What could be the reason for Aespa to release a digital single now instead of a mini album?

Because SM stole the Blackpink dungeon trick.

Low on budget. All money went to ai cartoons.

People keep crying about it but every single time they drop something, there’s a feeding frenzy of activity and hype, so it looks like they’re doing just fine with the current marketing strategy.

Again, I would also remind folks that RV’s launch was also widely spaced out. This is what SM does, especially on gg.

SM invested a ton into Aespa and they are doing it to make a ton of money back. We'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out. I'm sure MYs are ready to throw money at them. I know I am...

Honestly, I was so ready for an album but the concept and the ep just overwhelmed me that I am ready to wait longer for this insane project. I don't think the single is going to be as great as the other things they put out. It seems like it's an appetizer for their first album so I am not putting my hopes up on the song. Plus it seems like every single has its own episode. Like Black mamba was ep 1. I am more excited for ep 2 Next Level than the song itself.

Quote from bestofworst

Yes im aware that RV's first comeback was also after 6 months; and for exo was it almost one whole year for the first comeback? So i was not surprised by the timing but by the fact that it's a single. Like i said all other major groups are having comebacks next month and this month was relatively free except for nct dream. TXT is almost at the end of month. i feel LSM has some superstitious beliefs about when to do what.

It makes sense to me, I suppose, because teasing it out continues to build the hype. Drop a single now then drop an EP later in the summer or early fall. (I had assumed they were going to drop in the summer to capture that gg summer hit but it’s possible they may hold that spot for RV, then bring Aespa in the fall so they have fresh material to take to the big year end shows and a big debut stage..)

Quote from bestofworst

Like it's mentioned before; Red velvet's first comeback was after 6 months so Aespa's comeback is following red velvet's pattern so far except red velvet comeback was a mini album instead of a single. Enhyphen also had a comeback almost 6 months later. What i wonder is that why is it a single instead of comeback when there were not other major groups comeback. From June all the big groups are coming also bts concert then comeback in July maybe. Fans are going to spend on them instead of rookie group. Don't know what sm is thinking.

This doesn't make sense, other groups' fans wouldn't spend money on Aespa anyway even if their faves didn't comeback around the same time. Unless they're also fans of Aespa.

Aespa have their own growing fandom, they'll throw money at them when they come back.

And finally, if you look at past SM comebacks pattern, you'll see that they have never cared so such logistics as coming back or not coming back around the same time as certain big artists or their groups' competition.

probably waiting for them to build a fandom that justifies a mini album. More songs costs more money

Tbh I see these as pre release singles to build up an Aespa debut album.

If you see it that way it’s very different from blackpink or anyone really. Closer to loona than anyone else.

Quote from ArmyBlink0

Because SM stole the Blackpink dungeon trick.

They decided to copy the worst part of BP

Wrong thread lmao