Fans Criticize SBS Inkigayo’s New Charting Criteria Changes to Incorporate International Music Charts

SBS Inkigayo, a prominent weekly music program in South Korea, has recently introduced significant changes to its scoring system, prompting a strong response from fans. On September 16, 2024, the show unveiled its new points framework, set to take effect from the episode airing on October 6. Among the most notable alterations is the incorporation of global music platform streaming data as part of the digital score used to decide the weekly champions.

This move has been welcomed by some fans as a progressive recognition of the international audience’s influence, while others express concern about the potential consequences.

Fans have articulated their unease, fearing that this transition could diminish the variety of winners on Inkigayo, ultimately making it more challenging for emerging artists to achieve visibility.

“Feels like this loses the novelty of winning on Inkigayo because it was one of the hardest to win due to digital scores in Korea, so it was a significant achievement for artists. I guess music shows in general are also losing their relevance these days (in my opinion),”a fan remarked.

“The show is gonna see even more fraud,”voiced another frustrated fan.

“Big 4 stans are celebrating these changes & accusing Melon of fraud, when in fact, YouTube & Spotify can also be misleading. The advantages of major companies with extensive playlisting will definitely lead to disappointment as they dominate the competition while smaller to mid-sized groups are sidelined,”another user asserted.

Additional fans expressed their worries,

“No more competition… and this is yet another reason why interest in K-pop is declining. With these changes, it will be quite foreseeable which groups will win in the future, leading to diminished visibility for medium and smaller-sized companies and groups,”a fan made a bold statement.

“Why are Korean music shows changing their criteria to accommodate global charts when they are fundamentally a KOREAN music show? This will only hinder groups from smaller companies and advantage artists from larger labels,”another fan noted.

“It was always about big labels,”a fan commented.

SBS Inkigayo’s Major Scoring System Overhaul

SBS Inkigayo has been a cornerstone of the South Korean music scene since its inception in 1998, airing every Sunday and providing a vital platform for K-pop artists. The show features live performances from both rookie and established musicians, offering fans a chance to see their favorite idols on stage.

Traditionally, Inkigayo has been a key avenue for Korean audiences to support their preferred songs and artists through voting, shaping the chart system that determines winners. Now, as K-pop continues to gain international traction, Inkigayo is evolving its approach to include the growing influence of global fans.

Effective from the episode on October 6, 2024, the program will integrate worldwide music streaming data from platforms such as Spotify and iTunes into its digital score. This change aims to acknowledge the global reach of K-pop, thereby allowing international fans to have a greater impact on the results.

The revised scoring system will be structured as follows:

Global music platform data will be included in the Digital score (specific platforms used have not yet been disclosed).
The ratio for the Digital score will be decreased to 50% (up to 5,000 points).
The ratio for the SNS score will also see a reduction to 20% (up to 2,000 points).

While this adjustment is designed to reflect K-pop’s global expansion, it has ignited discussions among fans. Many insist that, as a Korean music program, Inkigayo should primarily serve domestic fans. They contend that the inclusion of international streaming data could disproportionately favor larger artists who already enjoy broader recognition, diminishing opportunities for smaller groups predominantly targeting a Korean audience.

Concerns have arisen that this adjustment might lead to stronger dominance by the “big 4″K-pop companies—SM, JYP, YG, and HYBE—whose artists typically boast greater international followings. Consequently, this could hinder smaller acts from attaining the recognition they deserve; Korean music shows have historically been crucial for promoting emerging talent.

Though these changes will not be implemented until early October, fans are actively expressing their concerns and speculating on how this new scoring system will affect the competitive landscape of Inkigayo and the broader K-pop industry.

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