Global Pop Stars and K-Pop Idols Team Up for “KPOPPED”; Apple TV+ Debutes at Global Rank 4–5, #1 in South Korea

“KPOPPED” is a music competition series where world-renowned pop stars and K-Pop idols form teams to reinterpret each other’s hit songs. All eight episodes were released simultaneously on Apple TV+ on August 29, and immediately after airing, it reached ranks 4–5 in the global TV show category on the streaming ranking site FluxPatrol. In South Korea, it topped the charts and also secured real-time first place in Apple TV+’s dedicated section on Tving. Its performance across global markets was impressive, with it ranking 5th in the United States and 2nd in East Asian countries such as Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, and Mongolia. It entered the top 10 in 99 countries, including the United Kingdom, Argentina, and Saudi Arabia. Lionel Richie, one of the co-planners and co-producers, expressed surprise on social media by asking, “‘KPOPPED’ is number 1 in South Korea?” The format of the program is innovative. In each episode, a global pop artist and a K-Pop group team up to prepare and compete for a performance within 48 hours. Megan The Stalion and Patti LaBelle teamed up with Billlie, Mel B and Emma Bunton with ITZY, Vanilla Ice and Taylor Dayne with Kep1er, IVE and Kesha with JO1, Kylie Minogue and Jay Balvin with ATEEZ, Boy George and TLC with STAYC, Jessie Glynne and Ava Max with Kiss of Life, and the Boys II Men with BLACKSWAN. Live audiences in Seoul evaluate each team’s performance. The show was hosted by Psy, Megan The Stalion, and actress-comedian Son Su-jeong, with Lionel Richie and Megan The Stalion serving as co-planners, and it was co-produced by South Korea’s entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM. Billboard described the program as “a gathering of global stars who deliver genuine and awe-inspiring musical interactions.” The highlight of each performance is the cultural exchange between global music icons and K-Pop idols. Kylie Minogue wore a yellow and black striped dress along with knee-high leather boots, and she performed her 2001 hit “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” (which reached rank 7 on the Hot 100 chart) alongside ATEEZ members Jongho, Yunho, Wooyoung, and Seonghwa. The ATEEZ members sang the lyrics, filled with nostalgia, in Korean, showcasing dynamic synchronized movements and powerful energy. The combination of K-Pop’s distinctive step-by-step, refined choreography and the free-spirited performances of global pop stars created a unique musical experience. Reviews of the show have been mixed. Some articles noted that “while the scale and lineup are outstanding, the format itself becomes repetitive and monotonous.” Nevertheless, the process of reinterpreting iconic songs such as “Sevy Ji,” “Cell You’ll Be There,” “Tell It to My Heart,” “Mi Gente,” and “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” with a K-Pop twist demonstrates the global influence of Hallyu.