IVE seen enough. aespa's window just slammed shut in Korea. IVE is back on top.

IVE heard enough of your bright ideas, thanks.

Watch people say how aespa was blocked from No.1 by a full house nonsense when they laughed at Heya era

Justice for Heya it's one of their most magical TTs that pre chorus is heavenly

Less than 1 mil to 100 mil store juseyo

In Korea, it often feels like IVE is always a step ahead.

Quote from Yama-Chan

aespa had an incredible 2024, the third most successful single year of any girl group this year (behind 2023 NewJeans and 2023 IVE)

Actually Day6 Happy has better longevity it's a top 3 4th Gen GG song it's still charting in Melon Top 50, almost 30 positions higher.

And it's released earlier than Supernova. Also, I AM and Hybe Boy are both charting higher than Supernova now

Day6 is the biggest 4th Gen GG

We will never be free from you oh God

2024 was a fluke year for Aespa because ppl were mad that Bango wanted to step on them

This can only mean Aespa’s next comeback will be a smash hit jokes aside Ive need to work on their international stats Aespa’s still leading overall and the gap is increasing

I'm unconvinced. Are Dives just poor now b/c the album sales for Rivive have been less than convincing, especially for a full album. As for streams, their streams' peaks look comparable to Aespa's comebacks last year.

Music-wise, kinda a bore with both groups as of late...

Quote from SooYoung

IVE is having a really great 2026 year

Bang bang just had a PAK

And Blackhole enter top 10

Now i'm wondering why IVE even if they keep having great commercial success, it doesn't seem to translate internationally anymore ?

What Starship is doing wrong ?

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Because I think their style and songs don’t match Western tastes. It seems to me that Aespa is particularly more popular and more streamed in the U.S. and Europe. For example, isn’t Spotify mostly used by Western fans? I believe Spotify isn’t very popular in Asian countries like Japan or Singapore, but I could be wrong. Overall, I think IVE leads in sales in Asian countries. I saw this tweet, but I’m not sure if it gives an accurate impression because I don’t closely follow the numbers of both groups.

melon is a dying platform anyway, basically means nothing. Like, for example, if a certain 5th gen group struggled to chart on melon I would say its meaningless.

Quote from echo-sage

Because I think their style and songs don’t match Western tastes. It seems to me that Aespa is particularly more popular and more streamed in the U.S. and Europe. For example, isn’t Spotify mostly used by Western fans? I believe Spotify isn’t very popular in Asian countries like Japan or Singapore, but I could be wrong. Overall, I think IVE leads in sales in Asian countries. I saw this tweet, but I’m not sure if it gives an accurate impression because I don’t closely follow the numbers of both groups.

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if aespa is more popular in the u.s how come they never entered us spotify but ive has?

Quote from Rarami

if aespa is more popular in the u.s how come they never entered us spotify but ive has?

As I said, I don’t follow closely, it’s just an impression. Aespa seems to be doing more promotion in the U.S ???

Quote from Yama-Chan

You act like aespa is killing it in the West. They couldn't even break through the Bubbling Under Hot 100.

Both groups don't do anything worth mentioning in terms of Western success.

Aespa does a lot better than Ive though and on Spotify the gap is greater than the gap on Korean charts

Ive had always been a leading group in Korea but as people told me last week you can’t be a leading group overall if you’re not leading overall

If Pinkpantheress was Korean ppl would be like

"Her music doesn't fit western tastes"

We all know what happens when Yama makes a post like this

Watch Aespa have another whiplash soon

Quote from SooYoung

Yeah but what i mean is that i feel especially this comeback seems much more targeted for western taste based on the songs they chose and the visual of the mv that feels much more saturated and more mature than their more korean center mv like I am etc...

But it doesn't seem to help them increase their international visibility

They are also good seller internationally too but it just seems that streaming wise people doesn't follow

And it feels genuinely weird cuz usually when a group have a really good year in korea, it translate to international fans

But IVE doesn't seem to fit this rule

So i'm wondering what Starship is doing wrong and could improve ?

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Somehow, I don’t think Bang Bang really fits Western tastes. It’s not catchy enough. Western fans usually find songs through short, repetitive hooks on TikTok, Reels, or Twitter etc. and streaming follows trends on Spotify and Apple Music. Aespa’s songs fit this better, So casual kpop fans who aren’t really fans of either group are more exposed to Aespa than to IVE.

Quote from Yama-Chan

I don't care. They're both fighting over a distant last place among the top tiers. They're not close to LSF, let alone HiatusJeans who just recently had the most streamed girl group album on Spotify a few days ago.

Also this is about KOREA. Keep it simple, fa.

Today IVE reigns supreme over aespa and KiiiKiii has surpassed H2H.

Starship has won.

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you weren’t talking about other groups originally but now bringing in other groups to prove a point

Let me make my point clearer! Lsfm might have better Spotify stats but they lack in Korean charting. Ive does well in Korean charting but massively like international stats! Aespa is the most balanced of both

The door can’t be shut if IVE isn’t leading in Korea by much?

I mean Karina alone was peaking on kcharts and doing better numbers internationally So how can doors be closed on aespa lol! Again as people said last week you can’t be a leading group if you’re only leading in one thing very pick and choosy!

KiiiKiii and H2H is the weakest argument lol! H2H literally have 3 songs charting in top 40 from different eras and have just come back and not started any promotions but still rising I think a fairer judgement will be to wait at least 2 weeks to conclude! Give them the same grace period KiiiKiii received?

From the same time interval it’s been RUDE! That’s done better than 404 though Faster entering kcharts, faster at rising with higher peaks in a shorter time at a faster rate etc! Also better sales and international stats

Quote from Yama-Chan

fa, this thread is about Korea.

Why did you type so many words about platforms and markets that have nothing to do with Korea?

aespa and IVE are both D-Listers in the West and comparable in Japan, so I don't waste my time debating those markets.

You need to let it go and accept the second place finish in both the 4th and 5th generation.

Last week superyeah told me there is nothing wrong with being second. Let us believe in those words of wisdom.

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Oh Yama this debate is finished you have no clapback for H2H and KiiiKiii! Not sure why you would randomly involve them lol I’m not ragebaited easily similarly to brining in Lsfm to have to make a point

My original point is yes Ive is a leading group in Korea I don’t think anyone is opposed to that but no doors have been closed for aespa peaking top 2 on kcharts doesn’t equate to closed doors especially when Karina’s solo was still achieving RAKS! The gap in Korea isn’t as big as their gap internationally either!

Not when Aespa has more cumulative points than Ive on Circe Digital Chart 2 years in a row. And have much more streams on YT music Korea, which isn’t even taken into account by Circle

Quote from Yama-Chan

I don't see or acknowledge H2H until they rise to the top and prove they're the cream of the crop. Until then, the 5th generation belongs to KiiiKiii.

As for the original point, the moment you typed "Yes" the discussion was concluded. The 4th generation doesn't have much time left, and now that NewJeans have been forced off their throne by the worst entertainment label in K-Pop, IVE have reclaimed their once unimpeachable position as a top two and now top one girl group in Korea.

I've been in this hobby too long, and I'm too much of an analytical mind, not to know the signs of decline when I see them.

aespa peaked high (2024) but not as high as IVE (2023) and now IVE has wrestled control of Korea back from them.

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Mostly sounds like hypothetical assumptions as opposed to actual Facts and that’s because it’s not factual lol! A sign of decline doesn’t equal actual decline! Seems like you’re sprinting before you’ve walked for this statement

Anyways I said what I said! Aespa are not shut out lol That’s a crazy statement to say but the girls seem to bounce back stronger when they’re undermined! And this H2H’s comeback is quite literally speaking for itself

Lol. Y'all hype up Ive way too much. This is another Rebel Heart-Attitude situation for them where the pre-release massively outperforms the title track. The only difference is that Bang Bang isn't doing as well as Rebel Heart. aespa has been ahead of Ive in every market since Armageddon era. And will outchart them this year as well. You don't need to make Ive vs aespa threads every couple months lmao. Aespa is clearly ahead of them.

Where is the NewJeans option... oh wait!

Quote from Yama-Chan

I have experienced the rise and fall of many top girl groups. Contrary to what ISaidISaid rudely alluded to, I get it right more often than not.

Objectively and factually speaking, aespa had a historically great 2024 and then followed it up with a so-so 2025, which left the door open.

Now IVE have charged through that open door, kicked aespa out said door and slammed it shut.

This is their Queendom now.

I know I'm right.

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Yama you’re starting to sound like Mystic Meg lol anyways well done to IVE! I hope Breakdown does better numbers than Bang Bang it’s the better song imo!

foreveraespaa clapping yama xD