Melon (online music service)

Melon (Korean: 멜론; RR: Mellon) 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" redirects here. For other uses, see Melon (disambiguation).
Melon
Screenshot
Screenshot of Melon's new interface, launched in August 2016
Type of site
OMS
Available inKorean
OwnerKakao Entertainment
Created bySK Telecom
URLwww.melon.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationRequired, for South Koreans only[1]
Users4~5 million (in South Korea alone, as of 2018)
Launched16 November 2004 (2004-11-16)

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 currently available on iOS and Android.

The name Melon is an acronym 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. Where 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
A screenshot of Red Velvet performing Russian Roulette on the SBS program Inkigayo on September 11, 2016, showing the introduction ticker for the song. The ticker shows the highlighting of Melon as a main sponsor for the said program. (from the official SBS Inkigayo YouTube account[14])

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

Melon Music Awards
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.[15]

Achievements

Songs with the most weeks at number one
No. of weeks Song Artist Release year Ref.
14 "Ditto" NewJeans 2023
11 "Dynamite" BTS 2020
8 "It Must Have Been Love" YB 2005
"Last Farewell" Big Bang 2007 [16][17]
"Gee" Girls' Generation 2009 [18]
"Any Song" Zico 2020
"VVS" Mirani, Munchman, Khundi Panda, Mushvenom feat. Justhis
"Rollin'" Brave Girls 2017
7 "Tell Me" Wonder Girls 2007 [19]
"Haru Haru" Big Bang 2008 [20][21]
"Some" Soyou & Junggigo 2014 [22][23]
"Super Shy" NewJeans 2023
"Love Lee" AKMU
6 "Crime and Punishment" SG Wannabe 2005
"Standstill" Kim Jong-kook
"Love From a Real Heart" Buzz
"Love All" Gavy NJ Project Group 2006
"Love... What Is It?" Yangpa 2007
"Love Sick" F.T. Island [24]
"Lies" Big Bang [25][26]
"So Hot" Wonder Girls 2008
"Like Being Hit By a Bullet" Baek Ji-young
"You & I" IU 2011 [27]
"Gangnam Style" Psy 2012 [28]
"I Will Go to You Like the First Snow" Ailee 2017
"Love Scenario" iKon 2018
"Celebrity" IU 2021
"Foolish Love" M.O.M
"Stay" The Kid Laroi & Justin Bieber
"Drunken Confession" Kim Min-seok 2022
"Event Horizon" Younha
"Queencard" (G)I-dle 2023

Artists with most number one songs
Rank 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Artist IU Big Bang 2NE1, Davichi Wonder Girls Girls' Generation,
Sistar, Twice
Total songs 28 16 10 8 7

Artists with most weeks at number one
Rank 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Artist IU Big Bang Wonder Girls 2NE1, NewJeans Sistar
Total weeks 61 50 29 23 18

Artists with most months at number one
Rank 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Artist IU Big Bang Wonder Girls MC the Max, NewJeans BoA, Park Hyo-shin,
SG Wannabe, 2NE1
Total months 13 9 8 6 5

Longest charting songs on weekly chart
Rank Artist Song Weeks Current
position		 Ref
1 BTS"Spring Day"34982[29]
2 Paul Kim"Every Day, Every Moment"28683[30]
3 Lim Young-woong"Trust in Me"18575[31]
4 AKMU"How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love"17228[32]
5 BTS"Dynamite"16663[33]
6 BTS ft. Halsey"Boy With Luv"161OUT[34]
7 Maktub ft. Raon Lee"To You My Light"149OUT[35]
8 Anne-Marie"2002"145OUT[36]
9 IU"Blueming"144OUT[37]
10 Paul Kim"Me After You"143OUT[38]
As of October 23, 2023

Most liked songs of all time
Rank Artist Song Likes Ref
1 BTS"Spring Day" (2017)551,519[39]
2 IU"Through the Night" (2017)464,529[40]
3 BTS"Dynamite" (2020)458,811[39]
4 BTS ft. Halsey"Boy With Luv" (2019)443,869[39]
5 Paul Kim"Every Day, Every Moment" (2018)429,618[41]
6 AKMU"How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love" (2019)420,206[42]
7 Anne-Marie"2002" (2018)408,315[43]
8 Jannabi"For Lovers Who Hesitate" (2019)399,781[44]
9 IU ft. Suga"Eight" (2020)395,298[40]
10 BTS"DNA" (2017)375,047[39]
As of October 23, 2023

Most streamed artists of all time
Rank Artist Streams (billions) Ref
1 BTS12.82[45]
2 Lim Young-woong8.49[46]
3 Exo8.37[47]
4 IU7.95[48]
5 Seventeen4.11[49]
6 Bolbbalgan43.51[50]
7 Big Bang3.23[51]
8 Kim Ho-joong3.19[52]
9 Davichi3.02[53]
10 Twice3.01[54]
As of October 23, 2023

All-time records
  • Most streamed artist: BTS (12.82B streams)[45]
  • Most streamed song: BTS – "Spring Day" (948.2M streams)[55]
  • Song with most unique listeners: Busker Busker – "Cherry Blossom Ending",[56] BTS – "Spring Day"[55] (8.2M ULs)
  • Longest-running No 1 song on hourly chart: NewJeans – "Ditto" (2344 hours)[57]
  • Longest-running No 1 song on daily chart: NewJeans – "Ditto" (99 days)[58]
  • Longest-running No 1 song on weekly chart: NewJeans – "Ditto" (14 weeks)[59]
  • Longest-running No 1 song on monthly chart: BTS – "Dynamite",[60] Brave Girls — "Rollin'",[60] NewJeans – "Ditto"[61] (3 months)
  • Longest-running Top 10 song on weekly chart: NewJeans – "Hype Boy"[62] (49 weeks)
  • Longest-running Top 10 song on yearly chart: Paul Kim – "Every Day, Every Moment",[63] BTS (feat. Halsey) – "Boy with Luv"[64] (2 years)
  • Longest-running Top 100 song on daily chart: BTS – "Spring Day" (~2,400 days)[65]
  • Longest-running Top 100 song on weekly chart: BTS – "Spring Day" (349 weeks)[29]
  • Longest-running Top 100 song on yearly chart: BTS – "Spring Day" (6 years)[66]
  • Most roof-hit song: Zico – "Any Song" (51 roof-hits)[67]
  • Most unique listeners for a song in 1st 24 hours: IU – "Bbibbi" (1,462,625 ULs)[68]

Accolades

Melon became one of "Korea's Best 25 Apps" in the 2011 App Awards Korea.[69]

Melon was recognized at the 2012 Trusted Brand Awards.[70]

Melon won the "Grand Prize for Digital Contents" in the 2012 Korean Digital Management Innovation Awards.[71]

Melon was recognized in the 2012 Korea Brand Power Index.[72]

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.[73]

See also

Notes
  1. Formerly sponsored by rival music service Bugs

References
  1. "Terms: GENERAL". MelOn. LOEN Entertainment, Inc.
  2. "카카오 뮤직→멜론, 통합 '확정'·시기 '미정'".
  3. 박, 현익 (23 April 2021). "국내 음악은 '멜론'이 부동의 1등…'스포티파이' 초반 성적표는 7등". biz.chosun.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2021-05-01.
  4. "South Korea's Biggest Music Subscription Service Acquired by Mobile Messaging Company". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  5. Seung Si-yeon, Park Jong-geun (December 3, 2011). "Shin Won-soo, representing Korea's largest OMS, "MelOn"". JoongAng Ilbo. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  6. Yang, Hyung-wook (December 14, 2004). "SK·LG텔 MP3음악포털 '대박'조짐" [Signs of SK·LG Tel MP3 music portal 'big hit']. Financial News (in Korean). Retrieved March 19, 2023 – via Naver.
  7. Chae, Su-woong (October 24, 2008). "SK텔레콤, 음악사업 멜론 로엔으로 양도" [SK Telecom transfers music business to Melon Loen]. Digital Daily (in Korean). Retrieved March 19, 2023 – via Naver.
  8. Kim, Min-ki (July 18, 2013). "SK플래닛, 로엔 지분 52% '2659억'에 매각" [SK Planet sells 52% stake in Loen for '265.9 billion']. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  9. Min, Sang-sik (January 12, 2016). "[슈퍼리치]음악 플랫폼에 1조9000억 베팅한 '김범수' 의도는". Herald POP (in Korean). Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  10. Lee, Min-hyung (August 14, 2017). "Kakao angers music streaming fans - The Korea Times". The Korea Times. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  11. Jun-hee, Park (2021-07-15). "Kakao Entertainment to merge with music streaming platform Melon". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  12. "Melon Indonesia". Archived from the original on 2017-04-13. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  13. eck. "MelOn kini 100% Merah Putih - Indotelko".
  14. "스브스케이팝 / SBS KPOP". YouTube.
  15. Nam, An-woo (November 9, 2009). 멜론, 연말 음악 시상식 개최…"공정성 담보될 것". My Daily. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023 – via Naver.
  16. "V.O.S 박지헌, 8주 1위 빅뱅에 제동". Chosun Entertainment. January 26, 2008.
  17. "'보이그룹 통계'② 최장·최다 음원 1위 빅뱅, 견줄 그룹 없다". MBN Daily. May 7, 2014.
  18. "'지'가 뭐길래… 소녀시대 'Gee' 삼촌팬들도 흥얼흥얼 '열광'". Hankyung. March 9, 2009.
  19. "원더걸스 'Nobody', 'Tell Me' 기록깰까?". SBS News. November 1, 2008.
  20. "'활동중단' 빅뱅, 원걸 컴백에도 7주째 온라인차트 1위". Korea Economic Daily. September 30, 2008.
  21. "'보이그룹 통계'② 최장·최다 음원 1위 빅뱅, 견줄 그룹 없다". MBN Daily. May 7, 2014.
  22. "친구보다 가깝고 연인은 아닌 … '썸 타는' 남녀 듀엣 전성시대". JTBC News. June 24, 2014.
  23. "여자친구 '시간을 달려서' 주간차트 4주 연속 1위". Dong-a Sports. March 1, 2016.
  24. "'보이그룹 통계'② 최장·최다 음원 1위 빅뱅, 견줄 그룹 없다". MBN Daily. May 7, 2014.
  25. "빅뱅, 온라인 음악차트 6주 연속 1위...또 한번 돌풍". Chosun Entertainment. January 8, 2008.
  26. "'보이그룹 통계'② 최장·최다 음원 1위 빅뱅, 견줄 그룹 없다". MBN Daily. May 7, 2014.
  27. "여자친구 '시간을 달려서' 주간차트 4주 연속 1위". Dong-a Sports. March 1, 2016.
  28. "여자친구 '시간을 달려서' 주간차트 4주 연속 1위". Dong-a Sports. March 1, 2016.
  29. Melon 주간 차트 추이 [Melon Weekly Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  30. Melon 주간 차트 추이 [Melon Weekly Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  31. Melon 주간 차트 추이 [Melon Weekly Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  32. Melon 주간 차트 추이 [Melon Weekly Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  33. Melon 주간 차트 추이 [Melon Weekly Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  34. Melon 주간 차트 추이 [Melon Weekly Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  35. Melon 주간 차트 추이 [Melon Weekly Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  36. Melon 주간 차트 추이 [Melon Weekly Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  37. Melon 주간 차트 추이 [Melon Weekly Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  38. Melon 주간 차트 추이 [Melon Weekly Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  39. 방탄소년단 [BTS]. Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  40. 아이유 [IU]. Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  41. 폴킴 [Paul Kim]. Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  42. 악뮤 [AKMU]. Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  43. "Anne-Marie". Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  44. 잔나비 [Jannabi]. Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  45. 방탄소년단 [BTS]. Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  46. 임영웅 [Lim Young-woong]. Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  47. "Exo". Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  48. 아이유 [IU]. Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  49. 세븐틴 [Seventeen]. Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  50. 볼빨간 사춘기 [Bolbbalgan4]. Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  51. 빅뱅 [Big Bang]. Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  52. 김호중 [Kim Ho-joong]. Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  53. 다비치 [Davichi]. Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  54. 트와이스 [Twice]. Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  55. 곡 상세정보 / 봄날 [Song Details / Spring Day] (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  56. 곡 상세정보 / 벚꽃 엔딩 [Song Details / Cherry Blossom Ending] (in Korean). Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  57. Melon TOP 100 순위 추이 (in Korean). Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  58. Melon 일간 차트 추이 (in Korean). Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  59. Melon 주간 차트 추이 [Melon Weekly Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  60. Melon 주간 차트 추이 [Melon Weekly Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  61. Melon 주간 차트 추이 [Melon Weekly Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  62. Melon 월간 차트 추이 [Melon Monthly Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  63. Melon 연간 차트 추이 [Melon Annual Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  64. Melon 연간 차트 추이 [Melon Annual Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  65. Melon 일간 차트 연속 진입 일수 [Melon Number of consecutive days of entry] (in Korean). Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  66. Melon 연간 차트 추이 [Melon Annual Chart Trends] (in Korean). Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  67. Melon 지붕킥 횟수 랭킹 (in Korean). Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  68. Melon 24시간 이용자수 / 2018-10-11 (목) 18시 (in Korean). Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  69. "2011 App Awards Korea". MelOn. LOEN Entertainment, Inc.
  70. "2012 Trusted Brand Awards". MelOn. LOEN Entertainment, Inc.
  71. "2012 Korean Digital Management Innovation Awards". MelOn. LOEN Entertainment, Inc.
  72. "2012 Korea Brand Power Index". MelOn. LOEN Entertainment, Inc.
  73. Eom, Dong-jin; Kim, Jin-seok (September 26, 2013). [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]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 1, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
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