Highlights
- Spotify selected Can't Be Blue as its 2026 Radar Korea artist to expand the band’s reach to global listeners.
- K-indie streams rose 68% globally in 2025, while Can't Be Blue gained over 290,000 monthly Spotify listeners and 3.4M streams on its debut song.
- The band’s new single Can’t Love, which features Han from Stray Kids, will launch via the Radar Korea playlist on Tuesday.
Spotify has named indie band Can't Be Blue as its 2026 Radar Korea artist as revealed by the streaming platform on Tuesday. According to The Korea Herald, the initiative is already creating a listener base well beyond South Korea's borders for an act that is just two years old.
Spotify Radar Pushes South Korea’s Indie Scene to the Global Arena
Radar comes under Spotify's artist development program, which is built to identify up-and-coming musicians to bolster their reach to global audiences via editorial playlist placement and promotional support. Since its 2020 launch, the program has supported more than 1,000 artists across 184 countries, generating 338 billion combined streams and 6.5B listener discoveries. Notably, artists like The Kid Laroi, Lauv, Tyla, and Lil Baby, alongside K-pop acts BoyNextDoor, Le Sserafim, Riize, Babymonster, and Hanroro broke into the industry via the program last year.
How Spotify Korea Helped to Boost K-Indie Streams?
Global streams of K-indie music rose 68% year-over-year in 2025. Can't Be Blue is arriving just as that wave crests. Despite debuting just two years ago, they have crossed 290,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, with their debut track Within the Words I Once Called Love surpassing 3.4M streams.
John Han, head of music at Spotify Korea told The Korea Herald: “Amid the rapid rise of K-indie globally, Can't Be Blue is leaving a strong impression with their authentic music and unique identity.” He further added, “We look forward to helping more fans around the world discover and connect with the band's music and story.” The band's new single Can't Love featuring Han of Stray Kids, is set to release on Tuesday at noon through the Radar Korea playlist, providing the group's first major partnership and their widest release window yet.
Can't Be Blue’s Growth via South Korea
"We hope this opportunity helps us connect more closely with listeners around the world through music," the band Can't Be Blue said in a statement noted by The Korea Herald. "We'll continue sharing stories and music that reflect who we are." As K-indie genre persistently expands globally, Spotify appears to be betting that Can't Be Blue’s unique sound and identity can connect with listeners worldwide.
