How K-pop shows are organized

For thousands of fans, seeing their favorite K-pop idols perform on stage is the ultimate experience.

But the actual show is the culmination of a long process, including planning, choosing a venue and date, logistics, promotion and marketing.

The Philippines is a major market for K-pop shows. Among those who held shows in the Philippines in 2024 include Seventeen, ENHYPEN, NCT 127, IU, Baekhyun, 2NE1, Suho, Cha Eun-woo, IVE, Red Velvet, BTOB, EXO’s Chen and Stray Kids.

(Clockwise from top left) NCT 127, ENHYPEN, BTOB and Red Velvet in the Philippines (Jonathan Hicap, Belift Lab)

How do K-pop shows happen? Staging a K-pop show takes a lot of effort and steps.

Be it a fan meeting, fan con, solo concert tour, music festival or branded music festival, there are a lot of people and entities involved.

These include promoters, artist brokers, producers, artists’ agencies and tour operators.

In every country, there are promoters that finance and mount the shows. In the Philippines, these include Pulp Live World, Live Nation, L-Square Production and Wilbros Live.

There are also the artist brokers who sell various types of shows to the promoters.

On the other hand, a line producer mounts a show on behalf of the promoter for a fee.

Meanwhile, a tour operator or show organizer in South Korea works with the artists’ agencies in selling an artist tour to different countries and works with artist brokers in various countries to help sell the shows. Their job is to coordinate the whole show from the arrival of the artist to departure.

As promoters have the biggest financial stake in a show, they need to know the market  and build a portfolio as big entertainment agencies would only work with those who have the experience.

Contracts for shows are usually with tour operators as they own the whole tour and not directly with artist management. Contracts directly with artist management happen in other events like endorsements.

Pricing for shows always comes from tour operators. Promoters do their profit and loss, and decide if they want to stage the show or not.

The success of any show relies on ticket sales. As such, fans are an important part of a show.

Even if the promoter cancels the show, the artist is guaranteed with payment. On the other hand, if the show is cancelled by the artist, the promoter will be refunded. —  Jonathan Hicap