Apple TV+ has officially unveiled the trailer for its eagerly awaited eight-episode global music showdown, “KPOPPED.” The series stars international sensation PSY, who catapulted K-pop onto the world stage with the viral hit “Gangnam Style,” and features three-time Grammy Award-winning superstar Megan Thee Stallion, who also serves as executive producer. Backed by music legends Lionel Richie and Miky Lee, the series unites some of the most iconic names in Western pop with leading K-pop idols for electrifying, genre-defying performances. All episodes premiere worldwide on Friday, August 29, exclusively on Apple TV+.
For Apple, “KPOPPED” isn’t just another show; it’s a strategic and emotional endorsement of K-pop’s undeniable cultural gravity. With this series, Apple signals that K-pop is no longer just an “Asian trend” or a youth-driven craze. It is a global movement, a multimedia language, and a force that deserves a prime seat at the table of mainstream culture.
K-Pop: Not Just a Genre, But a Language
To understand the true power of this series, we must first understand what K-pop really is. It’s not merely a genre defined by beats or melodies. K-pop is a hybrid language of emotion—a fusion of sound, visual storytelling, synchronized performance, fashion, language, and fandom. It’s as much about what you feel as what you hear.
Idols are not just singers; they are artists forged in years of rigorous training, discipline, sacrifice, and cultural fluency. They study dance, vocals, multiple languages, and media performance—sometimes starting as young as 11 or 12 years old. Their journeys are intense, personal, and often painful—but this devotion is precisely what elevates K-pop from catchy music to an artistic and emotional movement.
“KPOPPED” doesn’t flatten these nuances. It amplifies them, showcasing the authenticity and emotional depth behind K-pop’s global appeal.
“KPOPPED”: Not a Show, But a Shared Stage
“KPOPPED” brings together legendary Western pop artists and some of the most exciting rising K-pop groups in a shared space of collaboration. Across eight episodes, these artists trade songs, exchange styles, and rewrite performance expectations. Each episode centers on a co-headlined performance between a K-pop group and a Western artist, culminating in a thrilling live stage in Seoul where the audience votes for the night’s standout act.
This is more than remix culture. It’s a cultural handshake. It’s Spice Girls and ITZY, Boyz II Men and BLACKSWAN, Kylie Minogue and ATEEZ—each learning from one another, honoring each other’s craft, and pushing the boundaries of musical fusion.
At the helm of this experiment are executive producers Psy and Megan Thee Stallion—two global icons known for their creative force and unapologetic individuality. Their presence anchors the series with credibility, fun, and a shared understanding that music is a universal currency.
Why K-Pop, and Why Now?
The timing of “KPOPPED” is no coincidence. K-pop has evolved from a regional cultural export into a global lingua franca for young people. Through platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, teenagers in São Paulo, Berlin, Manila, and Los Angeles are dancing the same choreographies, learning the same Korean lyrics, and forging a digital kinship that transcends national borders.
Apple knows this. And it doesn’t just want to follow the trend—it wants to amplify it. With “KPOPPED,” Apple acknowledges that K-pop isn’t a niche anymore. It’s a cultural partner with the capacity to shape global aesthetics, soundscapes, and identities. Star-Studded Lineup: Icons Meet Idols
K-pop artists:
Billlie ITZY Kep1er JO1 ATEEZ STAYC Kiss of Life BLACKSWAN
Western artists:
Megan Thee Stallion Patti LaBelle Spice Girls’ Mel B & Emma Bunton Vanilla Ice Taylor Dayne Kesha Eve J Balvin Kylie Minogue TLC Boy George Jess Glynne Ava Max Boyz II Men
These legendary and rising stars team up across eight episodes, delivering genre-defying remixes of global hits like “Savage,” “Wannabe,” “Ice Ice Baby,” “Lady Marmalade,” “Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” “Motownphilly,” and “Waterfalls.”
Episode Breakdown: Where Cultures Collide
Episode Western Artists K-pop Group Notable Tracks 1 Megan Thee Stallion, Patti LaBelle Billlie – “flipp!ng a coin” “Savage,” “Lady Marmalade” 2 Mel B, Emma Bunton (Spice Girls) ITZY – “Gold” “Wannabe,” “Say You’ll Be There” 3 Vanilla Ice, Taylor Dayne Kep1er – “WA DA DA” “Ice Ice Baby,” “Tell It to My Heart” 4 Kesha, Eve JO1 – “Love seeker” “JOYRIDE,” “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” 5 J Balvin, Kylie Minogue ATEEZ – “BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS)” “Mi Gente,” “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” 6 TLC, Boy George STAYC – “RUN2U” “Waterfalls,” “Karma Chameleon” 7 Jess Glynne, Ava Max Kiss of Life – “Get Loud” “Hold My Hand,” “Kings & Queens” 8 Boyz II Men BLACKSWAN – “Roll Up” “Motownphilly,” “End of the Road”
Each episode features not just a stage performance, but a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process—highlighting cultural exchange, mutual learning, and artistic tension. The final stage is a live audience performance where viewers vote in real time for the episode’s most thrilling collaboration. The Powerhouse Behind the Scenes
This ambitious production is backed by an elite team of global producers:
Executive Producers:
Megan Thee Stallion Patti LaBelle Lionel Richie Miky Lee (CJ ENM) Greg Foster Moira Ross Harry H.K. Shin Jake Hong
Production Partners:
Ki-woong Kim (CJ ENM Co., Ltd.) Chris Culvenor, Paul Franklin, Wes Dening, David Tibballs, Bruce Eskowitz (Eureka Productions / Fremantle)
CJ ENM brings decades of expertise in Korean music variety shows and global content strategy, while Eureka Productions brings Western TV experience that complements the format. Together, they create a show with both Korean artistry and international accessibility. K-Pop's Long Journey to the Center Stage
“KPOPPED” is not just about the now—it is a nod to the history and sacrifice that shaped K-pop into what it is today.
From Seo Taiji & Boys’ trailblazing hip-hop fusion in the 1990s, to BoA and TVXQ’s early success in Japan, to BTS and BLACKPINK dominating American charts—K-pop’s rise is not just about catchy songs. It’s about a meticulously built system of talent scouting, training, and cultural export. It’s about artists who sacrificed their childhoods, privacy, and sometimes mental health to deliver perfect performances on global stages.
“KPOPPED” honors that lineage—not with nostalgia, but with elevation. It says: We see you. You belong on the world’s biggest stage. A Personal Story: Why This Show Matters
Jonathan Miller, one of the creative minds behind the show, once wrote:
“I grew up never seeing myself in music. Then K-pop came along and suddenly, I felt seen.”
That sentiment echoes the experiences of millions. K-pop is more than a product. It is a mirror for those who never had one. It’s a safe haven for expression, color, emotion, identity—for people who didn’t fit into the Western pop mold.
“KPOPPED” takes that message global. It invites the world to recognize that diversity is not a feature — it’s the future. Apple’s Cultural Investment: Not Just Content, but Community
Apple TV+ has a proven record of cultural touchstones—from “CODA,” the first streaming film to win an Oscar for Best Picture, to Emmy-winning “Ted Lasso” and critically acclaimed “Severance.” With “KPOPPED,” Apple isn’t just producing another hit. It’s shaping the future of global storytelling.
Since its launch in 2019, Apple TV+ has earned 580 wins and nearly 2,800 nominations, the fastest of any streaming platform. Now, by embracing the most globally connected genre in the world—K-pop—Apple plants its flag at the crossroads of emotion, identity, and innovation. Conclusion: A Milestone for Music and Culture
“KPOPPED” is not just a show. It is a cultural landmark. It reminds us that music doesn’t need translation when it speaks to the heart. That true collaboration doesn’t dilute identity—it celebrates it.
On August 29, 2025, the world won’t just be watching Apple TV+. It will be witnessing a moment in history when K-pop, pop, and passion collided to create something new—a language of color, rhythm, and possibility.
This is not the end of K-pop’s journey. It’s the beginning of its next chapter.