Kevin Woo Leverages OpenWav for Direct Fan Engagement During KCON, Demonstrating New Artist Centric Model

K-pop star Kevin Woo, the celebrated voice behind ‘Saja Boys’ in the Netflix streaming hit KPop Demon Hunters, took center stage to host a fan meet-up during KCON weekend in Los Angeles. Woo was not just a performer, but a pioneer in demonstrating how independent artists can own their music, merch, and fan relationships by launching exclusively on OpenWav before anywhere else.

The following was created in collaboration with OpenWAV, a proud DMN partner.

Using OpenWav, a next-generation music platform, Kevin Woo demonstrated how artists can connect directly with superfans, monetize more effectively, and build sustainable careers by sidestepping the limitations of traditional streaming and algorithm-driven social media platforms.

OpenWav, co-founded by industry veterans Jaeson Ma and Eric Tu and led creatively by Grammy Award-winner Wyclef Jean as Chief Music Officer, is a seamless, ad-free platform built to empower music creators. It enables artists to release new music exclusively on OpenWav before streaming anywhere else, sell tickets to shows and events directly to their fans, and produce on-demand merchandise—both digital and physical—without upfront costs, inventory, or logistical headaches, thanks to its tech-enabled global drop-shipping fulfillment system.

Additionally, OpenWav lets artists share and sell exclusive content ahead of any social channel releases, cultivate and manage direct fan communities through its interactive chat feature, WavRoom, and retain full ownership of their intellectual property and fan data—all centralized in one place.

For the Saja Boyz x Kevin Woo event, OpenWav delivered a multi-layered fan experience, resulting in:

• Ticketing Power: His Kevin Woo x Saja Boys meet-up sold 2,600+ RSVP and VIP tickets via OpenWav.
• Merch Drop: His “KLOVER” merch line sold out in under a week using OpenWav’s on-demand OpenDesign studio
• Exclusive Content Drops: Fans on OpenWav received early access to his “Soda Pop” cover music video before it hit other platforms.
• Immersive Fan Connection: His digital WavRoom kept fans interacting before, during, and after the event, creating an always-on fan hub beyond social media algorithms.

OpenWav has positioned its merch fulfillment business as a one-stop shop for artists. This print-on-demand, direct-to-fan model means artists of any scale can experiment and launch new merch designs without incurring any financial risk. The revenue share is also transparent and heavily titled in favor of the artist as 80% of merch and ticket sales go to the creator, with OpenWav retaining 20%.

One standout aspect of the initiative was the activation of Kevin’s digital WavRoom within the OpenWav app. Fans connected in real-time before, during, and after the event, sharing their experiences, photos, and tips—keeping the community spirit alive well past the conclusion of the live activities. This live interaction allowed Kevin to foster a genuine two-way relationship with his supporters without losing control of his narrative, revenues, or needing to manage third-party platforms.

In total, more than 1,200 fans attended the in-person events, while thousands more participated digitally via WavRoom chats. The event generated a viral moment on social media, but also illustrated how artists looking to break free from broken systems can reclaim their digital presence from blackbox algorithms that drive social media.

Kevin’s music in ‘KPop Demon Hunters‘ has lit up global fandoms and introduced him to a new wave of audiences. Since its release, KPop Demon Hunters and Saja Boys have grown to over 40 million monthly listeners and the film has dominated both Netflix and Billboard Top 100 charts.