Jhope’s solo debut has got to be one of the biggest fumbled bags in kpop history

Like seriously. It’s ridiculous. I loved Hopeworld so so much and was over the moon when I heard he was the first member to be getting a solo debut. And listen, I loved his album, it has some of my favorite songs of the year and even a couple of my top songs of all time. But holy shit did Bighit/HYBE fumble the absolute spectacle this album could’ve been.

All BTS members have enormous solo potential whether you wanna admit it or not. Literally the fandom alone can carry them to success, and forget it if they have a sound that the GP loves.

So that’s why I wonder why tf Bighit/HYBE decided to screw up the first member going solo’s debut this badly. First of all, no physical release?? WTF. Second, idc if Jhope decided no music shows, at least get him some more stages besides Lollapalooza to perform on (and btw lollapalooza is ages after his album came out so there was clearly time for him to be able to perform SOMEWHERE, university, festival, late night show, WHATEVER). And I’m sorry but the whole release schedule was so odd like I just never like it when there’s a pre-release but it’s in that weird spot where it’s neither far nor near the album release.

Omg, I’m sorry, I promise I’m not a success stan but just thinking about the hype that could’ve been inspired from Jhope’s debut that is just lost makes me annoyed from a marketing standpoint lol.

He said that every decision was made by him.

hybe is busy focusing on the next big thing, NEWJEANS

What's his total sales projected at as of now? I think they really screwed up with the half-assed physical albums.

Let's not blame the company, jhope decided everything regarding this album , he clarified it multiple times already.

And you're delusional if you think he'd have sold out million copies with an actual physical copy. If you look at the sales ranking, the most popular members are the only ones dominating the list . All these "love all members" aren't enough they don't support all members when the time comes . You need solos and huge fanbases. Lisa, baekhyun they all have that.

Isn’t it doing well?

He would've definitely sold over a million copies, probably double that.

Saying that he's not as popular as the maknae is true but this is BTS, even if you're in the bottom of popularity there that still makes you bigger than any non-BTS idol.

And him deciding everything artistically on his album != him deciding EVERYTHING. It's hilarious if you believe that he doesn't want CDs for his album but also that the way to download it is through a QR code that only works with the Weverse App, yes J-Hope just happened to be so interested in pushing Weverse while making his album, how convenient for HYBE.

I agree with all your points.

1. There should have been regular physical release.

2. There should have been more performances in between the release and lollapalooza.

3. Pre-release should have happened around a month before album and should have been promoted as well.

Overall I feel the album should have been released today 29th July. The physicals are happening from today onwards. Physicals are not ideal in this case but still impressive for supposedly the least popular bts member. Also it would have given ample amount of time for pre-release more's promotions. He would have had a performance scheduled just 2 days after at lollapalooza. 29th July was the perfect date for jack in the box release. Hence I agree with you op they definitely fumbled the box (pun intended).

If decisions were taken by J-Hope then he should learn from this. I don't like it when artists take managerial decisions. There are professionals for these things for a reason. He should only concentrate on creative side of things.

Have to see how they do the other solos.

But if this is the model, HYBE seems to have taken the path, "You can use BTS name/brand etc., but as to actual promotion of your solos, DIY"

The word is that it is JHope's team who approached IU's Palette and the vibe indeed seemed that IU was surprised. If HYBE did not do the regular means of promotion, then IU's show was a decent alternative.

But now if HYBE does do proper promotions for others, then it would be rank favoritism.

In any case, maybe 3-4 out of the 7 will have a great career, the others will be also rans. That is life.

Even the successful ones, how they will do against LYW or Be'O -if doing pure hiphop, group success does not automatically carry over entirely to solos.

But as is, Nayeon's solo is deemed more successful in relation to Twice, than JHope's in relation to BTS.

I really hope hybe is not trying to sabotage their solo releases so that they'll remain solely dependant on BTS. That would be stupid for so many reasons. But there's so many weird choices with this "debut" that I just don't know what's going on

Quote from Steamed Chestnuts & Venison (419)

He would've definitely sold over a million copies, probably double that.

sorry but no way. he would've sold 500k-1 million tops, which is still very respectable

I feel bad for Jhope so let's make him happy.

Let's stream the hard!!

For all those saying that Jhope made all the decisions himself, even if he did, I feel like a company should step in at a certain point and offer advice.

Quote from Cured Saffron & Shallot Beef (837)

sorry but no way. he would've sold 500k-1 million tops, which is still very respectable

No. I definitely think that he can sold above 1M copies as he is the first one to debut. But the constant disappointment frustrated a lot of armys. The anthology album, hiatus and this 'no physical' thing. Plus, who the fuck is gonna buy a photocard with shipping that is more expensive than the actual product 💀

But alas, we will see once he release another solo album with actual physical copy maybe before he enlists in 2025. Let's hope he learned his lesson after this mess. Hybe better set it straight. Cause if they really want BTS to milk longer, they need to fully support their solo and not asshat it otherwise, their group relevancy might fade sooner than later or some members might say fuck it & leave their company.

BTS still make them the majority of their revenue and I highly doubt their new gg would even come close to 1/4 of bts' revenue. And I'm fucking sure that even if BTS don't release group music next year, they will still make up the most revenue in HYBE.

Quote from Cured Saffron & Shallot Beef (837)

sorry but no way. he would've sold 500k-1 million tops, which is still very respectable

he's going to sell about 500k when all is said and done just with this dumb weverse album hybe wouldn't dare try this with any of their other groups bc the flop would be embarrassing. hobi is popular enough that he didn't flop but he didn't do anywhere near as well as he could've. what a mess!

Quote from Pickled Mint & Orange Bear (710)

And you're delusional if you think he'd have sold out million copies with an actual physical copy. If you look at the sales ranking, the most popular members are the only ones dominating the list . All these "love all members" aren't enough they don't support all members when the time comes . You need solos and huge fanbases. Lisa, baekhyun they all have that.

he sold 300k+ copies in its first day, imagine the number if there was an actual physical copy

Quote from Pickled Mint & Orange Bear (710)

And you're delusional if you think he'd have sold out million copies with an actual physical copy. If you look at the sales ranking, the most popular members are the only ones dominating the list . All these "love all members" aren't enough they don't support all members when the time comes . You need solos and huge fanbases. Lisa, baekhyun they all have that.

me again. i just saw updated numbers, it's 620k, day 2

Quote from Pickled Mint & Orange Bear (710)

And you're delusional if you think he'd have sold out million copies with an actual physical copy. If you look at the sales ranking, the most popular members are the only ones dominating the list . All these "love all members" aren't enough they don't support all members when the time comes . You need solos and huge fanbases. Lisa, baekhyun they all have that.

and this is just the second day with non physical copies... even if hobi hasn't the popularity of the ML, he's still a member of bts & that pretty much means he'll still be far more in demand than any other "more popular" non bts member.

Quick q: is newjeans record physical album?