‘Gangnam Style’ singer a Youtube millionaire
Nearby stations hurt by gas price war, but adjacent restaurants, shops like rise in traffic.
SEOUL, SOUTh KOREA — As “Gangnam Style” gallops toward 1 billion views on YouTube, the first Asian pop artist to capture a massive global audience has gotten richer click by click. But the money from music sales isn’t flowing in from the rapper’s homeland South Korea or elsewhere in Asia.
With one song, 34-year-old Park Jae-sang — better known as PSY — is set to become a millionaire from YouTube ads and iTunes downloads, underlining a shift in how money is being made in the music business. An even bigger dollop of cash will come from TV commercials.
From just those sources, PSY and his camp will rake in at least $7.9 million this year, according to an analysis by The Associated Press of publicly available information and industry estimates. But for online music sales in South Korea, he’ll earn less than $60,000. BASTROP — The new Bastrop Buc-ee’s is hurting some neighboring businesses – and helping others.
The super-sized convenience store at 1700 Texas 71 opened last month, sparking a gas war that has taken prices so low that owners of one nearby service station say they will stop selling fuel.
Regular unleaded was going for $2.97 a gallon Tuesday afternoon at Buc-ee’s. Prices elsewhere ranged from $2.92 at H-E-B, 104 N. Hasler Blvd., to $3.27 at L&S Mart, 908 College St. Most stations in the area were charging north of $3 per gallon.
L&S Mart co-owner Soma Chav says the family-owned business can’t compete with its new neighbor.
“We’re shutting down the gas,” Chav said. “We can’t afford it. Add in the costs for maintenance and insurance See more photos from the new Bastrop Buc-ee’s with this story at
Sand it’s just not worth it.”
Sales at the nearby Bastrop Corner convenience store, 900 Texas 95, have plunged 40 percent, according to manager Robbie Kelin.
“Their gas is selling way too low,” he said. “There’s no way we can match that. Beer and cigarettes are down, too. Those three have some of our highest profit margins.”
The new Buc-ee’s spans 56,000 square feet and boasts 655 parking spaces, 48 fueling stations and 20 cash registers, general manager John Taylor said. Customers can buy everything from clothing to hoagies to fresh fudge. There are 71 toilets and urinals, as well. The Lake Jackson-based chain is known for its clean restrooms, getting mentions