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# Virtual K-Pop Artists
K-Pop Band aespa's Newest Member is ae-KARINA

By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2020-10-29 | Pop Culture
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ae-karina
References: [designtaxi](https://designtaxi.com/news/412147/K-Pop-Girl-Group-Enlists-Completely-Virtual-Singer-As-Newest-Member/) & [musically](https://musically.com/2020/10/29/new-k-pop-group-aespa-includes-both-human-and-virtual-members/)

aespa is a new K-pop group from SM Entertainment that includes a mix of human and virtual members like ae-KARINA, both of which will be featured in future appearances. The computer-generated ae-KARINA is like a digital version of band member Karina and like her real-life counterpart, the avatar's best skills are said to be vocals, rap and dance.

According to SM Entertainment’s founder Lee Soo-man, avatars like ae-KARINA are helping to usher in the beginning of the future of entertainment, as "It projects a future world centred on celebrities and avatars, transcending boundaries between the real and virtual worlds."

At a time when bands and artists are taking their talents online as physical venues have temporarily closed, avatars may indeed become more mainstream.

Image Credit: aespa

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 6.4/10
- Popularity: 85% | Activity: 99% | Freshness: 9%
- Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women
- Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial
- Top markets: Asia

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Media](https://www.trendhunter.com/media)

## Key Themes

### Why This Trend Is Growing

- **Virtual Music Artists:** Creating computer-generated avatars of music band members offers an opportunity to explore merging the digital world with conventional performance and transforming the music industry.
- **Mixed Reality Performances:** The integration of virtual and real-life performers on stage presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for the entertainment industry to explore new ways of delivering immersive experiences.
- **Avatars in Entertainment:** The use of digital avatars in movies, tv shows and music videos could open up an entirely new category of entertainment and expand the market for creative content producers.

### Industries Being Reshaped

- **Music Industry:** Integrating virtual performers to share the stage with human musicians can offer significant value proposition, including cost savings, new revenue streams, and lower environmental impacts.
- **Gaming Industry:** Expanding the horizon for avatar and character creation in gaming could offer new and unique opportunities for partnering with bands and artists and creating unique games and experiences.
- **Film and TV Industry:** Virtual character and avatar creation can be used in the production of animated and live-action films and TV series, enabling new storytelling possibilities and introducing exciting and unconventional movie content.

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