Got back from a monthlong trip to Japan about a week ago. To be honest I've sort of gotten bored with the majority of the Japanese music scene the last year or two, but my trip did make me kind of rediscover and fall back in love with some of my favorite past records and songs.

It's motivated me to try digging a little deeper than I normally would for new music, although it's going to be difficult given that Japan still is pretty slow/backwards in terms of utilizing the various avenues and services online that would help make discovering and listening to music easier. Spotify and other services have been able to drastically increase the amount of Japanese music available, but it's still really not enough. I get that Japan's market is big enough to sustain itself without expanding, but it's pretty frustrating as a fan.

Korean music seems to be getting more exposure than ever. BTS is obviously huge, and BlackPink is one of the headliners for this upcoming Coachella. Boy groups are the big money makers, but it's a sign when a lot of the girl groups are doing U.S./world tours again. I actually saw Red Velvet on their opening night for their Japan tour in Fukuoka, and I'll be seeing them again in Chicago next month. On top of all this, their independent scene seems promising as well with acts like Se So Neon and Mid-Air Thief getting some recognition domestically and abroad.

Anyways, I'm looking forward to this year and hope I can keep this high I've been feeling about music throughout 2019.