So SM are also using non US sales for Aespa to chart on BB just like Jyp with Stray Kids?

Quote from Seared Creamy Duck (465)

ship to a US location aka a drop off address then, they distribute it to the world.

Good point actually, but kpop fans will never believe it. The desperation to believe that their faves are known in the US trumps all reason and logic.

Quote from Smoked Olive Boar (4)

Good point actually, but kpop fans will never believe it. The desperation to believe that their faves are known in the US trumps all reason and logic.

Not good point. You seriously think Billboard would let that pass? Hell no.

Quote from Smoked Olive Boar (4)

Good point actually, but kpop fans will never believe it. The desperation to believe that their faves are known in the US trumps all reason and logic.

wasn't that what SM did with Superm? (Plus bundling).

There were proofs. Korea herald and SM itself. Too lazy to search for it.

Quote from Smoked Olive Boar (4)

Good point actually, but kpop fans will never believe it. The desperation to believe that their faves are known in the US trumps all reason and logic.

You're the kind of person to unironically become a flat earther because you want to be contrarian for the sake of it.

You're the only desperate one, you want to believe the groups you hate are not successful. But why is it more believable that fans from countries who don't care about BB200 that much will:

1. find a person willing to buy and ship the albums, per EVERY FOUR album. By your logic, for about 40k phyiscial units counting towards Billboard200 US, fans from other countries would have to find around TEN THOUSAND AMERICANS willing to join the plan. It sounds insane and unrealistic because it is insane and unrealistic. Even global streaming projects don't have that many participants.
2. Pay a ridiculous shipping fee and customs, again, for the sake of an American chart. They could spend that money one simply buying albums without the acrobatics and boost Gaon and Hanteo sales. Or donate to streaming fanbases. Your little conspiracy theory is the most idiotic use of money a kpop stan that wants to support their faves' financially could imagine.

No one is saying these kpop groups are Ariana Grande level. But that doesn't mean they can't have a relatively big fandom. Look at Oddinary's US Spotify debut. It absolutely does match the sales if you consider kpop fans are more likely to by physicals than other music consumers. SKZ also sold a ton of tickets in the US, as soon as ticketing opened. Many of them were quite expensive (due to the reseller bots too) so it's not like every fan is going to 5 stops.

The United States has 392 million people. California alone, one of the biggest consumers of Kpop, has a population of 39 million.

So I can’t believe some of y’all are out with these elaborate conspiracy theories instead of just thinking that 100,000 or so people here might buy an album.

The numbers it takes to top or debut highly in the Billboard charts are only a few hundred thousand and sometimes even less than that, depending on the week’s competition.