Top girl groups’ album sales this year, surprisingly only SM groups show improvement compared to their last comeback this year

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    SM:

    Aespa:

    H2H:


    Jyp:

    Twice:

    • 804k- This is for
    • 375k- Special alb.

    Itzy:

    Nmixx:


    YG:

    BabyMonster:

    • 663k- We go up


    Hybe:

    Le Sserafim:

    • 730k- Hot
    • 559k- Spaghetti

    Illit:

    • 501k- Bomb
    • 303k- Not cute anymore (Nov)


    Starship:

    Ive:

    • 1.4m- Ive Empathy
    • 1.19m- Ive Secret

    KiiiKiii:


    Cube

    I-dle:

    • 1.08m- We are
    • 36k- Special alb.



    Twice still dropping an album at this stage of their career honestly deserves more appreciation, especially from Jyp. Their peers like Rv and Bp haven’t released an album in 2025 so far, so that alone says a lot.


    And I’m really proud of Ive. I feel like people don’t fully realize how big it is for a non–Big 4 girl group like them to dominate sales like this. Charts probably, but sales wise...never! They’re the highest-selling girl group this year and last year too.


    Overall, 2025 is a really close competition for girl groups in terms of sales. We’re not seeing crazy numbers like 2 million anymore but the gap between them is much smaller compared to 2–3 years ago.

  • applepie343434

    Changed the title of the thread from “Top girl groups’ album sales this year, what a close competition” to “Top girl groups’ album sales this year, surprisingly only SM groups show improvement compared to their last comeback this year”.
    • New
    Quote from vzal

    I wonder if aespa and Ive will also drop below 1m with their next releases. I am quite certain Ive will considering the 300k drop they had between their 2 minis this year, but aespa might score another million-selling album.


    Also, ILLIT’s sales are shocking. A 200k decrease? Do the Dance didn't even flop.

    Honestly its too soon to call for them. I checked the Koreansales blog and not cute anymore hasn't had its full month yet so it could change alot in the next week and a half but its not looking good. Their debut super real me sold 705,944, I'll like you 522,001 and bomb 501,512. For them the vast majority of their sales happen first week, e.g. of the 501,512 sales for bomb, 401,674 were during the first week and their first week this time was 289k. Honestly not shocked at their decline because whilst I agree their songs don't really flop, we also can't say they are all that successful either. You see them being pushed on tiktok and youtube shorts but that hasn't grown their following or made any of their songs post magnetic big. Plus SM just debuted H2H, too much competition for an unsolid fanbase.

    Quote from echo-sage

    Do you know how Drip by baemon is doing numbers-wise this year, by any chance?

    You'd have to go back through the Korean sales twitter account to find out how much they sold of that this year but to date its passed 1 million and their latest mini sold 660k so far.

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    Quote from onwards

    Honestly not shocked at their decline because whilst I agree their songs don't really flop, we also can't say they are all that successful either. You see them being pushed on tiktok and youtube shorts but that hasn't grown their following or made any of their songs post magnetic big. Plus SM just debuted H2H, too much competition for an unsolid fanbase.

    I feel like this is the problem with most, if not all 5th gen GGs. Meovv had Hands Up this year but followup Drop Top and Burning Up didn't do well. H2H are improving their charting with each release but you can't really feel their popularity growing. ILLIT has been consistent this year but again, there has been no effect on sales/initial hype. All these GGs rely on TikTok for promo and their songs may trend for a short while but their popularity and fandom size remains the same.

    • New
    Quote from monalisalove

    I'm more shocked to see that nmixx sells more than Itzy.

    And sales really did decreased overall...

    Itzy has been on a decline in sales and Nmixx was selling close to their numbers since last year. There was a major decline in sales for Itzy last year because went from 1 million in sales to 500k-700k. Nmixx has stayed steady for the most part and Itzy is almost a 7 year group, so decline was going to happen. The group is doing fine though and they have a world tour in 2026


    Quote from vzal

    I feel like this is the problem with most, if not all 5th gen GGs. Meovv had Hands Up this year but followup Drop Top and Burning Up didn't do well. H2H are improving their charting with each release but you can't really feel their popularity growing. ILLIT has been consistent this year but again, there has been no effect on sales/initial hype. All these GGs rely on TikTok for promo and their songs may trend for a short while but their popularity and fandom size remains the same.

    I think the major issue with 5th gen is 4th gen is still going strong. Usually we have people moving from one group to a newer group, but it's just not happening with 5th gen because 4th gen is still going strong. It's why they're struggling on both the charts and sales. Also, I think soloist are starting to perform well on the Korean charts which is making it tougher for groups. I do agree that many are relying on TikTok in hoping song goes viral so people can help the song chart.

    • New
    Quote from vzal

    I feel like this is the problem with most, if not all 5th gen GGs. Meovv had Hands Up this year but followup Drop Top and Burning Up didn't do well. H2H are improving their charting with each release but you can't really feel their popularity growing. ILLIT has been consistent this year but again, there has been no effect on sales/initial hype. All these GGs rely on TikTok for promo and their songs may trend for a short while but their popularity and fandom size remains the same.

    That and none really have a standout member for variety shows. We always say the decline in idols appearing on Korean TV and variety shows like weekly idol lead to the decline in popularity of singular group members, but its the same internationally we just haven't seen it as drastically as this new gen. All the groups you mention lack a distinct sound and group personality and they could have gotten by if they were able to promote on shows with big audiences to attract fans from the wider pool. But now their only way to attract fans is through constant hits and their own content which is aimed at people who are already their fans. Nonfans are checking out new groups because they know another group from the same company, but the pool of people interested in that company is smaller than the scattergun of people who would watch shows for entertainment value.


    Game caterers is the closest to that still existing, and even that is company specific. Even end of year shows are becoming more and more like echo chambers and making it harder for groups to attract fans who will actually spend money on them.

    • New
    Quote from StanGIDLE

    I think the major issue with 5th gen is 4th gen is still going strong. Usually we have people moving from one group to a newer group, but it's just not happening with 5th gen because 4th gen is still going strong. It's why they're struggling on both the charts and sales. Also, I think soloist are starting to perform well on the Korean charts which is making it tougher for groups. I do agree that many are relying on TikTok in hoping song goes viral so people can help the song chart.

    In 2021, Aespa, Stayc and Itzy released some of their biggest hits when 3rd gen was dominating so I don't understand this reasoning. It happened again in 2022 when even 2nd gen groups made comebacks (BigBang, SNSD, Kara) along with 3rd gen still being active yet who dominated 2022? 4th gen.


    This year was all about soloists and KDH. Not a single group had an impactful release this year except maybe Nmixx. But let's see if this was really the reason 5th gen is underperforming or if they are simply not generating interest beyond a few songs.

    • New
    Quote from onwards

    That and none really have a standout member for variety shows. We always say the decline in idols appearing on Korean TV and variety shows like weekly idol lead to the decline in popularity of singular group members, but its the same internationally we just haven't seen it as drastically as this new gen. All the groups you mention lack a distinct sound and group personality and they could have gotten by if they were able to promote on shows with big audiences to attract fans from the wider pool. But now their only way to attract fans is through constant hits and their own content which is aimed at people who are already their fans. Nonfans are checking out new groups because they know another group from the same company, but the pool of people interested in that company is smaller than the scattergun of people who would watch shows for entertainment value.


    Game caterers is the closest to that still existing, and even that is company specific. Even end of year shows are becoming more and more like echo chambers and making it harder for groups to attract fans who will actually spend money on them.

    Yep. Many 3rd gen fans got to know more about their fav groups or liked them in the first place because they were constantly appearing on variety shows and some groups even had a member designated for it (Twice: Dahyun)


    5th gen groups don't promote on TV, and that's okay if they do talk shows on YTB but it's very hard to go viral/attract attention with a simple interview. On shows like Running Man or Knowing Bros, you had more chances to showcase your talent and the chances of going viral also increased.


    Game Caterers happens like once a year so I don't consider it promo but I will admit I was tempted to check out Xdinary Heroes after watching JYPE Game Caterers lol.

    • New
    Quote from vzal

    In 2021, Aespa, Stayc and Itzy released some of their biggest hits when 3rd gen was dominating so I don't understand this reasoning. It happened again in 2022 when even 2nd gen groups made comebacks (BigBang, SNSD, Kara) along with 3rd gen still being active yet who dominated 2022? 4th gen.


    This year was all about soloists and KDH. Not a single group had an impactful release this year except maybe Nmixx. But let's see if this was really the reason 5th gen is underperforming or if they are simply not generating interest beyond a few songs.

    Weren't most 3rd gen groups on their way out around 2022 in Korea?


    Blackpink - still going strong but they don't release that often to effect other groups

    Red Velvet - Seemed to be on the decline

    Twice - chart decline in korea started to happen, but didn't matter much since strong globally

    Mamamoo - shelved

    gfriend - disbanded


    I guess other groups that were pretty popular like Oh My Girl and WJSN either on decline and shelved.


    I think the above is why it was much easier for 4th gen groups to take off because 3rd gen groups popularity was declining or they shifted focus to global audience. It just feels 4th gen groups aren't doing that anytime soon. I guess next year will be the true test when Pledis, Source and JYPE girl groups debut. I just think they were too soon to mediaplay a new generation when it just feels we're just in a transition period.

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    Blackpink were still the top GG in 2022 and had successful solos the year before, RV released Feel My Rhythm which was the biggest 3rd gen song that year in Korea, Nayeon had a successful solo, Mamamoo did a world tour.


    4th gen succeeded because they made good music and had distinct identities. Not because 3rd gen declined.

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