ILLIT - Not Cute Anymore - 1st week sales - 289k

a ̶c̶u̶t̶e̶ and slightly absurd take on office workers!! it reminds me of playing dressup and pretending to have an adult job - acting at maturity to reject childishness. i'm more and more convinced that this concept is going to be about firing back at criticisms of illit as being too childish instead of an actual rejection of the idea. 10.0.0.0.1 192.168.1.254

Quote from qeilse

a ̶c̶u̶t̶e̶ and slightly absurd take on office workers!! it reminds me of playing dressup and pretending to have an adult job - acting at maturity to reject childishness. i'm more and more convinced that this concept is going to be about firing back at criticisms of illit as being too childish instead of an actual rejection of the idea.

We'll see...

Also, I think this might become their best first day sales so far?

Happy for the girls… I don’t like “dolls” but the little mimi version is tempting me

Quote from bartkun

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Not bad... but not exactly great...

is that moka on the cover

Quote from NightChamp

is that moka on the cover

Seems so

Moka (ILLIT)

For other people known as 'Moka', see Moka. Moka (Korean: 모카; Japanese: モカ) is a Japanese singer under Belift Lab. She is a member of the girl group ILLIT. She…

kpop.fandom.com

Quote from BIGnorBANG

Not bad... but not exactly great...

Since you're a sales person. I assume you will be monitoring Illit vs tripleS. Right now tripleS is ahead in sales.

Quote from StanGIDLE

Since you're a salesperson. I assume you will be monitoring Illit vs tripleS. Right now tripleS is ahead in sales.

TripleS seem to have a better record at staying power when it comes to sales after release day. Illit... not so much... (though, it seems to be a wider issue wirh Hybe's GGs these days...).

BELIFT need to be bolder and make a punch. However, I think they're okay with how sales are atm (personally, I wouldn't in their shoes, as I'd want my group to achieve high sales, and an impact with each CB).

Quote from BIGnorBANG

TripleS seem to have a better record at staying power when it comes to sales after release day. Illit... not so much... (though, it seems to be a wider issue wirh Hybe's GGs these days...).

BELIFT need to be bolder and make a punch. However, I think they're okay with how sales are atm (personally, I wouldn't in their shoes, as I'd want my group to achieve high sales, and an impact with each CB).

It’s interesting because many don’t have them in top 5th gen group but sales number is similar or better than groups consider in the top 5. I think they just need to figure out charting part

I think this is hybe experimenting with singles albums. It was a first for both LSF and Illit . They most likely wanted to test if their fans are willing to spend on what ever they release. I think only Aespa can get away with it because dirty work singles albums sold almost the same as richman ep.

Overall I think spending is down with most group because there’s been a lot of decline in sales in 2025

Quote from StanGIDLE

It’s interesting because many don’t have them in the top 5th gen group but sales numbers are similar or better than groups considered in the top 5. I think they just need to figure out the charting part

I think this is hybe experimenting with singles albums. It was a first for both LSF and Illit. They most likely wanted to test whether their fans are willing to spend on whatever they release. I think only Aespa can get away with it because Dirty Work singles albums sold almost the same as the Rich Man EP.

Overall, I think spending is down with most groups because there’s been a lot of decline in sales in 2025

I think with Modhaus, whilst they don't perform well with charts, they are kinda the dark horse of K-pop, as they are consistently doing well with sales which translates into a good amount of revenue, and possibly profit (not looked at Modhaus' financials, so I'm clueless on that front 😅).

Singles are a good tool to experiment with new ideas and sounds, but with the results LSF and ILLIT are showing... they really need to pull the rabbit out of the hat with their next CBs if they want to raise their game, and proclaim they are the true leaders of 4th and 5th Gen. However, O don't think LSF will do that next year, or possibly ever now, as the window is closing or closed, as SouMus' focus will be on their NGG debuting next year...

Spending has fallen, but other groups have been able to gradually improve on their previous CBs, or have managed to stabilise their sales. Do I think what MHJ said at the press conference affected them? Yes. Do I think it affects them now? Not so much. I personally think there are other factors as to why they've fallen in sales, such as concepts and novelty that have worn thin. LSF's concepts seem rather scattered, and aren't faithful to the original concept of what "Le Sserafim" stands for, whilst the "nursery rhyme" music, as has been described, has worn thin with several Glitts who want them to be more mature in not just concept, but also sound.

Quote from BIGnorBANG

I think with Modhaus, whilst they don't perform well with charts, they are kinda the dark horse of K-pop, as they are consistently doing well with sales which translates into a good amount of revenue, and possibly profit (not looked at Modhaus' financials, so I'm clueless on that front 😅).

Singles are a good tool to experiment with new ideas and sounds, but with the results LSF and ILLIT are showing... they really need to pull the rabbit out of the hat with their next CBs if they want to raise their game, and proclaim they are the true leaders of 4th and 5th Gen. However, O don't think LSF will do that next year, or possibly ever now, as the window is closing or closed, as SouMus' focus will be on their NGG debuting next year...

Spending has fallen, but other groups have been able to gradually improve on their previous CBs, or have managed to stabilise their sales. Do I think what MHJ said at the press conference affected them? Yes. Do I think it affects them now? Not so much. I personally think there are other factors as to why they've fallen in sales, such as concepts and novelty that have worn thin. LSF's concepts seem rather scattered, and aren't faithful to the original concept of what "Le Sserafim" stands for, whilst the "nursery rhyme" music, as has been described, has worn thin with several Glitts who want them to be more mature in not just concept, but also sound.

Agreed that Modhaus is doing very well and they're making the best music imo. They're at least being bold and taking on genres that most groups don't touch and have built up a strong fanbase for both tripleS and Artms. The company is doing more than fine espeically with their payment structure with their NFT system they have going. Not a fan of that of course, but it's allowing idols to get paid, so whatever.

Honestly, I think singles album in kpop are usually a big scam lol. They're testing what their fans are willing to spend. I rarely see single albums where they experiment the sound and it's more so experiment with concept. Honestly, it would be better if they just do digital singles since the damage these albums does to the environment. So many people just throw album content away and just want the books and photcards.

Sales have stagnated for most or had a decline. I think for both groups their next comeback that aren't singles is a really test for things imo

Let’s give it time too - I think they are doing just fine

Quote from Yinye

Let’s give it time too - I think they are doing just fine

Hopefully, but I don't think their team is doing enough for them to truly lead the pack for 5th Gen, and it'll be tougher next year once Pledis and SouMus (both of whom interest me by way of musically and conceptually) debut their NGGs...

I see the fandom growing and so I am not worried for these girls!

Enjoy this cute performance

These days, first day sales are not that reliable to predict the success due to timing of release and logistic reason.

But first week sales works, like 70-80% of total sales are from first week.

Quote from BIGnorBANG

Hopefully, but I don't think their team is doing enough for them to truly lead the pack for 5th Gen, and it'll be tougher next year once Pledis and SouMus (both of whom interest me by way of musically and conceptually) debut their NGGs...

Pledis doesn't have a great track record for leading GGs.

Quote from vinslow4

Pledis doesn't have a great track record for leading GGs.

True, true... I just wonder about the direction of the NGG, rather than the management, as they likely will be a revenue-maker, rather than a chart-maker (like Treasure, and Baemon kinda are for YG, since they consistently pull in the sales).

Quote from BIGnorBANG

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I like Illit, but maybe it's time for the people to admit tripleS are the new leaders of the 5th gen

Quote from StanGIDLE

I like Illit, but maybe it's time for the people to admit tripleS are the new leaders of the 5th gen

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One has an interesting discography... the other is ILLIT.

Personally, I'd rather go by sales than charts, as yes, it does suggest popularity, but ultimately, companies care about sales more.

If they didn't, why is Treasure still around? 😵‍💫

Quote from BIGnorBANG

One has an interesting discography... the other is ILLIT.

Personally, I'd rather go by sales than charts, as yes, it does suggest popularity, but ultimately, companies care about sales more.

If they didn't, why is Treasure still around? 😵‍💫

tripleS are clearly disruptors imo. They have different methods for sales, but it's working. They're competing against the big 4 groups and beating them in sales. They just need to figure out charts because if they do so then they clearly disrupted whatever plans big 4 companies had for 5th gen groups imo.

Physical Sales is just one indicator - if you really want to compare overall success now a days, we would have to look at digital and physical sales and tour stats and various other rankings re social media and marketing index type too - non?

Quote from Yinye

Physical Sales is just one indicator - if you really want to compare overall success nowadays, we would have to look at digital and physical sales and tour stats and various other rankings re social media and marketing index type too - non?

Business-wise? Physical, digital, and tour sales. Physical still makes up quite a bit, due to profit from them. Whilst digital makes up a lot, how much they make per stream is a pittance.

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The song is great with real gp appeal imo, so now that it’s in the top 100 on Melon, I can only see it going up.

Quote from Bottles

The song is great with real gp appeal imo, so now that it’s in the top 100 on Melon, I can only see it going up.

It's a slow burn. I think the length of the the song is a complaint, but after more listens people get over it. I think it's a nice and calming song that improves after more listens. Their b-side 'Not Me' is also good. I think it's not a bad thing for a song to slowly rise because it most likely means positive word of mouth is generating listens.

Quote from Varenka

I can't believe Hanni would do this to them.

"She made us sink further than Spaghetti slop!!!!"