Do you think aespa will ever break through in the West like BLACKPINK or NewJeans?

    Do you think aespa will ever have a big breakthrough in the West? 63

    The result is only visible to the participants.

    By breakthrough, I mean accomplishing significant milestones like a #1 album on the Billboard 200, multiple debuts on the Billboard Hot 100 and massive years on Spotify (the top 3 are owned by NJ/BP)


    aespa had a career best year in 2024, but compared to the other career best years of the two mentioned girl groups, it falls far short, especially and particularly in the West.


    So let's poll it and discuss it, if you want.


    This thread and poll are sponsored by Sooyoung.


    This poll will be PRIVATE.


    But if you think they can't breakthrough, please share why.

    If SM pushes Aespa in the west a little they will breakthrough the market. They have big enough fandom already, they have very good songs and now they need some good promo in the west.


    When SM promoted to some degree in 2022 they got good results on bb200. But Sm forgot after that the word “Promo” and we are in 2025 and still waiting for Aespa to show up in some US festivals or Shows.

    It's going to be hard to have the same breakthrough as Blackpink for any group, but not impossible I guess. They just need to be in the right place at the right time and have that something.


    I think aespa can make it in the West, even if on a smaller scale. But in my opinion SM has never been good at promoting their groups there, so I can't predict if it will ever happen. I'm also not in the best position to judge what it takes, because I don't live in the US.

    Quote from Taemin-Identity

    Also SM should stop releasing weird English songs that doesn’t sound like Aespa. Then they can breakthrough the west.


    Better things and Life’s too short sounds nothing like Aespa.

    I think these songs do sound like aespa, just not like their usual title tracks. But some of their bsides have a similar sound and vibe.


    To be honest, as someone not living in Asia, I do enjoy them more than some of their edgier songs, especially Life's Too Short. But yeah, it's not their signature sound and what made them popular.


    It would be interesting to see if SM released some of their most popular songs in English and how would the public react. They did it with Whiplash but as far as I know it wasn't promoted by them.

    Quote from Isastar

    I think these songs do sound like aespa, just not like their usual title tracks. But some of their bsides have a similar sound and vibe.


    To be honest, as someone not living in Asia, I do enjoy them more than some of their edgier songs, especially Life's Too Short. But yeah, it's not their signature sound and what made them popular.


    It would be interesting to see if SM released some of their most popular songs in English and how would the public react. They did it with Whiplash but as far as I know it wasn't promoted by them.

    Sm wants to go with generic route in their English singles, that’s why Aespa is flopping with their English singles. Also their original English songs are very far away from the sound that GP knows. That’s why they don’t even chart as good as their Korean songs in Korea. SM just needs to stick to their sound and release an original English track. I would say, SM should go in the way of “Drama”.

    Quote from Taemin-Identity

    Sm wants to go with generic route in their English singles, that’s why Aespa is flopping with their English singles. Also their original English songs are very far away from the sound that GP knows. That’s why they don’t even chart as good as their Korean songs in Korea. SM just needs to stick to their sound and release an original English track. I would say, SM should go in the way of “Drama”.

    I agree. And yes, Drama was a great song and I would love them to release something with the same vibe! Maybe I don't know fully what does the US GP like, but sometimes I watch the reactions on youtube and a lot of Western fans like their unique songs. SM could definitely bank on that but they would also need to do full promotions there for it to make sense.

    Well, not a proper breakthrough, but Hot100 entry? possibly


    If this was asked before last year I'd say no, but Whiplash's (and to a degree Drama's and Supernova's) performance is impressive. Most these streams aren't from the west, but we can assume that they've been growing a lot there as well, and looking at their tour they do indeed have a decent audience there.


    The English version of Whiplash shows SM now still wants to push for it despite previous flop attempts. Now, the songs people like from aespa that get good (international) streams are like Drama and Whiplash, so why they previously did a 180 with English releases with songs like Life's Too Short is beyond me. Incredibly strange and frankly dumb move. So it'll be interesting to see how SM now tries to strike while the iron is hot, because this is the best chance aespa has ever had for a semi-breakthrough in the west.

  • AllKill VIP

    I don't think


    i think they'll have a break through but on a smaller scale


    first of all SM just doesn't have the knowledge and skills to know how to promote a group in the US like YG and Hybe

    they are the type to jump on the first opportunity offer to them praying that it lead to something, when they should jump on the smart opportunity that we'll lead to a real thing


    and second of all they need to become a more generic GG if they want to be able to break through in the west

    they need to go for a more generic and basic aesthetic like blackpink and newjeans if they want to succeed their over the top aesthetic works well with kpop fans cuz we are used to this type of aesthetic but i'm not sure if it would work with western market


    and Lastly, they'll have to change their sound

    Aespa songs are more influence by hyperpop and pop in general, their music is over the top

    while what's working in the US currently is Hip hop (Blackpink) and minimalistic sound like NJ


    and aespa doesn't fit in neither of these boxes

    No, their music does not have general appeal to Western GP like some BP and NJZ songs do. Most SM music feels that way for me, it's just too different from what Western pop fans are used to imo. Not only that but I'm not too sure the group itself is very Western friendly like BP and NJZ are, who have members like Jennie/Rose and Danielle/Hanni.

  • AllKill VIP
    Quote from Tru-Multistan

    No, their music does not have general appeal to Western GP like some BP and NJZ songs do. Most SM music feels that way for me, it's just too different from what Western pop fans are used to imo. Not only that but I'm not too sure the group itself is very Western friendly like BP and NJZ are, who have members like Jennie/Rose and Danielle/Hanni.

    Yeah also agree with this apart from concept and music the idols themselves imo are not appealing to a wider western audience and we don’t talk about this enough.


    Like yeah imo no matter what music aespa release just the way they were trained and presented makes them extremely hard to be liked by a boarder audience.

    Quote from icyruios

    BP and NJs are not comparable


    Breakthrough like NJs sure maybe


    BP? That is a hard bar to reach

    They literally are.


    NewJeans accomplished:


    #1 best-selling album on the Billboard 200

    5 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 in a calendar year--most by any girl group in BB100 history

    Second biggest streaming year by a girl group in Spotify history

    Tied for most weeks on the BB200 alongside BP

    Tied with BP for second most weeks on the BB Hot 100


    So you, as usual, don't know what you're talking about and are trying way too hard to trigger me. aespa fans would be over the moon if they accomplished even one of those things, and I left several other milestones unmentioned.


    You earned that IVE thread you've been begging so much for. Tomorrow.

    I think it's possible if that's what SM wants, but I hope not for reasons others have already mentioned. The reason I like Kpop is because it dynamic and experimental in a way Western pop simply isn't. Not to mention, I abhor how Western labels operate. Perhaps I'm biased because I work in the US music industry, but artistically, it feels worse than Korea. I'm one of the many who lost interest in BTS's music after 2019, so while I'll respect the decision if that's what they choose, I'll probably end up losing interest in their music as well.

  • AllKill VIP

    BP and NJs are not on the same level. You are the only one in the forum that thinks they are

    Quote from icyruios

    BP and NJs are not on the same level. You are the only one in the forum that thinks they are

    That must be why NJ have matched or surpassed them across multiple categories particularly in the West. Your ignorant opinions are meaningless in the face of the facts I've posted numerous times.


    Don't worry. IVE's ceiling in the West will never reach the basement of what either girl group can accomplish.


    As you often like to say, worry about your own favs who didn't need their own company to sabotage them to fall off in Korea.


    A little preview of the motif for my next IVE thread. Stay tuned.

    Quote from frala19

    I think it's possible if that's what SM wants, but I hope not for reasons others have already mentioned. The reason I like Kpop is because it dynamic and experimental in a way Western pop simply isn't. Not to mention, I abhor how Western labels operate. Perhaps I'm biased because I work in the US music industry, but artistically, it feels worse than Korea. I'm one of the many who lost interest in BTS's music after 2019, so while I'll respect the decision if that's what they choose, I'll probably end up losing interest in their music as well.

    You don't have to necessarily sell out and compromise your musical identity to succeed in the West


    BP released the same type of songs they've been releasing since debut and succeeded.


    And NewJeans achieved massive success in the West while staying true to their core concepts and musical identity as well.


    I guess the conundrum would be the fact that both BP and NJ naturally appeal to Western audiences, while aespa's natural strengths and concepts as a group may not.


    Would Taemin-Identity and SooYoung consider that a fair statement and assessment?

  • AllKill VIP

    Are BP and NJs equally successful in the West? 29

    The result is only visible to the participants.

    BP and NJs are not comparable


    Actually maybe I'm wrong let's see


    :meme-side-eye::meme-excuse-me::meme-oh-yes:

  • AllKill VIP
    Quote from monalisalove

    He deadass tried to snick this as something real when as I said BP biggest achievement is their longevity, they are there since 2018 and even now their solos are there too. Iconic!

    It's obvious to me because I do these kind of threads all the time


    I'll be posting shit like "Day6 manage to sell out KSPO like big groups such as ABC DEF GHI who else can do it like them?" as a bragging post to brag that Day6 is selling out venues and alluding that Day6 is as big as those big acts


    I don't actually give a shit about who you think can sell out those venues


    Similarly LamaCharts don't actually give a shit if aespa can break out in the West. He is just using this to allude that BP and NJs are equal in the West, which they aren't.

    and they dont need to reach that ceiling on the west. the fact that they dont have the west and still are succesful is an achievement itself. they are on track to be the best selling girlgroup in albums. on track to have the biggest tour after this fan concert. two important measures. they get to be in lolla 3 times while not having the so called west achievements. they have the best selling kpop album world wide girl group twice in a row. this year they sold 1.5m i dont see any other gg topping that besides bp.

  • AllKill VIP
    Quote from Rarami

    and they dont need to reach that ceiling on the west. the fact that they dont have the west and still are succesful is an achievement itself. they are on track to be the best selling girlgroup in albums. on track to have the biggest tour after this fan concert. two important measures. they get to be in lolla 3 times while not having the so called west achievements. they have the best selling kpop album world wide girl group twice in a row. this year they sold 1.5m i dont see any other gg topping that besides bp.

    We don't need to fight with LamaCharts


    We just enjoy new music and performances by our faves while he continues making threads due to lack of new content from his faves


    And he will say "I will be back with a vengeance when NJs eventually defeat the evil Hybe you guys are not ready for my wrath" or some shit like that like yeah we will be waiting for the next 2 years or so


    And if anyone rebutts this, LamaCharts brought up IVE first and I mentioned no other groups outside the 3 groups mentioned in this thread OP title.


    I stick to the topic unlike someone who brings up other groups that are not relevant to the topic

    Quote from icyruios

    We don't need to fight with LamaCharts


    We just enjoy new music and performances by our faves while he continues making threads due to lack of new content from his faves


    And he will say "I will be back with a vengeance when NJs eventually defeat the evil Hybe you guys are not ready for my wrath" or some shit like that like yeah we will be waiting for the next 2 years or so

    naw im not fighting with him. he can say whatever he wants as much as he wants. my take is ive will always come out to be one of the top girl group.


    2022 is ive still a top girl group

    2023 is ive still a top girl group

    2024 is ive still a top girl group

    2025 is ive still a top girl group

    2026

    2027

    2028

    see the pattern? they will always be in contention

  • AllKill VIP

    I'm just grateful they are still an active group. Grateful for new content, new music, new performances.


    I can't say the same for some others

  • AllKill VIP
    Quote from DaisyTheGenuine

    5 Hot 100 entries in a year is now not "a hard bar to reach" according to fans of groups that can't even get one :meme-life-support:


    Whether or not bp and njz are on the same level is irrelevant, y'all are so desperate to write those girls off :meme-life-support:

    :meme-spit-water:


    That's what I'm SAYING.


    These Dives are so delusional that I can't wipe the grin off my face from the absolute amusement I feel from reading their copium infused rants and tirades.


    Dives, this is a thread about groups that have either made major accomplishments in the West or are capable of it.


    Know your place.


    NewJeans haven't had a comeback in nearly a year and they're STILL ahead of IVE in the 2025 Circle Digital Index. Maybe worry about how even an indefinite hiatus from the top girl group of this era wasn't enough of an opportunity for your girls to climb.


    ANYWAY, it's pure lunacy to pretend NewJeans and BLACKPINK aren't COMPARABLE in the West, and it's pure idiocy to say that saying something is COMPARABLE is the same as saying it's equivalent.


    K-Pop stans never pass the nuanced thinking test.


    Hey, if you want that IVE thread tonight, I can oblige.


    And I won't be nice about it anymore, like I have been.

    its just words. so go make it lol

    Quote from Rarami

    its just words. so go make it lol

    No, I prefer to space out my threads. Tonight is aespa, and so far absolutely nobody thinks they have a chance of breaking through in the West. That puts a real ceiling on their potential compared to NewJeans and BLACKPINK.


    I'll share thoughts on IVE tomorrow or later. And I'm not going to filter myself, so I can at least earn all the rage and bitterness you Dives target towards me, just because you're overly sensitive to anyone talking about IVE's noticeable decline in Korea and inability to breakthrough in the West despite multiple obvious attempts to do so.


    I just keep it 100. Few can handle it.


    You don't see SooYoung throwing temper tantrums and polluting threads with a persecution complex like a certain someone in here still beefing with me after they got their ass checked in the Megathread


    :meme-smirk:

  • AllKill VIP
    Quote from Yama-Chan

    NewJeans haven't had a comeback in nearly a year and they're STILL ahead of IVE in the 2025 Circle Digital Index. Maybe worry about how even an indefinite hiatus from the top girl group of this era wasn't enough of an opportunity for your girls to climb.

    Maybe things would be different if their fans weren't more obsessed with a group they swear is over than their oh so active faves :pepe-tea:

    tldr ive is going to be thee top girl group

    Imo the couple of years of charting that new jeans had is indeed very much comparable to Blackpink. Ofc this doesn’t speak to their overall success/impact because ofc you need sustained dominance for that. But to pretend like as if what new jeans did can be done by anyone in kpop is hilarious.


    Their label mate LSFM can’t do it and they’re probably the closest compared to other groups. And Aespa most definitely can’t do it. And ofc suffice to say groups like Gidle or IVE can never dream of such charting.

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