Somi has no saving?

    There're many variables when it comes to succeed as a entertainer in the music industry, of course. And it got me thinking about Somi's career and what went wrong and how it could be salvage.


    What went wrong:


    a) TBL played the scarcity card too hard. The agency killed Somi's momentum with extended absence;

    b) The last comeback felt out of place and outdated. TBL made sure to release a song that made absolutely no sense to Somi's story telling. There's definetly her essence on the latest song, but it feels like she's frozen in time. There's no development, she didn't grow with her audience;

    c) No appearences whatsoever. Somi dissapeared from the public eye, so every comeback feels like a debut and not a continuation of her career.


    What I'd do to try turn this around:


    a) Plan out a new image for Somi. Somi would fit perfectly 'breaking free' concepts that would allow a more mature side of her. Give her a jump from high school to university, if you know what I mean.

    b) Start warming the floor by sending Somi to reality shows, her charisma is perfect for reality shows;

    c) Send her to events that resonate with her brand new image, manitainging that it girl essence.

  • AllKill VIP

    I like Somi

    I just hope she won't MC award shows anymore

    she doesn't suit it


    TBL should send here to some shows like Running Man and make her guest appear for 'series of episodes' in a way people watch RM would see her in 4-5 or more episodes

    sometimes they have reccuring cast members who appear like that

    of course other shows would be great as well

    Somi is one of the best examples of wasted potential. She had so much hype and was so popular after ranking #1 on Produce 101 and her time with IOI. I remember people being super disappointed by birthday and pretty much all of her songs after it as well. I don't think they are bad songs, fast forward has a really nice pre-chorus for example. But the songs are bland and don't showcase her talents. Somi is an all-rounder. She has a strong voice (though not the biggest range), she is a great dancer, and she can rap too.


    A lot of people chalk it up to controversies she's been in but the truth is almost any kpop idol can come back from controversy. Look at mamamoo, exo, hell even seungri still has fans. Somi never did anything that would be truly career ending. It's poor marketing and poor choice of music.

    It's a great idea. Somi's personality appeals to the general public, it would be great exposure for her

    she's been gradually fading into irrelevance (out of sight out of mind)...but she has no one to blame but herself for signing with TBL (assuming she had other offers on the table).

    Quote from tzuwi

    Somi is one of the best examples of wasted potential. She had so much hype and was so popular after ranking #1 on Produce 101 and her time with IOI. I remember people being super disappointed by birthday and pretty much all of her songs after it as well. I don't think they are bad songs, fast forward has a really nice pre-chorus for example. But the songs are bland and don't showcase her talents. Somi is an all-rounder. She has a strong voice (though not the biggest range), she is a great dancer, and she can rap too.


    A lot of people chalk it up to controversies she's been in but the truth is almost any kpop idol can come back from controversy. Look at mamamoo, exo, hell even seungri still has fans. Somi never did anything that would be truly career ending. It's poor marketing and poor choice of music.

    You said it perfectly! Poor marketing and poor choice of music sums it up as well.


    Birthday was terrible, one of the worst debuts I've witnessed. Outta My Head works way better as a tt and fits her much much MUCH better.


    Out of her releases, I actually like Dumb Dumb and Fast Forward. Gold Gold Gold is fun, but very b-side like. And I like to pretend Ice Cream never happened lol


    edit: love What You are Waiting For too

    She needs a new company. I think the public might have moved on from her. I think soloist in general aren't doing that great these days if they aren't Bibi, Taeyeon or IU.


    Eunbi - sales are declining and latest comeback is a digital release

    Yena - sales are declining and unsure if interest is still there

    Sunmi - MIA

    Chungha - Unsure if she met sales expectations



    I am unsure if a Somi comeback would even do that well. I think there's been too big of a gap in her releases. As a fan, I don't care about numbers and just want to hear her music.


    her releases

    XOXO - October 2021

    Game plan EP - August 2023

    Ice Cream (single) - July 2024

    If she she not get somekind of super hit she will just fade away, it have been active too long to suddenly get more popular. I never knew who she was from the start, even if I knew she was some kind of star from one of the produce shows. But she have had a couple of good songs that I like so I kind of like her. But she will not suddenly get more popular again.

    Yeah, I hate ice cream too. Outta My Head is amazing, still her best song. I liked birthday but I can't lie.. it was disappointing asf. She also debut too late. Everyone expected her to be the next best soloist but Chungha ended up being more successful! I still like Somi, I have a lot of affection for her as a massive IOI fan (was that obvious? lol) but everything she's done has just been.. disappointing.

    if we were being honest, the first thing i would do.

    1. she need to get out from TBL and either create her own company or sign to label that gonna focus on her only.

    Especially since TBL just sign rose for her solo. man it's gonna be tuff for her to get the priority, i mean.....

    2. she need to focus her future activities on the SK more, coz ain't nobody is bts or bp members. she can't juggle both worlds.

    3. Just do the tour already

    I think the reason she has so few comebacks is because the agency loses money with each comeback. She barely sells any physical albums, her digital doesn't make much, promoting on music shows cost a lot of money, she can't tour, and paying for million of youtube views each comeback is also extremely costly. She makes money from ads and brand deals. The agency has to bear the loss from her music to keep her name out there just enough so that she can continue to get ads and brand deals.

    Quote from vzal

    Lmao.


    Yena is head and shoulders above all the artists you lumped her with. Sales are actually rising and she is literally the most trendy female artist rn in SK after IU and Rosé, Jennie.

    Her sales has declined with every release


    External Content x.com
    Content embedded from external sources will not be displayed without your consent.
    Through the activation of external content, you agree that personal data may be transferred to third party platforms. We have provided more information on this in our privacy policy.

    Quote from StanGIDLE

    Her sales has declined with every release


    External Content x.com
    Content embedded from external sources will not be displayed without your consent.
    Through the activation of external content, you agree that personal data may be transferred to third party platforms. We have provided more information on this in our privacy policy.

    Yeah that were the first week sales. NemoNemo was a sleeper hit and so the sales gradually increased. It's sitting at ~50k sales rn and it was only a single album. Her next album will def do 80-100k.

    Quote from vzal

    Yeah that were the first week sales. NemoNemo was a sleeper hit and so the sales gradually increased. It's sitting at ~50k sales rn and it was only a single album. Her next album will def do 80-100k.

    I hope i am wrong because I enjoy her music and liked Nemonemo. Hopefully sales return back to that range

    Feels like I.O.I members are cursed. Chung Ha had a few good years, but she's struggling now. EunBi struggles and so does Somi - I'll leave the members that debuted into groups out of this reply.


    I really like Somi. Ever since SIXTEEN I like her and wish the best for Somi.

    Quote from supa

    I think the reason she has so few comebacks is because the agency loses money with each comeback. She barely sells any physical albums, her digital doesn't make much, promoting on music shows cost a lot of money, she can't tour, and paying for million of youtube views each comeback is also extremely costly. She makes money from ads and brand deals. The agency has to bear the loss from her music to keep her name out there just enough so that she can continue to get ads and brand deals.

    Expecting great numbers from the start is such an amatour move. As long as she's not treated like a investment by TBL which, if built correctly, will bring back the money and produce profit, every single comeback will count as loss.

    Quote from momamae

    Feels like I.O.I members are cursed. Chung Ha had a few good years, but she's struggling now. EunBi struggles and so does Somi - I'll leave the members that debuted into groups out of this reply.


    I really like Somi. Ever since SIXTEEN I like her and wish the best for Somi.

    Sejeong seems to be the wisest of the former members. She was smart to pivot into acting and is still thriving. I'm a big fan of hers and unsure if she'll release another album. I do love her last album, and it was so good.


    I think life as a soloist is tough in this industry, and you need to maximize early and open doors to stuff outside of music. I think Eunbi is trying to move into acting which is a smart move.


    I guess Somi has been moving as an influencer but that's a very short-term move. She should look for something more long-term. I am not sure what it is for her but it's not what she's currently doing

    Quote from StanGIDLE

    Her sales has declined with every release


    External Content x.com
    Content embedded from external sources will not be displayed without your consent.
    Through the activation of external content, you agree that personal data may be transferred to third party platforms. We have provided more information on this in our privacy policy.


    That's normal for every soloist. Their first album is usually their strongest and most hyped. She still sells more than 99 percent of soloists these days, and probably is still the top 4th gen soloist.

    Quote from momamae

    Feels like I.O.I members are cursed. Chung Ha had a few good years, but she's struggling now. EunBi struggles and so does Somi - I'll leave the members that debuted into groups out of this reply.


    I really like Somi. Ever since SIXTEEN I like her and wish the best for Somi.

    Eunbi is IZONE not IOI? The other IOI members are basically all going into acting. Sejeong, Chaeyeon, and Kyulkyung are successful. Nayoung, Mina, and Doyeon are still trying to break into lead roles. Sohye was acting until her bullying scandal so her career is basically over.


    Somi should have a regular variety show or Youtube show position like Taeyeon, Haewon/Shuhua, Natty, or Nayeon. Variety is where she thrives, she's well-connected, and she makes friends easily.


    She had so much momentum after Dumb Dumb and XOXO. Fast Forward was really good too. TBL just threw it all away and for what? Tiktok challenges?

    The issue isn't her buzz factor or anything like that. If she has comebacks and it makes no noise, then there's an issue.


    The only problem here is that TBL is literally not giving her comebacks at all. It's the inactivity that's the issue.


    When she made her comebacks in the past, there's fans and casual listeners. Obviously the song plays a factor, for example Dumb Dumb is arguably her biggest hit, it was trending everywhere. But even the other songs, there's clearly an audience.


    She's still a star in terms of celebrity status, but even if there's no comeback, she should still do more variety shows or YouTube contents. At least she's currently starring in a JTBC cooking variety show.

    Looks like a bunch of girls went to visit her in the dungeon recently...

    External Content x.com
    Content embedded from external sources will not be displayed without your consent.
    Through the activation of external content, you agree that personal data may be transferred to third party platforms. We have provided more information on this in our privacy policy.

    I’m so sad her career just sort of fizzled out. Her XOXO album still sits proud on my bookcase.


    I think a few of these soloists should consider forming a supergroup together. It’d be fun to see Somi in a group again.

    Quote from Bottles

    I’m so sad her career just sort of fizzled out. Her XOXO album still sits proud on my bookcase.


    I think a few of these soloists should consider forming a supergroup together. It’d be fun to see Somi in a group again.

    Isn't that kind of an IOI reunion :sweat: . A couple of the members became soloist after and made some very good music.


    It most likely won't work, but I am surprised they didn't try to push Somi to Western market. I don't remember her marketing towards that market much. Seeing her go influencer route is a bit sad because I felt she could've had a healthy soloist career but TBL was the wrong company

    Quote from foreveraespaaa

    Tbh I imagine she’s not the only idol/ celebrity with no/low savings :oops: that’s the problem when the average person comes into wealth!


    Money doesn’t come in forever. I hope companies teach idols how best to manage their money for long term goals :!:

    They should teach money management to idols because many entertainers can be taken advantage of. Bless her heart because she's a kind soul, but I remember Lisa's first manager stole nearly $1million USD from her.


    Then there are stories like Seunghee who ends up spending their money supporting her family. I know it might sound like a kind thing to do, but even the ones that are closest to you can take advantage of you when it comes to money.


    "I am supporting my family. There was debt in the family, and I paid it all off. I could take care of my family like I had hoped for. I also bought them a house and land"


    External Content x.com
    Content embedded from external sources will not be displayed without your consent.
    Through the activation of external content, you agree that personal data may be transferred to third party platforms. We have provided more information on this in our privacy policy.

    Quote from StanGIDLE

    Isn't that kind of an IOI reunion :sweat: . A couple of the members became soloist after and made some very good music.

    IOI coming back already sounds kinda washed up lol. I doubt a super group could happen, but I would be a lot more excited if there was a new group made up of (picking people at random here); Somi, OMG Arin, WJSN Yeorum, Yena and Lovelyz Yein, for example. Something we’ve never seen before!

    Quote from Bottles

    IOI coming back already sounds kinda washed up lol. I doubt a super group could happen, but I would be a lot more excited if there was a new group made up of (picking people at random here); Somi, OMG Arin, WJSN Yeorum, Yena and Lovelyz Yein, for example. Something we’ve never seen before!

    That would be a very interesting group. I think the issue is the only attempts for something anywhere close to this is done through survival shows. El7Z UP is somewhat like this but it was pretty much composed of creating idols from NUGUs and mid-levle groups. I don't think it did that well because the first week sales was only 40k. The group in theory should've done better because it had a lot of talented members.

    Queen of All Dungeons has been let out for a release!!

    External Content x.com
    Content embedded from external sources will not be displayed without your consent.
    Through the activation of external content, you agree that personal data may be transferred to third party platforms. We have provided more information on this in our privacy policy.

  • This thread contains 5 more posts that have been hidden for guests, please register yourself or login to continue reading.

Participate now!

Don’t have an account yet? Register yourself now and be a part of our community!

Register Yourself Login