Melon (online music service) explained

Melon
Collapsible:yes
Collapsetext:Screenshot
Commercial:Yes
Type:OMS
Registration:Required, for South Koreans only[1]
Language:Korean
Num Users:4~5 million (in South Korea alone, as of 2018)
Owner:Kakao Entertainment
Author:SK Telecom

Melon is a South Korean online music store and music streaming service introduced in November 2004, and developed by SK Telecom. LOEN Entertainment (became Kakao M and then Kakao Entertainment) became the company-in-charge of the service in 2009. In 2017, Kakao merged Kakao Music into Melon to have one, unified music streaming service.[2]

Melon is South Korea's largest music subscription service, with over 28 million users. Melon is the most popular music streaming service in South Korea. In fact, a survey of users of smartphones found that they were the most used applications by Koreans.[3] Melon users can stream and download music and music videos and create custom ringtones.[4] Melon is available on Android and iOS.

The name "Melon" is a portmanteau of the phrase "melody on".[5]

History

Melon was founded on November 16, 2004, in South Korea by SK Telecom, South Korea's largest wireless carrier. It attracted more than 10,000 subscribers per day on average, surpassing 310,000 on its first few months.[6] In October 2008, SK Telecom transferred the majority of Melon's stock to its shareholder Loen Entertainment for approximately 24.3 billion KRW.[7] In July 2013, SK Planet, a subsidiary of SK Telecom, sold 52.56% of its stake in Loen Entertainment to Star Invest Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of Affinity Equity Partners, a Hong Kong-based private equity firm.[8] Later in January 2016, Kakao acquired a 76.4% stake in the company for 1.87 trillion won (approximately $1.64 billion).[9] [10] In 2018, Kakao M spun-off from Kakao, but Melon stayed.

In 2021, Melon merged with Kakao Entertainment and rebranded itself as "Melon M". This joint venue aimed to secure their leadership in the showbiz industry. Lee Jae-wook will lead the joint. At that time, the streaming platform boasted 33 million users and around 5 million paying users.[11]

International operations

In 2010, Melon was launched by SK Telecom in Indonesia, in partnership with Telkom Indonesia.[12] In 2016, Telkom Indonesia bought all the stake formerly owned by SK Telecom following the SK Telecom's divestment from all Melon businesses, thus making Melon Indonesia an Indonesian company.[13]

Promotions

Music programs on TV

Melon is the main sponsor of the following music-related shows:

Melon Music Awards

See main article: Melon Music Awards. In 2009, LOEN Entertainment launched the Melon Music Awards (MMA), an award-giving body dedicated to calculating digital sales and online votes to judge the winners.[14]

Achievements

Songs with the most weeks at number one

WeeksArtistSongYear
released
15Aespa"Supernova"2024[15]
14NewJeans"Ditto"2022[16]
11BTS"Dynamite"2020[17]
9AKMU"Love Lee"2023[18]
8Yoon Do-hyun"I Guess I Loved You"2005
BigBang"Last Farewell"2007
Girls' Generation"Gee"2009
Zico"Any Song"2020
Mirani, Munchman, Khundi Panda, Mushvenom feat. Justhis"VVS"
Brave Girls"Rollin'"2017

Longest charting songs on weekly chart

WeeksArtistSongCurrent
position[19]
407BTS"Spring Day" 87
344Paul Kim"Every Day, Every Moment" 45
243Lim Young-woong"Trust in Me" 93
230AKMU"How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love" 16
224BTS"Dynamite"84
182Sung Si-kyung"Every Moment Of You" 30
180GyeongseoYeji"If You Lovingly Call My Name" 50
161BTS ft. Halsey"Boy With Luv"OUT
151BTS"Butter"
149Maktub ft. Raon Lee"To You My Light"
As of December 2, 2024

Most liked songs of all time

LikesArtistSongYear
released
520,063BTS"Spring Day"2017[20]
473,644AKMU"How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love"2019[21]
467,633BTS"Dynamite"2020
458,831IU"Through the Night"2017[22]
435,428Paul Kim"Every Day, Every Moment"2018[23]
434,450Jannabi"For Lovers Who Hesitate"2019[24]
433,330BTS ft. Halsey"Boy With Luv"2019
416,723Anne-Marie"2002"2018[25]
402,703IU ft. Suga"Eight"2020
370,380IU"Blueming"2019
As of December 2, 2024

Most streamed artists of all time

Streams
(billions)		Artist
13.23BTS[26]
10.89Lim Young-woong[27]
8.49Exo[28]
8.45IU[29]
4.71Seventeen[30]
4.01Kim Ho-joong[31]
3.71Bolbbalgan4[32]
3.39BigBang[33]
3.19Twice[34]
3.18Taeyeon[35]
3.17Davichi[36] -->
As of December 2, 2024

All-time records

Accolades

Melon, a leading music streaming service in South Korea, has achieved significant recognition over the years for its impact on the music industry and its innovative features. In 2011, it was honored as one of "Korea's Best 25 Apps" at the App Awards Korea, highlighting its popularity and user-friendly design.[47]

Melon was recognized at the 2012 Trusted Brand Awards.[48]

Melon won the "Grand Prize for Digital Contents" in the 2012 Korean Digital Management Innovation Awards.[49]

Melon was recognized in the 2012 Korea Brand Power Index.[50]

Ilgan Sports ranked Melon as the 3rd most influential entity in the K-pop industry in a November 2013 poll in celebration of its 44th anniversary.[51]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Terms: GENERAL. MelOn. LOEN Entertainment, Inc..
  2. Web site: https://post.naver.com/viewer/postView.nhn?volumeNo=9212950. ko:카카오 뮤직→멜론, 통합 '확정'·시기 '미정'.
  3. Web site: 박. 현익. ko:국내 음악은 '멜론'이 부동의 1등…'스포티파이' 초반 성적표는 7등. https://biz.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2021/03/31/2021033100752.html. May 1, 2021. ChosunBiz. April 23, 2021. ko.
  4. South Korea's Biggest Music Subscription Service Acquired by Mobile Messaging Company. Billboard. May 3, 2018.
  5. News: Seung Si-yeon, Park Jong-geun. December 3, 2011. Shin Won-soo, representing Korea's largest OMS, "MelOn". JoongAng Ilbo. dead. January 22, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20131213044251/http://life.joins.com/news/article/article.asp?Total_ID=6812198&ctg=12&sid=5899. December 13, 2013.
  6. Web site: Yang . Hyung-wook . December 14, 2004 . SK·LG텔 MP3음악포털 '대박'조짐 . Signs of SK·LG Tel MP3 music portal 'big hit' . March 19, 2023 . Financial News . ko . Naver.
  7. Web site: Chae . Su-woong . October 24, 2008 . SK텔레콤, 음악사업 멜론 로엔으로 양도 . SK Telecom transfers music business to Melon Loen . March 19, 2023 . Digital Daily . ko . Naver.
  8. Web site: Kim . Min-ki . July 18, 2013 . SK플래닛, 로엔 지분 52% '2659억'에 매각 . SK Planet sells 52% stake in Loen for '265.9 billion' . March 19, 2023 . . ko.
  9. Web site: Min . Sang-sik . January 12, 2016 . ko:[슈퍼리치]음악 플랫폼에 1조9000억 베팅한 '김범수' 의도는 . https://n.news.naver.com/article/016/0000966983 . March 19, 2023 . . ko.
  10. Web site: Lee . Min-hyung . August 14, 2017 . Kakao angers music streaming fans – The Korea Times . March 19, 2023 . The Korea Times.
  11. Web site: Jun-hee . Park . July 15, 2021 . Kakao Entertainment to merge with music streaming platform Melon . March 22, 2022 . . en.
  12. Web site: Melon Indonesia. January 22, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20170413222910/http://www2.melon.co.id/. April 13, 2017. dead.
  13. Web site: MelOn kini 100% Merah Putih – Indotelko. eck.
  14. News: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=117&aid=0002046548. ko:멜론, 연말 음악 시상식 개최…"공정성 담보될 것". Nam. An-woo. November 9, 2009. My Daily. https://web.archive.org/web/20230404052743/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=117&aid=0002046548. April 4, 2023. live. April 4, 2023. Naver.
  15. Web site: https://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1112409093. ko:에스파, 이젠 '차트 종결자'. Aespa, now 'Chart Terminator'. Seon. Mi-kyung. September 2, 2024. . ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20240902134348/https://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1112409093. September 2, 2024. live. September 2, 2024.
  16. Web site: Ahn . Byeong-gil . August 29, 2023 . ko:뉴진스, 멜론퀸···7주연속 1위 . New Jeans, Melon Queen... No. 1 for 7 consecutive weeks . https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/144/0000909624 . May 8, 2024 . Sports Kyunghyang.
  17. Web site: https://www.topstarnews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=15175441. ko:또 한 번 붙은 최초-최다 수식어…뉴진스 '디토', 10주 연속 1위. Another First-Most Adjective… New Jeans' 'Ditto', 1st Place for 10 Consecutive Weeks. Lee. Su-hyeon. February 28, 2023. Top Star News. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20230516074248/https://www.topstarnews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=15175441. May 16, 2023. live. July 15, 2024.
  18. Web site: https://news.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=20240109000769. ko:또 한 번 붙은 최초-최다 수식어…뉴진스 '디토', 10주 연속 1위. New Jeans, Ive, (G)I-dle… It was the golden age of girl groups. Koh. Seung-hee. January 9, 2024. Herald Economy. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20240716010034/https://news.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=20240109000769. July 16, 2024. live. July 16, 2024.
  19. Web site: https://www.melon.com/chart/week/index.htm. ko:멜론차트>주간>장르종합. Melon Chart > Week > Genre Comprehensive. ko. December 2, 2024.
  20. Web site: https://www.melon.com/artist/song.htm?artistId=672375#params%5BlistType%5D=A&params%5BorderBy%5D=POPULAR_SONG_LIST&params%5BartistId%5D=672375&po=pageObj&startIndex=1. ko:방탄소년단. BTS. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  21. Web site: https://www.melon.com/artist/song.htm?artistId=712452#params%5BlistType%5D=A&params%5BorderBy%5D=POPULAR_SONG_LIST&params%5BartistId%5D=712452&po=pageObj&startIndex=1. ko:악뮤. AKMU. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  22. Web site: https://www.melon.com/artist/song.htm?artistId=261143#params%5BlistType%5D=A&params%5BorderBy%5D=POPULAR_SONG_LIST&params%5BartistId%5D=261143&po=pageObj&startIndex=1. ko:아이유. IU. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  23. Web site: https://www.melon.com/artist/song.htm?artistId=752425#params%5BlistType%5D=A&params%5BorderBy%5D=POPULAR_SONG_LIST&params%5BartistId%5D=752425&po=pageObj&startIndex=1. ko:폴킴. Paul Kim. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  24. Web site: https://www.melon.com/artist/song.htm?artistId=772253#params%5BlistType%5D=A&params%5BorderBy%5D=POPULAR_SONG_LIST&params%5BartistId%5D=772253&po=pageObj&startIndex=1. ko:잔나비. Jannabi. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  25. Web site: Anne-Marie. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  26. Web site: https://m2.melon.com/melonhall/sector/artist/detail.htm?artistId=672375. ko:방탄소년단. BTS. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  27. Web site: https://m2.melon.com/melonhall/sector/artist/detail.htm?artistId=994944. ko:임영웅. Lim Young-woong. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  28. Web site: Exo. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  29. Web site: https://m2.melon.com/melonhall/sector/artist/detail.htm?artistId=261143. ko:아이유. IU. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  30. Web site: https://m2.melon.com/melonhall/sector/artist/detail.htm?artistId=861436. ko:세븐틴. Seventeen. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  31. Web site: https://m2.melon.com/melonhall/sector/artist/detail.htm?artistId=720018. ko:김호중. Kim Ho-joong. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  32. Web site: https://m2.melon.com/melonhall/sector/artist/detail.htm?artistId=792022. ko:볼빨간 사춘기. Bolbbalgan4. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  33. Web site: https://m2.melon.com/melonhall/sector/artist/detail.htm?artistId=198094. ko:빅뱅. BigBang. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  34. Web site: https://m2.melon.com/melonhall/sector/artist/detail.htm?artistId=905701. ko:트와이스. Twice. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  35. Web site: https://m2.melon.com/melonhall/sector/artist/detail.htm?artistId=236797. ko:태연. Taeyeon. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  36. Web site: https://m2.melon.com/melonhall/sector/artist/detail.htm?artistId=236815. ko:다비치. Davichi. Melon. ko. December 2, 2024.
  37. Web site: https://www.newsis.com/view/NISX20240813_0002848575. ko:방탄소년단 '봄날', 멜론 첫 10억 스트리밍↑. BTS "Spring Day," Melon's first 1 billion streams ↑. Lee. Jae-hoon. August 13, 2024. Newsis. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20240813233455/https://www.newsis.com/view/NISX20240813_0002848575. August 13, 2024. live. August 13, 2024.
  38. Web site: https://xn--o39an51b2re.com/melon/chart/top100/record/35945927. ko:Melon TOP 100 순위 추이. ko. April 3, 2023.
  39. News: 정 . 병근 . September 9, 2024 . ko:에스파, 99일 1위 'Supernova' 리믹스 공개 . https://news.tf.co.kr/read/entertain/2134964.htm . live . https://archive.today/20241025020748/https://news.tf.co.kr/read/entertain/2134964.htm . October 25, 2024 . October 25, 2024 . The Fact.
  40. Web site: https://xn--o39an51b2re.com/melon/chart/monthly/record/32872978. ko:Melon 주간 차트 추이. Melon Weekly Chart Trends. ko. April 3, 2023.
  41. Web site: https://xn--o39an51b2re.com/melon/chart/monthly/record/30287019. ko:Melon 주간 차트 추이. Melon Weekly Chart Trends. ko. April 3, 2023.
  42. Web site: https://xn--o39an51b2re.com/melon/chart/weekly/record/35454426. ko:Melon 월간 차트 추이. Melon Monthly Chart Trends. ko. July 17, 2023.
  43. Web site: https://xn--o39an51b2re.com/melon/chart/weekly/record/30962526. ko:Melon 연간 차트 추이. Melon Annual Chart Trends. ko. April 3, 2023.
  44. Web site: https://xn--o39an51b2re.com/melon/chart/weekly/record/31737197. ko:Melon 연간 차트 추이. Melon Annual Chart Trends. ko. April 3, 2023.
  45. Web site: https://xn--o39an51b2re.com/melon/summary/2020?q=7. ko:Melon 지붕킥 횟수 랭킹. ko. February 3, 2021.
  46. Web site: https://xn--o39an51b2re.com/melon/chart/24count/20181011/18. ko:Melon 24시간 이용자수 / October 11, 2018 (목) 18시. ko. February 8, 2021.
  47. Web site: 2011 App Awards Korea. Melon. LOEN Entertainment, Inc..
  48. Web site: 2012 Trusted Brand Awards. Melon. LOEN Entertainment, Inc..
  49. Web site: 2012 Korean Digital Management Innovation Awards. Melon. LOEN Entertainment, Inc..
  50. Web site: 2012 Korea Brand Power Index. Melon. LOEN Entertainment, Inc..
  51. News: http://isplus.live.joins.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=12688626. ko:[창간특집] 가요계 파워랭킹 1위, 브랜드 SM·가수 GD. [Introductory Feature] No. 1 in the power ranking in the music industry, brand SM and singer GD. Eom. Dong-jin. Kim. Jin-seok. September 26, 2013. Ilgan Sports. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20131001032232/http://isplus.live.joins.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=12688626. October 1, 2013. dead. January 26, 2023.

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