- Launching fandom commerce targeting WeChat's 1.1 billion users... Significantly enhancing purchase accessibility for Chinese fans
- Targeting Chinese fandom consumption market centered on K-POP... Securing new distribution channels
SEOUL, KOREA - May 13, 2025 (Tue) - b.stage+, a fan-based platform launched by global fandom platform b.stage, has officially launched its e-commerce mall as a mini program within WeChat, China's largest messaging app. Through this partnership, Chinese fans can now more conveniently purchase various products sold on b.stage+, including K-POP and K-culture merchandise, albums, and other items.
b.stage+ plans to expand service awareness among K-POP fans in China through the WeChat mini program while enhancing purchase convenience for local fans. In particular, the company aims to accelerate its global business expansion by securing new distribution channels in the Chinese market based on its fandom-consumption-centered commerce model.
In the K-POP consumer market, Chinese fandom represents an essential consumer group with powerful purchasing power. According to Customs Service export-import trade statistics, China's imports of Korean albums reached $59,789,000 (approximately 86.8 billion KRW) in 2024, accounting for about 20% of the entire album export market. Beyond album sales, their consumption significantly impacts actual revenue across the K-POP industry, including merchandise sales and concert ticket purchases. Fandoms go beyond simple purchases, often repeatedly buying multiple albums or bulk-purchasing merchandise to participate in events, and this consumption pattern has become a key driver of K-POP industry growth.
In this market environment, with the steady increase in physical album and merchandise consumption centered around Chinese K-POP fandom, the launch of this WeChat mini program is expected to be an important milestone for expanding b.stage+'s fandom business.
WeChat mini programs reach 1.1 billion monthly active users and have established themselves as a key channel in China's online shopping market. Through b.stage+'s WeChat mini program launch, Chinese fans will be able to browse and purchase products quickly without installing separate apps, significantly enhancing purchase accessibility. b.stage+ will also secure greater operational convenience in terms of sales expansion, quick settlements, customer service response, and logistics optimization. Through these improvements, the company aims to achieve stable sales growth and expand its foothold in the Chinese market.
Steve Seo, CEO of bemyfriends which operates b.stage+, stated, "This WeChat mini program launch goes beyond simply expanding distribution channels; it provides services optimized for Chinese fans' preferred purchasing methods while also preparing various fan events and exclusive benefits limited to WeChat purchasers." He added, "Going forward, we will further refine our fandom commerce model based on fans' purchasing data and establish a foundation for sustainable growth in the global market."
Meanwhile, b.stage+ is a platform that leads global fandom business and supports the expansion of fan experiences, providing services that allow fans to easily purchase albums and merchandise from their preferred artists. With this WeChat mini program launch, the company plans to expand new shopping experiences to fans worldwide, overcoming limitations in fandom experiences due to national borders. Additionally, beyond e-commerce, the company plans to continuously expand fan-participatory content such as real-time communication and fan events, providing experiences that allow global fandoms to connect more broadly.
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