-Pop music scene has really expanded its reach, breaking down musical borders.

Get your Boys' Love fix with our specially curated Boys' Love playlist:
LINK: https://newsroom.spotify.com/2023-11-20/how-fans-are-inspiring-the-new...
See more stories from spotify

More from Spotify

04/09/2024

daylist Is Expanding Into New Markets and Languages, So Here Are 3 Tips To Make the Most of It

From sunup to sundown, Spotify's daylist serves up an ever-changing playlist...

30/08/2024

In Her New Podcast, CultureCon Founder and CEO Imani Ellis Shares an Unfiltered Look at the Path to Success

In 2017, Imani Ellis revealed CultureCon to the world, a first-of-its-kind confe...

29/08/2024

A+ Listening for Back-to-School Season

Bells are ringing-school bells, that is-as kids across the U.S. start the new school year. In addition to fresh fits and the right supplies, kids might also nee...

28/08/2024

Introducing Spotify's 2024 Global Songs of Summer-and Why These Top 5 Tracks Reigned Supreme

Every summer, as people across the Northern Hemisphere seek out the perfect song...

27/08/2024

Explore the Complexities of Human and AI Connection in the New Science Fiction Podcast Seleccin Natural'

What does the future look like when it comes to AI personalities interacting wit...

22/08/2024

Fans Get In on the Fun With Live Podcast Recordings During The Ringer Residency

Laughter, energy, camaraderie-these are just a few of the elements that come to life when a podcast is recorded in front of an audience, rather than in a sound-...

21/08/2024

The Rise of Japanese Pop With Spotify's Gacha Pop Playlist

Just like its fashion and food trends, Japan's music scene is constantly evolving, all while captivating a growing global audience. From J-Pop (Japanese pop...

21/08/2024

Celebrate Notting Hill Carnival With Our Carnival Sounds Hub, the Ultimate Audio Destination for Caribbean Music and Culture

On August 25 and 26, an estimated 2 million attendees will flock to London for N...

19/08/2024

Spotify and Crunchyroll Present the Sounds of Anime

The world of anime is rapidly expanding, finding fans all over. On Spotify, global streams of anime music have surged by 395% since 2021, and there are 6.7 mill...

15/08/2024

Introducing Casa Spotify Buenos Aires, a New Cultural Center for Argentine Creators

Recent years have seen the emergence of groundbreaking talent from cultural hot ...

15/08/2024

Presentamos Casa Spotify Buenos Aires, un nuevo centro cultural para creadores argentinos

En los ltimos a os hemos sido testigos del surgimiento de talentos innovadores ...

13/08/2024

nete a los mejores artistas y podcasters para celebrar el orgullo mexa con MEXCLA Spotify'

No es ning n secreto que la vibrante escena musical mexicana ha trascendido fron...

13/08/2024

Join Top Artists and Podcasters to Celebrate Mexican Pride With MEXCLA Spotify'

It's no secret that Mexico's vibrant music scene has transcended borders...

13/08/2024

Conoce a las nuevas estrellas de la msica pop colombiana

Con sus diversos sonidos, la m sica de Colombia ha logrado conectar con una amplia gama de audiencias de todo el mundo, y el pop colombiano no es una excepci n....

13/08/2024

Meet the Newest Stars of Colombian Pop Music

With its diverse sounds, music from Colombia has connected with a range of audiences from all around the world-and Colombian pop is no exception. This genre has...

09/08/2024

Blake Lively Reveals the Entire Sonic Universe' of Music That Inspired It Ends With Us'

Humans are complex creatures, capable of experiencing joy, sorrow, and everythin...

09/08/2024

J Balvin Regresa A Sus Comienzos Con Su Nuevo lbum Rayo'

El aclamado colombiano J Balvin ha conquistado al mundo con su m sica durante m s de una d cada. Fans desde Latinoam rica hasta Europa est n cautivados por la e...

09/08/2024

J Balvin Travels Back to His Beginnings With New Album Rayo'

Colombian hitmaker J Balvin has captivated the world with his music for more than a decade. Fans from Latin America to Europe can't get enough of The Boy F...

07/08/2024

Spotify Celebrates Hip-Hop's Women-Led Renaissance With The Gold Standard' Art Exhibit

Women have been integral to hip-hop from the beginning, contributing to its grow...

07/08/2024

FC Barcelona Teams Up With Rema and Blessd for Its US Preseason Tour

Last week, Spotify and FC Barcelona brought the worlds of music and football together once again to kick off the club's preseason tour in the U.S. To celebr...

07/08/2024

Kick It Up With the Year of the Cowgirl

It's official: Spotify is declaring 2024 the Year of the Cowgirl. In culture, we are seeing celebs, influencers, and others don western boots and flat, wide...

05/08/2024

Take In the Many Flavors of Msica Mexicana With Our Special Series of Spotify Singles

As one of the fastest-growing genres worldwide, M sica Mexicana has emerged as a...

01/08/2024

Celebrate 8 Years With BLACKPINK on Spotify

It's been eight years since BLACKPINK captivated the K-Pop scene and transcended to global superstardom. Since then, they've racked up billions of strea...

01/08/2024

A New Spotify Documentary Spotlights UK Youth Centers

Youth spaces are crucial for the well-being of children and young people, as they instill a deep sense of belonging and ignite creativity. But in the U.K., thes...

01/08/2024

Four of South Asia's Brightest Stars Share How Their Heritage Shapes Their Lives and Music

July 18 marked the start of South Asian Heritage Month, which celebrates the ric...

31/07/2024

The Best Audiobooks of the Year (So Far)

We're halfway through the year and at a perfect moment to consider which humorous, intriguing, and entertaining audiotales have captivated readers thus far ...

30/07/2024

Join Top Brazilian Artists for a Historic Concert Dedicated to the Late Icon Marlia Mendona

As the most-listened-to Brazilian artist ever on Spotify, and the first to reach...

30/07/2024

Junte-se aos Principais Artistas Brasileiros para um Concerto Histrico Dedicado cone Marlia Mendona

Como a artista brasileira mais ouvida de todos os tempos no Spotify e a primeira...

26/07/2024

Check Out Our Updated Songs of Summer Predictions (Complete With Five New Wild Card Picks)

Last month, Spotify's annual Songs of Summer predictions made their return, ...

26/07/2024

Go for the Gold This Summer With These Sports-Themed Audiobooks and Podcasts

Summer is peak season for some of our favorite sports and events. Whether you're rooting for the home team at the ballpark or cheering for your country as i...

25/07/2024

Bringing More Audiobooks From Independent Authors to Spotify With Ingram Content Group

At Spotify, we aim to bring great audiobooks to as many listeners as possible, i...

24/07/2024

Artists Can Now Start Countdown Pages To Promote Their Upcoming Albums

Building anticipation ahead of a new album release is one of the most important ways for artists to ensure its success. But in today's music landscape, gain...

23/07/2024

Spotify Reports Second Quarter 2024 Earnings

Today, we announced our second quarter 2024 earnings. Led by healthy subscriber gains, improved monetization, and record profitability, Spotify reported Month...

23/07/2024

Spotify rapporterar intkter fr andra kvartalet 2024

Idag publicerar Spotify sina finansiella resultat f r andra kvartalet 2024. Med stark kning av antalet premiumanv ndare, f rb ttrad int ktsgenerering och rekor...

19/07/2024

Partnering With Industry To Create a Safer Online Environment for Young People

By Marcelina Slota - Head of Platform Integrity, Spotify Safety is a top priority for Spotify, which is why we want to make it easier for young people and pare...

18/07/2024

Beat the Heat With These Bingeworthy Beach Reads (and Pool Podcasts!)

Summer is officially in full swing, and that means it's time to chill out. Whether you're heading out on vacation or hoping to make the most of Summer F...

17/07/2024

Spotify Brings AI DJ to Spanish-Speaking Music Fans Around the World

When we launched our AI DJ in English last year, it gave listeners a new way to connect with and discover music on Spotify. DJ is a personalized AI guide that k...

17/07/2024

Spotify presenta AI DJ en espaol para los fans de la msica en todo el mundo

Cuando lanzamos AI DJ en ingl s el a o pasado, ofrecimos a los usuarios una nueva forma de conectar y descubrir m sica en Spotify. DJ es una gu a de IA personal...

11/07/2024

Spotify Celebrates a Thriving Australian Music Industry With Pop Sensation Tones And I

Around the world, the shift toward streaming has completely transformed the musi...

09/07/2024

Comments on Podcasts Gives Creators and Listeners More Ways To Engage

For podcast creators who want to grow their audiences, building a stronger relationship with their listeners and fans goes a long way. And in order to amplify t...

03/07/2024

Space Cadet' Star Emma Roberts and Filmmaker Liz W. Garcia Reveal Their Top Tracks for Getting Motivated

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Just ask Emma Roberts, star of t...

28/06/2024

250,000 Video Podcasts and Counting: Creators and Audiences Are Embracing Video Content on Spotify

As one of the most powerful forms of human expression today, video is becoming...

27/06/2024

RADAR Korea Invites Fans Inside the Vibrant World of RIIZE in Honor of the K-Pop Group's First Mini Album, RIIZING'

Since 2020, RADAR has served as Spotify's program to spotlight rising talent...

27/06/2024

The Art and Science Behind Your Summer Listening Picks

Summer 2024 is officially underway, and with it comes our possibilities for personalizing the soundtrack that'll have you grooving through August. For examp...

25/06/2024

Amplify LGBTQIA+ Voices With These Audiobook Authors and Narrators

June is Pride Month, a time to honor and celebrate the vibrant LGBTQIA community and its rich history, culture, and achievements. It's also a time to eleva...

24/06/2024

Peso Pluma's New Album Reveals The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly'

Peso Pluma-aka La Doble P -is one of the fastest-growing Latin artists in Spotify's history and the first to go from 2 million monthly listeners to 50 mill...

21/06/2024

More Choice for U.S. Subscribers

On Spotify, users discover and enjoy music, podcasts, and audiobooks, with various plans that meet our listeners' needs. We offer subscriptions for every st...

21/06/2024

That's a Wrap on Cannes Lions 2024! Inside the Awards, Spotify Beach Action, and More

This week, Spotify returned to the South of France for the 2024 Cannes Lions Int...