Kakao Melon – The Most Popular Music Streaming Service in South Korea

When it comes to music streaming services, there are a few big names that come to mind. Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora are all popular options in many countries around the world. However, one service reigns supreme in South Korea: Melon. With over 80 million users, Melon is by far the nation’s biggest music platform. So what makes it so popular? Let’s take a look!

What Is Kakao Melon?

Melon is a popular South Korean music streaming service that was first launched in November 2004. The name Melon is an acronym for the phrase ‘melody on’, and it was originally developed by LOEN Entertainment. In 2016, Melon was acquired by Kakao, and it quickly became one of the most popular music streaming platforms in South Korea. 

In 2021, Kakao Melon merged with Kakao Entertainment, and it now has 33 million users including 5 million paid subscribers. The platform offers a wide range of features, including the ability to create custom playlists, listen to radio stations, and download songs for offline listening. It is also available on a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers.

How Popular Is Melon in South Korea?

Melon is currently the leading service of its kind in the country and has been for more than 10 years. Melon offers both a personalized artist recommendation service and curated content based on a user’s history. The latter is a relatively new addition to the platform but has quickly become popular with users. The company has plans to expand its services to other countries in the future. For now, however, Melon remains most popular in its home country of South Korea.

In addition to the usual array of songs and albums, Melon Station features original content produced directly with artists, giving fans a chance to see their favorite performers in a new light. Another selling point is Melon Chart, which shows popular music at a glance and makes it easy for users to find new tunes to enjoy. Finally, Melon also offers a membership service called Melon Lounge, which provides exclusive benefits like discounted prices and early access to new releases.

With its mix of convenience, affordability, and variety, it’s no wonder that Melon has stayed the most popular streaming service in South Korea.

Comparing Melon with Other Music Streaming Platforms

In Korea, Kakao Melon is the most popular music streaming platform, followed by YouTube Music and Genie Music. Melon offers a wide selection of songs, both domestic and international, as well as a variety of features such as album reviews and artist interviews. YouTube Music also has a wide selection of songs, but its main focus is on music videos rather than on song streaming. Genie Music is a smaller platform with a limited selection of songs, but it offers users the ability to create their custom playlists. 

Major Competitors in the South Korean Market

Spotify, the world’s leading music streaming service, entered the South Korean market in 2021. Although it is the No. 1 platform globally, with 70 million songs and 4 billion playlists from all over the world, it has not been able to gain a significant foothold in South Korea. Spotify’s monthly active users (MAU) do not seem to exceed 300,000, while Melon’s MAU is 7.51 million.

This is likely because Melon has been established in the South Korean market for many years and already has a strong user base. In addition, Melon offers a wider range of features than Spotify, such as karaoke and lyrics viewing, which are popular among South Korean users. As a result, it is unlikely that Spotify will be able to overtake Melon in the South Korean market any time soon.

Evolving beyond a Music Tool to a Platform

Melon began as a simple music tool, but it has since transformed into a platform that offers much more than just music streaming. In addition to an extensive library of songs, Melon now provides users with seamless connectivity to other devices, artist information, and more. With its continued focus on innovation, Melon is quickly becoming the go-to destination for all things music.

Music and the Artists

Artists are one of the most important elements of any music streaming service, and Melon recognizes this. That’s why they’ve made it easy for users to find information on their favorite artists, including upcoming concert dates and new releases. Melon also allows users to connect with other fans and share their love of music. Whether you’re looking to discover new artists or stay up-to-date on your favorites, Melon is the perfect place to do it.

Continue to Improve

The melon music streaming service has continued to improve the user experience with a redesign of the music playback, sound quality, and overall usability. The increased connectivity between artists and artist-related content has also allowed for a better balance of content personalization and platform curation. The result is a more enjoyable experience for users, who can now customize their listening experience while still benefiting from the wealth of high-quality music available on the platform.

Seamless Connectivity

Melon recently updated its mobile app to provide users with a more seamless and natural way to discover and connect with the music they love. The new UX made it easier to manage music, get accurate personal recommendations, and intuitively browse for new content. The result is a more immersive and personal experience that allows users to fully connect with the music they love. Thanks to Melon’s innovative approach, users can now enjoy their music in a whole new way.

Streaming Music with Kakao Melon

So, how popular is Melon in South Korea? The answer is, very. It’s the most popular music streaming service in the country and has been so for over a decade. That’s impressive and it goes to show that Melon is doing something right. We saw that Melon is more than just a music tool – it’s evolved into a platform where users can not only listen to their favorite songs but also interact with each other.

If you’re looking for a great music streaming experience and are located in South Korea, Kakao Melon is the service to use. It’s by far the most popular option in the country and offers an abundance of features that make it worth your time. Even if you’re not located in South Korea, be sure to check out Kakao Melon as they continue to grow and expand their services.