How Okay-pop apps like WeVerse, Universe, Lysn, and Bubble work

The Okay-pop trade has at all times been expert at monetizing fan-artist relationships, however has been frustratingly sluggish to digitize them. Till 2019, merchandise and albums have been usually solely obtainable by means of third celebration web sites, and official fan communities have been hosted on Korean-language boards.

Up to now three years, a handful of platforms have bubbled as much as ship monetized exclusivity, and the flexibility to message your favourite artist instantly — for a worth. As a result of even with Okay-pop artists’ frequent updates to Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Tiktok, followers are nonetheless keen to pay for content material from their idols. The perfect apps are actually world one-stop retailers for merchandise, authentic video content material, fan-to-fan interplay, and unique posts from the artists themselves.

The three principal gamers are WeVerse, Universe, and Lysn, which mixed host the content material of greater than 100 acts throughout the trade. We broke down their principal options, pricing, and execs and cons, and the way they examine to newer, extra area of interest apps like Phoning and Fab.

WeVerse is simple to make use of and affords a lot of its content material without spending a dime.
Credit score: Mashable Composite; WeVerse

WeVerse

The fundamentals: Weverse is a cellular app and web site owned and operated by HYBE Leisure, the corporate behind BTS. It hosts unique free and paid content material for 63 acts from HYBE (BTS, TXT, Seventeen), YG Leisure (Blackpink, IKON, Treasure), small and impartial labels (CL, Sunmi, Everglow, Oneus), and a handful of non Korean acts (PrettyMuch, Lil Huddy). As of March 2022, the app has greater than 6.8 million month-to-month customers. Given the backing and steering of HYBE, WeVerse stands to change into essentially the most sturdy fan neighborhood app in the marketplace. 

Options: Followers be part of a free neighborhood for his or her favourite artist the place they will submit, touch upon different fan posts, and see WeVerse-exclusive photographs, movies, and textual content updates from the artists themselves. A house feed combines posts from the artists you comply with with advised content material from different artists to advertise discovery, whereas a notification tab allows you to toggle between posts from one artist at a time. Official merchandise and fan memberships can be found by means of the Weverse Store, and editorial content material is sprinkled all through the app through WeVerse Journal. A reside streaming function has just lately been added because of WeVerse’s merger with reside streaming platform VLive.

Execs: WeVerse is essentially the most complete and easy-to-use platform on this listing, encompassing merchandise, authentic content material, and fan-to-fan and fan-artist interplay. And since WeVerse is a closed platform (versus, say, Twitter) HYBE artists particularly appear to let free a bit extra, exhibiting off their personalities in posts, feedback, and pics.

Cons: When you’re a fan of a WeVerse artist, you may should create an account and obtain the app in some unspecified time in the future since a lot of their merchandise and content material is not obtainable anyplace else. Whereas there does appear to be some content material curation within the dwelling feed, a scarcity of moderation of fan-made posts on the location has led to rampant racism and hateful language inside sure fandoms. There’s a truthful quantity of anonymity (and lack of accountability), provided that customers can select a distinct show identify in every neighborhood they belong to.

Pricing: Free to obtain, paid content material obtainable for buy.

A few of the content material on Universe’s Uncover feed is free, however you might want to purchase Universe forex to entry sure options.
Credit score: Mashable Composite; Universe/ NCSoft

Universe

Overview: WeVerse wields the numerous company backing of HYBE, whereas Universe leverages the sources of main online game developer NCSoft. Universe made an enormous splash upon launch in January 2022, with plenty of authentic content material, together with a heavy funding in app-exclusive music movies and authentic collection. 

Options: Followers be part of communities for artists referred to as “planets” without spending a dime. Artists can submit textual content and movies of their planets, however photographs appear to be the principle attraction on Universe. Like WeVerse, Universe affords unique subscriptions and merchandise and hosts spectacular, extremely produced authentic content material. The app’s most original factor is its use of AI to learn artist’s posts of their voice. Followers may also pay to direct message artists, who see the messages in what is actually a big group chat and reply to the entire group, however can’t reply to a fan instantly. 

Execs: It’s actually, actually cool to listen to an artist specific their ideas in their very own voice. Universe’s authentic content material is a large draw, along with Universe-exclusive artist posts.

Cons: Initially clunky and reliant on creepy AI-based options when it launched, Universe has since scaled again to change into far more streamlined. However it will probably nonetheless be complicated to make use of. The app is over-designed (for instance, why are communities referred to as “planets?”), and its forex system is so sophisticated that followers have created information movies to assist different followers perceive it. When you’re a fan of a Universe artist, you may should create an account and obtain the app in some unspecified time in the future since a lot of their content material is not obtainable anyplace else. 

Pricing: Free to obtain, watch choose content material, and see artist posts. Three sorts of forex exist inside Universe: Klap (forex earned by means of finishing duties that will also be bought), Love (bought forex), and raffle tickets (additionally bought). You possibly can solely pay for sure content material with Love. Bundles of those currencies may be bought on the app for anyplace from $.99 to $299.

On Bubble for JYP, all content material is locked behind a paywall.
Credit score: Mashable Composite; Expensive U Co./ Bubble for JYP

Bubble

The fundamentals: Bubble was created by SM Leisure as a manner for his or her artists to attach with followers. The Bubble app for SM teams is called Lysn, and the corporate has additionally created an app only for JYP Leisure artists referred to as “JYP Bubble.” Followers pay to realize entry to an artist’s bubble and look at app-exclusive content material from their favourite artist. 

Options: When you pay to subscribe to an artist, you’ll be able to view and obtain their photographs, movies, and audio notes. You can even ship messages to that artist, however are restricted to a few at a time and a personality depend akin to how lengthy you’ve got been on the app: 30 characters for the primary 49 days, 50 characters after, and so forth. Like on Universe, artists see these messages in what is actually a big group chat and reply to the entire group, however can’t reply to a fan instantly. For followers, the consumer interface appears like a private chat between you and the artist. A reside streaming function was just lately added to Bubble for JYP.

Execs: You are paying for content material that will not be obtainable anyplace else. Followers do share Bubble content material to Twitter, however is it each unlawful and customarily frowned upon by different followers.

Cons: Lysn doesn’t produce authentic content material, facilitate fan-to-fan interplay, or present entry to a retailer. You will need to pay to realize entry to all artist content material. As on Universe, messaging with an artist is one-sided. So you might ask an artist what that they had for lunch, however after they write “I had a salad earlier!” you may by no means make certain in the event that they noticed your query or are answering another person’s or simply telling followers about their day. Even so, some followers say they do not thoughts. Additionally, the interpretation function isn’t at all times fully correct, which has led to some confusing, albeit entertaining, mishaps.

Pricing: Free to obtain however you may want to purchase one ($3.99), two ($6.99), or three ($9.99) tickets, with every ticket granting you one month’s entry to a single artist’s Bubble.  

Phoning’s Y2K-tastic dwelling web page affords free messages from New Denims and different goodies like a digital album adorning function.
Credit score: Mashable Composite; WeVerse/ Phoning

Phoning

Overview: As a part of the pre-album launch roll out of HYBE’s latest lady group, NewJeans, the corporate introduced the group would have their very own app as an alternative of becoming a member of their label mates on WeVerse. Phoning’s ‘90s-era Nokia-chic theme pairs with the look of the debut album and Gen Z’s present obsession with Y2K nostalgia.

Options: The app mimics a telephone, and the members of NewJeans seem as “associates” in a contact listing. Dwell streams seem as a “name” from a member, which you’ll decide as much as watch as they occur or tune in on-demand later through a name log. Members additionally ship messages and photographs to one another in a bunch chat for about 20 minutes every single day. Followers watch the messages roll in however can’t take part or message the members instantly (but). The app additionally has a calendar of the group occasions, a photograph gallery, a digital try-on function the place you’ll be able to gown avatars of the members in several outfits, a digital album-decorating function, and a handful of different enjoyable freebies.

Execs: Phoning is cute, and its trendy tackle Y2K aesthetics looks like a recent, tangible extension of NewJeans’ music. Plus, its options are free and so distinctive you received’t discover them anyplace else.

Cons: Phoning is sluggish… like 1999 sluggish. Pages can take some time to load, and the navigation isn’t at all times intuitive. There’s additionally no method to speak to different followers by means of the app. Notification settings can solely be turned on and off, and a full of life 20-minute convo between the members leads to lots of of each day notifications. So you must select between no notifications from the app or dozens. 

Pricing: Free to obtain and use.

You may solely have the ability to see essentially the most fundamental information in your faves on Fab, except you need to purchase a submit for 10 factors.
Credit score: Mashable Composite; NEOWIZ Lab

Fab

Overview: Fab launched in February 2022 with Loona as its inaugural artist. In March, they added group NINE.i.

Options: Members of Loona are thought-about separate artists within the app and submit individually. NINE.i submit as a bunch. Loona members sometimes replace their “standing,” which is free to view, however all different posts are hidden behind a paywall. 

Execs: You are paying for content material that will not be obtainable anyplace else. When you’re an Orbit or NINE.i fan, that is the app you might want to be on.

Cons: When you’re not a fan of Fab’s two artists, this isn’t the app for you. It is restricted to paid artist posts solely; there is no such thing as a method to join with different followers, no authentic content material, and no retailer.

Pricing: Free to obtain, however every submit prices 10 factors to view. You should purchase factors (anyplace between 100 for $.99 and 2300 for $19.99) or earn single factors by watching adverts.