With much anticipation, aespa released their debut studio album, “Armageddon,” to the K-Pop industry. The music video and song took over fans, yet the album’s sales numbers raised eyebrows among Korean netizens.
Known for their robust fanbase and impressive album sales, aespa faced a puzzling situation this time. The Hanteo Chart reported significantly lower sales for “Armageddon” compared to the group’s previous releases.
A viral Instiz graphic spotlighted the stark contrast. While aespa’s prior album “My World” soared with over 1.37 million copies sold on debut day, “Armageddon” struggled to surpass 515,500 copies. This unexpected dip left netizens questioning the factors contributing to such a substantial decline.
Netizens discussed various theories, focusing on distribution strategies and fan anticipation. Some blamed SM and Kakao Entertainment for inadequate stocking and distribution plans, which may have dispersed sales over the release week instead of concentrating them on day one.
Others speculated that the lengthy hiatus before “My World” created heightened anticipation, resulting in its overwhelming success. In contrast, the close release dates between “Drama” and “Armageddon” possibly diluted the excitement, affecting fans’ purchasing power.
Furthermore, netizens examined the evolving album consumption habits of Chinese fanbases. The changing trends, particularly evident with Ningning and Karina’s fanbases, may have contributed to the decline in sales from this demographic.
As the discussion continues, fans and industry watchers eagerly await further insights into the factors influencing aespa’s album sales and their implications for future releases.
