What will happen in the future? "IVE" "LE SSERAFIM" ... Analysis of the girl group's CD sales market, which is booming with newcomers

Rookie girl groups are prominent in the CD sales market. It is noteworthy that groups with sales volume of well over 300,000, which were regarded as the girl group level leading a large fandom (fan club), are appearing one after another. In such a trend, the K-POP girl group market seems to be bigger and more exciting than ever.

Recently, "IVE" and "LE SSERAFIM" are showing great power. "IVE" recorded the initial sales volume of over 330,000 copies (hereinafter, initial sales volume HANTEO chart, total sales volume gaon chart standard) in the 2nd single "LOVE DIVE" released last month. Initial sales volume means CD sales volume for one week of release. It's a number that can be used as an index to measure the size of an enthusiastic fandom that you buy as soon as the CD comes out. "IVE" has achieved an initial sales volume that is more than double that of the previous work, proving its growing popularity.

In addition, the initial sales volume of the 1st mini album "FEARLESS" released by "LE SSERAFIM" on the 2nd exceeded 300,000 copies. They gathered Hot Topic as the first girl group to record an initial sales volume of 300,000 in their debut album.

Girl groups have less CD sales than boy groups, so if the sales volume is 300,000 or more, they are considered to be the most popular group. Even by 2019, the only girl groups that have sold over 300,000 CDs are "SNSD (Girls' Generation)," "TWICE," and "BLACKPINK."

From 2020, the atmosphere has changed. The spread of the COVID-19 virus has restricted offline activities, and fandom's activities have tended to shift toward CD purchasing, resulting in an upward leveling of sales volume. Under these circumstances, each entertainment agency will actively take advantage of the new media platform to capture the global market, the size of K-POP fandom will increase, and the battle of pride between fandoms earning from CD sales will also be fought.

Naturally, the girl group's CD sales also increased, with "Red Velvet" and "IZONE" surpassing an additional 300,000 copies. Last year, the leading stocks of the 4th generation idol group "ITZY" and "aespa" slightly exceeded 300,000, and sales of more than 500,000 were achieved.

From the beginning of this year, a large rookie group created with the global market capture in mind has begun to move in earnest, and the girl group's CD market has become even more enthusiastic. Prior to "IVE" and "LE SSERAFIM", Mnet's audition program "Girls Planet 999" former member "Kep1er" and JYP Entertainment's newcomer "NMIXX" first exceeded 300,000 copies in their debut songs.

If the growth momentum of the newcomer group continues in the future, the wave of the girl group's CD market is expected to grow even larger. The popularity of top girl groups such as "BLACKPINK" and "TWICE" is also alive and well.

Kim JIN WOO gaon Chart Chief Researcher said, "As the global trend of new fandom growth continues, the starting point of CD sales for new girl groups has changed." "Beyond Asia, Europe Whether or not we can secure the fandom of the area will separate the growth momentum and whereabouts of the new girl group. "

Under such circumstances, some people are worried that the commercial law of each entertainment agency to increase the sales volume of CDs is gradually becoming excessive.

Jung Min-jae, a popular music critic, said, "Amid the deepening inflation of CD sales, the entertainment agency stimulates fans' consumer sentiment with random photo cards, fans autographing session participation rights, etc. to increase sales. I'm getting excited. There are more and more cases of making CDs of singles that contain only about two songs. " It seems that the commercial law needs to be restrained. "