BoA, Utada, Se7en and the US Market

[Ernie]

This is a big year for Asian pop stars trying to break out in the Western Hemisphere, with singles and albums catered to the U.S. market to be released by BoA, Utada and Se7en. Do you think they'll make it big here? And if not, what will be the biggest thing that can be done to make them "mainstream?"

Or an even better question: do you want artists like these to go mainstream?

[Will]

I'm all for this. Do I think they'll make it big? We have to define what making it big means. Are they going to become houshold names to johnny cornfield in smalltaown USA? Probably not. Are they going to leave a mark? You better believe it. I wish them all the luck in the world. Oh btw, my BoA CD arrived yesterday!

[Xxxtine]

Well, considering BoA doesn't release her CD in Canada till April 7th, I don't know if she's going to even come to Canada. Her 'Eat You UP' Music Video WAS played on MuchMusic, but I think it was some ungodly hour on rotation. "I Did it for Love" would actually fair better - though ... for god sakes ... WHY A CHAIR DANCE?

The album itself is pliable for mainstream audiences to absorb. I think people just need to get used to seeing a dancing/ singing Asian, cuz most Asian faces seen up here either have a guitar strapped to them or are behind a piano.

[Will]

Ok I'm going to add more to this, It seems that Se7en is going after his core audience, the urban music fans. Just recently, his video was featured on 106 & Park (a video show on B.E.T.) I'm not sure if Boa has any video play here in the states.

[Ernie]

Will -- I recently saw BoA's "Eat You Up" played at a gay bar in San Francisco. Seriously.