An exchange-traded fund that aimed to track the fortunes of the South Korean K-Pop industry and its artists, including BTS and Blackpink, is closing after failing to generate the enthusiasm that’s typically associated with the globally popular music.
The Jakota KPOP & Korean Entertainment ETF (KPOP), which launched in August 2022, has lost over 40% of its value since hitting its all-time high in February 2023. It currently holds $1.4 million in assets and, since its launch, has net inflows of $2.3 million. Trading in KPOP ends April 1, according to an SEC filing dated March 13.
Aimed at a niche and potentially fleeting consumer taste—not to mention one that many American investors don’t know much about—KPOP was launched into the corner of the ETF industry that gambles on trends at risk of flaming out or not catching on. In that regard, it’s similar to the so-called thematic funds that tracked meme stocks and the metaverse, many of which closed over the past few years.
While the Korean entertainment industry that Exchange Traded Concepts sought to tap with KPOP has generated billions of dollars in music and other media sales over the past decade or so, sales are slowing. Album sales fell 19% last year, the first year of declines after nine straight years of growth, according to Music Business Worldwide, citing South Korea’s Circle Chart.
U.S. consumers bought $291.8 million of K-Pop records, the outlet said, citing the Korea Customs Service.
Source: etf.com
KPOP’s biggest holding was a nearly 12% allocation to SM Entertainment Co., whose roster includes KANGTA and Red Velvet. Its stock gained 21% over the past year in South Korea.
Another ETF aimed at the music industry, the Clouty Tune ETF (TUNE) closed in November 2023, 10 months after it was issued.
KPOP’s issuer, Exchange Traded Concepts, holds $4.4 billion in 38 ETFs, including the $22.4 million MUSQ Global Music Industry Index ETF (MUSQ). That fund’s price is little-changed over the past three months.
