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| Melon (music site) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Melon |
| Type | Music streaming |
| Owner | Kakao Entertainment |
| Launched | 2004 |
| Country | South Korea |
Melon (music site) is a South Korean online music streaming service and digital music store operated by Kakao Entertainment. It functions as a major distribution and charting platform within the South Korean music industry and interfaces with record labels, broadcasters, and concert promoters. The platform plays a central role in promotion and metrics for artists associated with K-pop, Korean hip hop, Korean R&B, and the wider East Asian music market.
Founded in 2004, the service emerged amid the transition from physical media such as compact disc and cassette tape toward digital distribution exemplified by services like iTunes and Spotify. It operates alongside South Korean competitors and complements the media ecosystem that includes broadcasters such as KBS, SBS, and MBC as well as agencies like SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment. Melon’s platform integrates digital rights management involving rights holders including KOMCA and interacts with chart recognitions such as those used for awards like the Melon Music Awards.
The service was launched by SK Telecom subsidiary LOEN Entertainment in the early 2000s, during a period marked by technological shifts after events including the proliferation of broadband internet and the rise of portable players such as the iPod. LOEN later rebranded and was acquired, with ownership changes culminating in integration into Kakao Corporation and its entertainment division Kakao Entertainment. Over the 2010s and 2020s, Melon evolved alongside streaming competitors such as Genie Music and international entrants, and updated its platform to accommodate smartphones produced by Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics.
Melon provides subscription tiers, on-demand streaming, and digital downloads for catalogues from labels including Big Hit Music (now HYBE Labels), Pledis Entertainment, and Cube Entertainment. The service offers curated playlists, personalized recommendations, and social features that interact with devices such as Android (operating system) and iOS smartphones, as well as integrations with smart speakers from manufacturers like Google and Apple Inc. Melon’s metadata and tagging systems reference composers, producers, and arrangers credited through institutions like KOMCA and collaborate with live-event promoters such as CJ ENM for concert tie-ins and content.
Melon operates its own real-time and daily charts that have become key indicators in the South Korean music industry, influencing airplay on stations such as KBS Cool FM and programming on television networks like Mnet. Chart performance on Melon is frequently cited alongside other metrics used by award shows such as the Golden Disc Awards and the Seoul Music Awards. Artists including members of BTS, Blackpink, Twice, EXO, and soloists like IU and Lee Hi have seen major promotional impact from strong showing on Melon charts, which are monitored by agencies such as SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment for release strategies.
Melon’s revenue model is based on subscription fees, ad-supported tiers, and licensing agreements with major and independent labels including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group. The service has partnered with telecommunications companies such as KT Corporation and previously with SK Telecom for bundled plans, and collaborates with streaming analytics firms and rights organizations like Gaon Chart and the Korean Music Copyright Association. Corporate partnerships extend to events and awards organized by entities including Loen Entertainment and CJ ENM, and to merchandising through platforms connected with agencies like FNC Entertainment.
Melon has faced scrutiny over chart manipulation allegations often discussed in relation to promotional practices by agencies such as SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment, and controversies involving fan-driven streaming campaigns for artists including BTS and Blackpink. Debates have arisen over calculation methodologies compared with systems like Gaon Music Chart and international streaming metrics used by Billboard. The platform has also contended with issues related to royalty distribution debated among organizations like KOMCA and independent artists represented by smaller labels such as AOMG and Coupang Play-adjacent distributors, prompting industry-wide discussions about transparency and artist compensation.
As one of the dominant services in South Korea, Melon has shaped consumption patterns for genres from K-pop to indie rock and folk rock, influencing the careers of artists including IU, PSY, and groups like Big Bang and Girls' Generation. Melon chart success is frequently leveraged by broadcasters such as MBC and SBS in programming and by award organizers including the Melon Music Awards to confer recognition. The platform’s role in digital distribution mirrors global shifts seen with Spotify and Apple Music while remaining embedded in South Korea’s unique music industry structure involving companies like SM Entertainment and institutions such as KOMCA.
Category:South Korean music websites Category:Online music stores