[theqoo] IVE’S DONGSAENG GROUP IDID, DEBUT 1ST YEAR ANNIVERSARY “DISASTROUS FIRST WEEK SALES,” HOW SHOULD WE VIEW THEM?

They are the first boy group to debut in five years since CRAVITY, having launched their career last September. Their start was smooth; with their debut album *I did it*, they recorded 395,084 copies in first week sales (based on the Hanteo Chart), ranking sixth all-time among boy group debut albums at the time, and topped the charts on a music program just 12 days after their debut.

However, the atmosphere has shifted dramatically in just one year. The single album *FLY!*, released this past May, sold a mere 1,485 copies in its first week, amounting to just 0.4% of the sales volume of their debut album. Of course, a direct comparison is difficult due to differing circumstances; as a special event release produced in a single version, it cannot be equated with a full-length studio album or an EP. Factors such as the relatively high price point and diminished public interest compared to their debut also likely contributed to the low sales figures. Nevertheless, the scale of this disparity is difficult to fathom. Numerous industry insiders have remarked to MTN (Money Today Network) that such a drastic difference in sales volume is highly unusual.

[…]

It is not common for an agency to launch a new boy group two years in a row. This demonstrates Starship’s active investment in new artist IP to capture fresh markets and fanbases. However, judging by the results to date, these efforts have not yielded the expected outcomes. Objectively speaking, it is a failure.

[…]

1. I didn’t know who this was, so I looked it up. Looks like they debuted under Starship’s survival. The winning team debuted as IDID last year, and the eliminated kids debuted under AEN. Just what kind of confidence to they have to keep debuting boy groups like that?

2. If you read the article, it’s just saying the same things people were already discussing on K-Talk; honestly, debuting three rookie groups within a year and a half is just insane

3. I know this article is evil but Starship, please just focus on IVE and KiiiKiii

4. Let’s just focus on growing KiiiKiii as your rookie

5. It’s because they’ve been pulling those r*tarded tricks instead of focusing on IVE and KiiiKiii

6. But this is a limited edition copy? But they’re still selling now 

7. I’m more impressed they were even able to sell 390K copies 

8. Wow selling an album for 70,000 won??

9. I’m not that surprised by them selling 1,500 copies, but I’m shocked they were able to sell 390K copies 

10. Debuting 3 rookies 3 years in a row + 2 boy groups 2 years in a row. This is calling for a failure. But saying that they’re having a first week sales disaster is just mean