She’s not like other VTubers – meet Apoki, a virtual K-pop idol and influencer who has just released her first English single, West Swing
- Apoki first appeared on YouTube in 2019 and has a string of Korean and Japanese singles. Now, she has an English song – with more than 8.4 million views
- Her popularity reflects a growing interest in virtual influencers – particularly in Asia – which can help people express their inner selves
First, K-pop artists released songs entirely in English to extend their global reach, like BTS did with their 2020 single Dynamite. Now, VTubers, or virtual YouTubers, are jumping on the trend too.
The song, West Swing, features American rapper E-40, with the music video dropping on her YouTube channel on August 25. At the time of writing, it had more than 8.4 million views.
In partnership with her creator, start-up VV Entertainment, Apoki is signed with Sony Music Solutions, which had been eyeing the influencer for a number of years before putting pen to paper.
“Many so-called virtual influencers only move their upper bodies [on screen] and focus on topics such as games and anime while having some ‘cute’ appearances,” says Haruko Kuroki of Sony Music Solutions’ global strategic marketing division. “But Apoki was different.”
Kuroki adds that Apoki was already like a K-pop figure, had detailed graphics and performances, and had the potential to be successful in the international market.
