Baby Shark Tops YouTube... Foreign Media Also Interested: "Next Generation K-Pop"

Music Video Dominates YouTube Top Charts
Unprecedented for Kids Content to Reach No. 1

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Pinkfong's "Baby Shark," created by the Korean startup "SmartStudy," has reached 7,045,810,000 views on YouTube, securing the number one spot in views and drawing astonished reactions from foreign media. Notably, it is considered unusual and interesting that kids' content took first place, surpassing music video videos that had dominated the top YouTube charts.

On the 3rd, the U.S. IT media outlet The Verge reported the news of Baby Shark's number one YouTube views, stating, "In April, the views were only 2.5 billion, but since then, they have increased by 181%," and evaluated, "It is amazing that the Pinkfong empire has defeated the over three-year popularity of Despacito."

The outlet particularly pointed out that the most viewed videos on YouTube had been concentrated on music videos. The Verge noted, "For the past 10 years, the music industry has dominated the YouTube charts, but Baby Shark is charting a completely different trajectory. It will be an interesting change, and (given the upward trend) it seems it has not yet reached its peak."

British broadcaster BBC also mentioned, "Pinkfong appears to have earned about $5.2 million solely from YouTube streaming," adding, "The addictive 'doo doo doo doo' melody and dance sparked a craze in Korea, and popular groups like Red Velvet and BLACKPINK have started performing it at concerts."

BBC also referred to a 2018 interview with Jamie Oh, Pinkfong's marketing director. Director Oh explained to BBC, "Baby Shark features trendy and exciting dance moves and vivid animation, and we call this K-pop for the next generation."

Meanwhile, the video showing children singing the shark family (Baby Shark) in English and dancing was first released in June 2016. It received great response with its easy-to-follow chorus "Baby Shark doo doo doo doo~" and fun choreography. The previous number one was the music video "Despacito" by Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi, released in January 2017, with 7,037,610,000 views.