#exo 1s album

[fangirlingsohardithurts]

CHOGI WA

[x-exo]

Ahh never apologize for replying late! I understand, I'm just happy tumblr didn't eat my ask xD

Ndkandks all of wonho's new songs are just, ugh amazing. For me I think ain't about you is my fav. I find myself humming to it at random times of the day the most, the melody is simple and catchy (also his English has improved so much im proud of him) but them LOOKS for this era ??? He didn't come to play haha. Changkyun being the master of art as always. At first was a bitsad for now performances on music shows but then I remembered he uses uhh "colorful words" so maybe that's why cx nonetheless am proud of him, hands down my favorite mixtape that my favs put out

Welp, the mingyu situation has been fully cleared up (ibelieve you answered this before the final pledis statement?) Pledis cleared things up and mingyu did apologize in the statement (this of course may bring up if he was honest with his apology since it was through the company) and I want to say he was honest? Idk, maybe im naive with believing this but he was wanting to meet with everyone that made posts, he did admit he made jokes and simply went along with them so he is taking accountability. I think now, what is best is just try to like move forward from this. This is up to each fan so I totally respect and understand if you may feel a bit "meh" with getting back into supporting mingyu. It is VALID, any fan that says otherwise is a buttsock. If you need some time, that is ok! If you need a break from the fandom, that is also ok! Afterall, being a fan should be fun and be a happy space! So whatever you pick to do, I support ya! *hugs you* for me, im comfy with like reblogging stuff of him and such. Like im a bit upset still but im a bit more ok If that makes sense? What we are NOT going to do is send hate to OP because their feelings were valid as well

Chanyeol is off fighting indeed, It feels weird but im happy he is able to be away from the idol life (especially after his insta clear out, i got a bit worried there. Sadly the woozi pic didn't survive that clear out gjskdja) what I don't understand is how fans got mad for now group photo and I am like ??? Yeah it sucks to not see them sending off chanyeol but we are in a pandemic and also maybe chanyeol wanted it to be personal? Can kpop fans just chill? Baekhyun released his new album and its iconic, like always lol. May 6 is his date and It will be a shame for sure, but as you said, am happy they can take a break and such. I hope Baekhyun doesn't feel guilty because I'm not mad! (Laughing since exo likes to leave us with gifts before going lol) and minseok!obessesion is just flippen perfection. Like can we greenscreen him into the mv sm? He fits this concept soooo much!

But hoshi making a solo debut, HOLO HAS HAPPEN3D YALL! I cannot stop listening to it, the vocals, beat and dance is just everything to me (a bit sad its not more songs but I'm not complaining) I just was screaming the entire mv xD like it felt like I was being blessed by a God or something lol

Ok my phone is glitching as I'm typing this so maybe its time for me to go xD I pray this sends but until next time we chat!! I hope you are doing well and are safe! Continue being fabulous!

ain’t about you is soooo cute and funky!! but then the dance....😳 dhfsdiuhisuhis yeahhh i think changkyun said it in an interview somewhere that he kind of wanted to promote it on shows but his company told him that it was that or changing the “colorful words” to something more suitable so he declined...I’m glad tbh it makes the album more special imo also he achieved so many #1s and so many views on the mv!! he was so happy!

yeah, I’m glad the mingyu situation is cleared up and he apologised I was missing seventeen so much omg and the members’ messages on his bday the second pledis dropped the last statement...🤧 they love him so much. ALSO GOSE IS BACK!! I’m so happy omggg i missed my weekly dose of serotonin! I’m glad everything is slowly going back to normal. Yeah same i’m okay with it now too.!

have you listened to tomorrow??? omg it’s so so so good i love chanyeol’s voice so much it’s so soothing 😍 hope it was longer tho! yeah tbh fans always find something to complain about like we’re in a pandemic and the south korean rules don’t allow gatherings of lots of people how do you expect them to all get together for a pic and then post it like ????? but anyways I’m glad he got his family with him to say goodbye! also...

EXO IS BACK EXO IS BACK EXO IS BAAAAACKKKKKKKK

I CAN’T BELIEVE MY EYES I REALLY CAN’T omg they’re really coming back with a whole album and a power continuation mv!!!!! also the song sounds like power 2.0 so it’s already soty!!!!! I’M SO EXCITED!!!!

I hope hoshi releases more songs bc i love his style and everything he does for that matter uidhgiufisdfh also MINGHAO SOLO!!!AAAAH so many things happening omgggg

[dailyexo]

[INTERVIEW] EXO - 200109 Forbes: “EXO Look Back On How Chart-Topping ‘Obsession’ Album Connects To Their K-Pop Beginnings”

"EXO truly proved the strength of their brand by closing out the decade with one of their strongest works to date. The K-pop boy band’s latest album Obsession not only topped the charts around the world—including new No. 1s for the band in their native South Korea and on the U.S. Billboard charts—but represents some of the group’s most excitingly experimental work to date after nearly eight years together.

In true to EXO form, Obsession navigates through a storm of genres with the excellent title track representing the unpredictable nature of early EXO singles that made them stand apart from the K-pop pack. But the outfit took things a step further by delivering the LP as not only the EXO fans knew and loved, but also via their evil doppelganger versions known as “X-EXO” with fans treated to both their superstar and sinister sides of the band via the music video, album artwork and for live performances.

As the guys tell Forbes, the new album represents their long journey in the industry with hints and winks towards their past work in Obsession that becomes all the more special as they look back on their time together. Through years at the top of the K-pop scene together, EXO prove via Obsession how they’re still willing to challenge and bring something fresh.

Jeff Benjamin: As someone watching and reporting on you since debut, I feel like this is a full-circle moment for EXO. In fact, I was happy to see elements of your superpower concept in the video, and your new single "Obsession" reminded me a bit of "Wolf." Can you connect this album to your early releases?

Suho: Yes, we wanted to make a page of EXO's worldview a bit more special through this album. If fans remember the “red energy/being” from the song “Mama” was previously attacking the members, this time it appears as the actual EXO throwing the members into chaos. In “Wolf,” and many other songs, you see us trying to protect someone important from the “red energy/being.” In this single “Obsession,” the red energy/being appears as in a more direct and visible form that stands against us. Ultimately, the narrative from each album is all connected organically within our worldview.

Jeff Benjamin: Can you share what that worldview is or what messages EXO stands for today?

Sehun: Rather than trying to send out a “special” message, we’d like to focus on showing diverse aspects of ourselves through our continuous work as EXO.

Jeff Benjamin: I feel a lot of confidence from EXO in this comeback. Not only from the music and sound, but even in your body language in the music video. Kai and Suho, you must have a lot of confidence to wear the revealing clothes! Can you share your tips for finding confidence?

Kai: To be honest, I don’t really have tips for body confidence. It’s all part of the performance for me to better express music through dance. First, I think what I would like to express through the music and performance, and think if it’s necessary to have my body exposed. Then I prepare myself to show as much as needed to bring out the best of the performance. So I try to keep my physical in shape at all times not to show it off but to make sure it’s ready for me to “use” it when needed on stage. That’s why I don’t have any tips; I just constantly work out for my health and performance which gives me the confident I need on stage. You know, I’m always shy when I’m not on stage!

Jeff Benjamin: Can you talk a little about the EXO versus X-EXO vibe and concepts too? Does anyone feel attached to one side or another?

Chanyeol: Visual-wise, I would say [I prefer] X-EXO, but inner-wise, it would be EXO that suits me better.

Jeff Benjamin: Does anyone have any favorite songs on the album beyond the title track?

Baekhyun: I love “Day After Day!” I start to think of a rainy day when listening to this song, and feel like it’s a song that makes me immerse in the melody and lyrics.

Since this is a full-circle moment, are there any reflections on the group today?

Chen: I would have to talk about all our members. I am really proud of the fact that they are still passionate about what we do. I believe that is what drives us and the source to keep push ourselves to improve on stage."

Photo link: 1

Credit: Forbes.

[be-lis-mamamoo]

The girl group becomes the fourth female K-pop act to top both World Albums and World Digital Song Sales.

MAMAMOO have a hit with "Hip."

The K-pop girl group land their first chart-topper on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart as their new genre-hopping new single rises to No. 1 this week, following its No. 5 debut last week. "Hip" sold an additional 1,000 downloads in the week ending Nov. 22, according to Nielsen Music, bringing its total U.S. sales up to 2,000 downloads. Previous to "Hip," MAMAMOO had hit as high as No. 2 on the chart with "Gogobebe" earlier this year.

"Hip" is taken off MAMAMOO's latest album Reality in Black, which falls from No. 11 to No. 13 on the World Albums chart this week. To date, the LP has sold 1,000 copies and earned 3,000 equivalent album units, according to Nielsen Music. Another track off Reality in Black, "Destiny" returns to the World Digital Song Sales chart at No. 20, after originally peaking at No. 7 on the chart when it was released ahead of the album.

Following their first time crowning World Digital Song Sales, in addition to boasting a chart-topper on World Albums with their Purple EP from 2017, MAMAMOO can now claim a No. 1 on both of the main world-genre charts. Among K-pop artists, this makes them just the 11th act to do so, as well as the 10th group and fourth Korean girl group.

Among female acts, MAMAMOO joins Red Velvet, TWICE and BLACKPINK as the sole female acts to score No. 1s on both World Albums and World Digital Songs. Notably, as an artist under Korean label RBW, they are the only female act not part of any of the "big three" K-pop agencies of SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment and JYP Entertainment that have historically ruled the charts. Six boy bands have earned No. 1s on both charts (BIGBANG, EXO, BTS, NCT 127, Tomorrow X Together and SuperM), as has one soloist in BTS rapper J-Hope.

Check out the confident and fierce new music video to "Hip," with more than 20 million views so far, as well as a new live performance from Korean chart program Show! Music Core

[fymoonbyul]

[ARTICLE] MAMAMOO Score First No. 1 on World Digital Song Sales Chart With 'Hip'

The girl group becomes the fourth female K-pop act to top both World Albums and World Digital Song Sales.

MAMAMOO have a hit with "Hip."

The K-pop girl group land their first chart-topper on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart as their new genre-hopping new single rises to No. 1 this week, following its No. 5 debut last week. "Hip" sold an additional 1,000 downloads in the week ending Nov. 22, according to Nielsen Music, bringing its total U.S. sales up to 2,000 downloads. Previous to "Hip," MAMAMOO had hit as high as No. 2 on the chart with "Gogobebe" earlier this year.

"Hip" is taken off MAMAMOO's latest album Reality in Black, which falls from No. 11 to No. 13 on the World Albums chart this week. To date, the LP has sold 1,000 copies and earned 3,000 equivalent album units, according to Nielsen Music. Another track off Reality in Black, "Destiny" returns to the World Digital Song Sales chart at No. 20, after originally peaking at No. 7 on the chart when it was released ahead of the album.

Following their first time crowning World Digital Song Sales, in addition to boasting a chart-topper on World Albums with their Purple EP from 2017, MAMAMOO can now claim a No. 1 on both of the main world-genre charts. Among K-pop artists, this makes them just the 11th act to do so, as well as the 10th group and fourth Korean girl group.

Among female acts, MAMAMOO joins Red Velvet, TWICE and BLACKPINK as the sole female acts to score No. 1s on both World Albums and World Digital Songs. Notably, as an artist under Korean label RBW, they are the only female act not part of any of the "big three" K-pop agencies of SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment and JYP Entertainment that have historically ruled the charts. Six boy bands have earned No. 1s on both charts (BIGBANG, EXO, BTS, NCT 127, Tomorrow X Together and SuperM), as has one soloist in BTS rapper J-Hope.

Check out the confident and fierce new music video to "Hip," with more than 20 million views so far, as well as a new live performance from Korean chart program Show! Music Core below:

[fyexo]

191014 SuperM Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart With 'The 1st Mini Album'

K-pop supergroup SuperM debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, as the act’s first effort, SuperM: The 1st Mini Album, enters atop the tally. The set, which was released via SM/Capitol Records on Oct. 4, launches with 168,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Oct. 10, according to Nielsen Music. Of that sum, 164,000 were in album sales.

Elsewhere in the top 10, R&B singer Summer Walker bows at No. 2 with her debut studio album, Over It, and country singer Brantley Gilbert starts at No. 9 with Fire & Brimstone.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units. Units are comprised of traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). The new Oct. 19-dated chart (where SuperM debuts at No. 1) will be posted in full on Billboard's websites on Oct. 15.

SuperM’s existence was announced on Aug. 7, and the act comprises seven members from established pop acts that have had some success already on Billboard’s various charts: one from SHINee, and two each from EXO, NCT 127 and WayV. None of those groups have claimed a top 10 effort on the all-genre Billboard 200, though. (The highest charting album from any of the non-SuperM acts is NCT 127’s NCT #127 We Are Superhuman: The 4th Mini Album, which debuted and peaked at No. 11 earlier this year.)

SuperM’s The 1st Mini Album starts with 168,000 units, and of that sum, 164,000 were in album sales. The rest of the album’s first-week comprised less than 1,000 TEA units, and a little over 3,000 SEA units. The latter sum equates to 4.9 million on-demand audio streams during the tracking week for the seven tracks on the album. (The album has seven tracks in total, but only five distinct songs. The additional two tracks are instrumental versions of songs on the album.)

SuperM’s handsome start was encouraged mightily by an array of permutations in which to purchase the album, which was likely very appealing to the group’s fans, since K-pop fans are often passionate about buying collectible physical packages of an album. The 1st Mini Album had more than 60 merchandise/album bundles available to purchase through their official web stores, a concert ticket/album sale redemption offer with their upcoming arena tour and eight different CD variants of the album (seven with a different cover for each member, along with a group edition). The act also staged a week-long pop-up shop in Los Angeles during street week, where fans could buy the CD (as well as oodles of individual merch items).

At No. 2 on the new Billboard 200, Summer Walker’s debut studio effort, Over It, launches with 134,000 equivalent album units earned — the biggest week for an R&B album by a female artist in over three years. The last R&B album by a woman to notch a bigger week was Beyoncé with Lemonade, which tallied 202,000 units in its third week on the list (May 28, 2016; at No. 2) after previously bowing at No. 1.

Over It’s starting sum of 134,000 units was largely powered by streaming activity, as the set garnered 14,000 album sales, 1,000 TEA units and 119,000 SEA units. The latter figure translates to a big 154.7 million on-demand audio streams for the album’s songs — marking the largest streaming week ever for an R&B album by a woman in terms of on-demand audio streams (surpassing the debut week of Beyoncé’s Lemonade, with 115.2 million). It also scores the second-largest streaming week for an R&B album among all acts (trailing only the debut week of The Weeknd’s Starboy, with 175.2 million).

Previous to the debut of Over It, Walker earned four top 25-charting hits on the Hot R&B Songs chart, including the top five hit “Playing Games.”

A quintet of former No. 1s are next on Billboard 200, as Post Malone’s Hollywood’s Bleeding slips 2-3 (108,000 units; down 13%), DaBaby’s Kirk falls 1-4 in its second week (75,000 units; down 49%), Taylor Swift’s Lover is steady at No. 5 (51,000 units; down 11%), Chris Brown’s Indigo bolts 13-6 (39,000 units; up 24% after the album was reissued with bonus tracks) and Billie Eilish’s When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? is a non-mover at No. 7 (38,000 units; down 4%).

Kevin Gates’ I’m Him falls 4-8 in its second week, tallying just over 36,000 equivalent album units (down 52%).

Brantley Gilbert earns his fourth top 10 effort, as Fire & Brimstone debuts at No. 9 with 36,000 equivalent album units earned. Of that sum, 28,000 were in album sales. He previously visited the top 10 with The Devil Don’t Sleep (No. 2 in 2017), Just As I Am (No. 2, 2014) and Halfway to Heaven (No. 4, 2011).

Rounding out the new top 10 is Young Thug’s So Much Fun, at No. 10. The former No. 1 dips 8-10 in its eighth week on the list, with 35,000 units (down 10%).

source: Keith Caulfield @ Billboard

[fuckyeahjoonmyun]

”EXO truly proved the strength of their brand by closing out the decade with one of their strongest works to date. The K-pop boy band’s latest album Obsession not only topped the charts around the world—including new No. 1s for the band in their native South Korea and on the U.S. Billboard charts—but represents some of the group’s most excitingly experimental work to date after nearly eight years together.” Keep reading Forbes article

[kpophighlight]

#EXO Suho's 'Grey Suit' becomes solo K-Pop album in 2022 with most #1s on iTunes album chart https://t.co/hngcoteoyw (via Twitter https://twitter.com/allkpop/status/1511305164140941317)

[kpopviralblog]

EXO-SC's 1st album '1 Billion Views' surpasses 500,000 sales  ||  KV

EXO sub-unit EXO-SC reaches an amazing feat!

According to Naver news on August 6th, EXO-SC's first album entitled '1 Billion Views' have officially surpassed 500,000 units of sales!

As of July 31 2020, the said album of the duo had accumulated a total sales of 526,868 copies.

In addition, EXO-SC's '1 Billion Views' won several #1s in different music platforms, such as Gaon chart, Hanteo chart, and in Hot tracks in the month of July. The duo also managed to bagged the #1 spot on the iTunes album world chart in 51 different countries.

Congratulations, EXO-SC!

Source: https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/076/0003611329

[kpopmultifan]

Winners & #1s - January 2017 (Week 1)

GAON CHARTS (December 2017 - Week 5)

GAON DOWNLOAD CHART DEAN - Instagram

GAON STREAMING CHART MeloMance - Gift

GAON DIGITAL CHART DEAN - Instagram

GAON ALBUM CHART EXO - Universe

BILLBOARD KOREA K-POP HOT 100 (12/31/17) TWICE - Heart Shaker INSTIZ iCHART DEAN - Instagram SOOMPI (1/9/18) TWICE - Heart Shaker KPopTop100 US iTunes Chart BTS feat. Desiigner - MIC Drop (Steve Aoki Remix)

MUSIC SHOWS

THE SHOW (1/2/18) No Chart

SHOW CHAMPION (1/3/18) No Chart

M! COUNTDOWN (1/4/18) No Chart

MUSIC BANK (1/5/18) EXO - Universe

Show! Music Core (1/6/18) EXO - Universe

INKIGAYO (1/7/18) TWICE - Heart Shaker

FAN CHARTS

K-VILLE ENTERTAINMENT No Chart

K-POP CHART KPC (1/7/18) B.A.P - Hands Up

DJ DIGITAL (1/7/18) B.A.P - Hands Up

MY K-POP TOP 50 (1/7/18) EXO - Universe

K-Ville - K-Pop Chart KPC - DJ Digital - KPopTop100

[blackpinkofficial]

[NEWS] Happy Anniversary, Blackpink: A Breakdown of Their Major Chart Accomplishments After 1 Year

Has it really only been one year? In the case of Blackpink, it's almost mind blowing given how much the K-pop girl group has already accomplished on the charts so far. To celebrate the one-year mark from their show-stopping debut on Aug. 8, 2016 with the double singles "Boombayah" and "Whistle" to today, let's break down the remarkable first year of achievements from Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé and Lisa.

Blackpink's Bubbling Moment: Perhaps one of Blackpink's most impressive accomplishments and a major indicator of their promise stateside is their most recent performance of "As If It's Your Last." Not only was it their third single to debut at No. 1 on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart (more on that later), but it became their first song to crack the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. For the chart dated July 15, 2017, "As If It's Your Last" sold more than 5,000 downloads to debut at No. 13 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, which acts as an extension of the 25 songs that have yet to enter on the definitive Hot 100 singles chart and are just below the top 100 slots. Like the main Hot 100 chart, rankings are based on sales, radio airplay and streaming data.

Remarkably, Blackpink surpassed BTS -- who has promoted and toured extensively in America compared to Blackpink who has yet to make a stateside appearance -- and the boy band's February single "Spring Day" topped out at No. 15 on Bubbling Under. For a little bit of chart-comparison history, fellow K-pop acts CL and the Wonder Girls have charted songs on the Hot 100, but did so with English tracks. When it comes to Korean-language songs, PSY has sent multiple entries to the Hot 100 after a decade in the business and BTS finally broke into Bubbling Under after four years together. Blackpink doing so less than one year into their careers indicates exciting things for their upcoming releases.

Leading No. 1 Ladies: As previously mentioned, Blackpink has scored three No. 1s on the World Digital Song Sales chart thanks to 2016's "Boombayah" and "Playing With Fire," along with this year's "As If It's Your Last." That total not only makes them lead among female K-pop acts (2NE1 is the only other female act with multiple chart-toppers), but they're just one more No. 1 until they tie with both PSY and BTS, who both have four, to lead among all K-pop acts.

Super-Strong Sales: In addition to their aforementioned hits, Blackpink has also released two other singles "Whistle" and "Stay" (which were released simultaneously alongside "Boombayah" and "Playing With Fire," respectively). Among just those five singles, the group have sold a total of 113,000 digital song downloads in the U.S., through Aug. 3, according to Nielsen Music. On average, that equals the outfit selling almost 10,000 singles a week.

You can also get a feel for their huge song sales as they were the only female act to land on Billboard's year-end World Digital Songs Artists chart in 2016. The ranking tallies acts' song sales throughout year with Blackpink coming in No. 5 for the year, only behind BTS, EXO and PSY (at Nos. 2, 3 and 4, respectively).

They Can Move Albums Too: The release of "Playing With Fire" and "Stay" were coupled into an EP titled Square Two, which combined "Boombayah," "Whistle" and an acoustic version of "Whistle" for a five-track record. To date, that late-2016 release has moved 7,000 copies despite half the tracks being previously heard. The numbers indicate there could be success and interest for a longer project from the group.

Social Girls: To date, Blackpink has the best performance on Billboard's Social 50chart among K-pop females too. The only other acts to have charted higher than the ladies are sensations like PSY, BTS, BIGBANG, GOT7 and Seventeen. Social 50 ranks the most active artists on leading social networking sites with artists' popularity being determined blending their weekly additions of followers along with artist page views and weekly song plays.

Here's to an even bigger year to the Blackpink ladies. We'll be eagerly awaiting you on the charts.

© Billboard

[exochartrecords]

EXO 4th Album ‘The War’ Hits No.1 in 41 Countries Worldwide!

EXO’s ‘The War’ becomes the 1st K-Pop album by a K-Pop Group to hit #1 in 41 countries worldwide, the most #1s by any K-Pop Group, breaking the previous record. ‘The War’ also becomes the 1st album by a K-Pop group to chart #1 in 30 countries simultaneously on Worldwide album charts. 

‘The War’ ranks #2 on Worldwide iTunes Album Chart while ‘Ko Ko Bop’ ranks #23 on Worldwide iTunes Song Chart.

Congratulations EXO! Watch EXO’s ‘Ko Ko Bop’ MV Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdssuxDdqKk

cr: @intexolteam (Twitter), @SMTownEngSub (Twitter), @kpoprank (Twitter)

[dailyexo]

[INTERVIEW] Baekhyun, Kai - 190927 Billboard: “Why SuperM Is Being Touted as K-Pop's Avengers”

"With SM Entertainment’s newly formed supergroup, SuperM, the company hopes to reclaim its dominance as the genre continues to push into the U.S. mainstream.

There have been hip-hop collectives and rock supergroups, but SM Entertainment’s SuperM is being touted by the company as a boy band full of leading men -- and K-pop’s most impressive lineup to date, with seven members from SM’s most successful and still-active groups.

“I see this as a new challenge,” says EXO vocalist Baekhyun, who at 27 is the oldest member of SuperM and has emerged as its leader. “There are a lot of expectations, because even though this is new, each of us comes from a different [popular] group. But there’s this awesome synergy between us.”

The group -- which will release its self-titled debut EP on Oct. 4 -- also consists of EXO’s Kai, 25, who recently became the global face of Gucci’s new eyewear campaign; WayV’s Lucas, the 20-year-old Hong Kong-born rapper, and Ten, the 23-year-old Thai artist; NCT 127’s Canadian songwriter-rapper Mark, 20, and 24-year-old leader Taeyong; and Taemin, 26, who has been in the industry the longest, joining SHINee at 14. “Our team is the aces of aces,” says Taemin.

EXO has scored four No. 1s on Billboard’s World Albums chart; in January, WayV debuted at No. 4 on Billboard’s Social 50 ranking; NCT 127 performed on Good Morning America in April; and SHINee has won the Seoul Music Awards’ popularity honor twice.

As for SuperM, its name is a nod to its roots at Korean company SM Entertainment, formed in 1995 by producer Lee Soo-man. Since then, SM has expanded K-pop’s reach, first in Asia and then in the United States. Earlier this year, SM partnered with Capitol Music Group to build a bigger following for NCT 127 in the States. And in August, the two companies, along with Capitol’s independent distribution and label services division Caroline, announced they would launch SuperM together.

Capitol CEO Steve Barnett says SuperM will “be part of our legacy to the future,” and calls Lee the “godfather” of K-pop. Lee’s résumé proves as much. In 1996, SM introduced H.O.T., largely considered the first K-pop idol group, and has continued to produce acts with stateside appeal.

Many South Korean entertainment companies have followed suit: Big Hit’s BTS has had three Billboard 200 No. 1 albums; this summer, YG’s Blackpink became the first female K-pop group to perform at Coachella; and Starship Entertainment’s Monsta X collaborated this year with French Montana on a Mainstream Top 40 hit. All three have redefined what U.S. success can look like for Korean pop groups in the second half of this decade. And while SuperM may seem like SM’s latest effort to rival its competitors, it’s equally an attempt to revive one of SM’s key sonic legacies: SMP, or SM Music Performance. The company-created term refers to dance performances set to a fusion of pop-rock, R&B and hip-hop production. SMP was best illustrated by early-2000s releases from record-breaking boy band TVXQ!, which in June 2018 became the best-selling foreign touring act in Japan, and Super Junior, which has had 21 top 20 hits on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart.

SM has had U.S. crossover success before: In 2009, BoA became the first-ever K-pop star to enter the Billboard 200, and in 2012, Girls’ Generation performed on the Late Show With David Letterman. In June, NCT 127 debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 with its We Are Superhuman EP. But SuperM, with its blockbuster lineup, is SM’s effort to lead the K-pop conversation in the U.S. market, as it once did in the early ’00s.

“I don’t want to compare SuperM to any of the other groups at SM, but if I had to describe [what] sets us apart, it’s the performance element,” says Taemin. “It’s not just dance, but includes vocals and rapping, where each member can showcase his ability and shine in a different way, that maybe they can’t in other groups.”

So far, SuperM has been tight-lipped about the sound and style of its album and doesn’t plan to share any tracks ahead of the set other than the already-released instrumental version of “I Can’t Stand the Rain.” One thing it has made clear, though, is its goal: “We’re doing something futuristic and more advanced than what the world has ever seen,” says Mark."

SuperM also arrives at a time when SM shareholders are demanding change. In July, SM rearranged its upper leadership at SM Entertainment Group and subsidiary SM Contents & Culture, and announced it would look to divest less-than-profitable business ventures -- mainly the SMTOWN Coex Artium complex in Seoul, a museum, café, theater and store that opened in 2015. If SuperM becomes a crossover success, the company could solidify its footing.

Despite the fact that SuperM already has debuted on Billboard’s Artist 100 chart without releasing a stitch of music, K-pop fans have expressed trepidation over its assembly. Immediately after Barnett and Lee announced SuperM at August’s Capitol Congress -- Capitol’s annual pep rally and presentation of upcoming releases — the hashtag #SuperMDisbandParty was created, as fans, concerned over how the supergroup would impact the futures of their favorite existing K-pop acts, demanded that SM and Capitol abandon the project.

SuperM isn’t fazed. Its members want to prove how strong they are as a whole -- especially when they’re together onstage. (The group is currently in rehearsals, but announced in a teaser Tuesday that it will be making its first-ever performance in Los Angeles at Capitol Records on Oct. 5 -- one day after the release of its debut EP.) “It’s always important to take the next step when people might not expect it,” says Mark. “We always try to make that challenge into something great for the fans -- and for us, as well.”

SM Entertainment’s Pre-SuperM Supergroups

S.M. the Ballad: SM vocalists from TRAX, Super Junior (and its sub-unit Super Junior-M), SHINee, TVXQ!, Girls’ Generation and EXO -- and two former SM members, one of whom is now in Cube Entertainment’s boy band Pentagon -- released two EPs under the name S.M. the Ballad. In 2010, one grouping recorded Miss You; in 2014, another recorded Breath, which hit No. 9 on Billboard’s World Albums chart.

Younique: In 2012, South Korean car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Company unveiled its new marketing campaign, “Premium Younique Lifestyle,” and worked with SM to debut a supergroup in promotion. Within two months, Younique -- members of EXO, Girls’ Generation, SHINee, Super Junior and Super Junior-M -- released PYL Younique Volume 1, featuring singer-songwriter BoA and rappers Dok2 and The Quiett.

SM The Performance: The choreography-heavy team has released only two singles since it formed in 2012, and they arrived five years apart. The group debuted with a Korean remix of Zedd’s “Spectrum” (off his 2012 debut album, Clarity) featuring members from TVXQ!, Super Junior, SHINee and EXO. And in 2017, it released “Dream in a Dream,” a solo single from WayV’s Ten that was branded a group track."

Photo links: 1, 2

Credit: Billboard.

[sd1d-enthusiast]

[ARTICLE] EXO is #87 in Billboard 200 with only 2.5 days to chart! #TheWar

"EXO storm back into the Billboard 200 with their new album The War, marking the K-pop phenoms' best showing on the chart yet and making them one of the genre's few acts to land multiple entries on America's definitive albums ranking. The War debuts at No. 87 on the Billboard 200, earning 7,000 equivalent album units in the week ending July 20, according to Nielsen Music. Of that sum, 5,000 were in traditional album sales. This is EXO's best Billboard 200 position as the group previously sent their 2015 Exodus album to No. 95, after selling 6,000 traditional copies. The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption, which includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). EXO also snag their third No. 1 on Billboard's World Albums chart with The War, marking their third chart-topper to date. Following 2013's XOXO Repackage and 2015's Exodus, the group only trail behind B.A.P and GOT7, both which have four No. 1s on World Albums. EXO sub-unit EXO-CBX also has a No. 1 album when their Hey Mama EP took the top slot in late 2016. Lastly, EXO conquers the World Digital Song Sales chart with three new entries on the chart debated Aug. 5, including "Ko Ko Bop" (the group's highest new entry at No. 2), "The Eve" (debuting at No. 8) and "Forever" (No. 24). These new songs bring EXO to 63 charted titles overall and 38 Top 10 hits. "Ko Ko Bop" marks the sixth EXO song to chart within top 2 positions on World Digital Songs following "Overdose," "Call Me Baby," and "Dancing King (with Yoo Jae-suk)" that all peaked at No. 2, plus "Monster" and "Lotto" that hit No. 1.”

cr

[tenseoyong]

Exo - The war have reached almost 1 million pre-orders. Bts hasn't even reached 600k yet. ARMY's need to shut the fuck up. Bts is popular in America where the population is less than half of China where Exo are most popular. They need to get their heads outta their asses

I don’t keep up with BTS at all (tbh why would I) but didn’t Wings gain like 700k? Either way, EXO dominated in everything, pre orders, physical albums all together, digital albums charts, #1s in more countries. EXO just broke everything. Numbers don’t lie y'all.

EXO dominate the world. There’s even fans in North Korea supporting EXO…..aka the place Internet fcking isn’t allowed???????

America ain’t shit. Your Twitter award ain’t shit. I don’t understand why BTS are the beacon of hope for kpop in the West like?????

SNSD were on the David Letterman show back in what? 2012? 2013? EXO beat 1d aka the biggest boy group in the world(at the time)?

Everyone in the world knows Psy?

BTS isn’t doing anything 😂 Shove that international stuff up your ass lmao.

[sol-shining]

[BILLBOARD] Taeyang Scores 2nd Consecutive No. 1 on World Albums With 'White Night'

Once again, Taeyang proves his power as a solo star with the release of his third solo album, White Night.

The BIGBANG singer's latest debuts at No. 1 on Billboard's World Albums chart marking his second consecutive release to do so. The new album sold 2,000 copies sold in the week ending Aug. 17, according to Nielsen Music. White Night marks the star's second-best sales week in America, following 2014's Rise, which also hit No. 1 on World Albums after moving 3,000 in its first week.

Among solo K-pop acts, Rise still holds the record for highest-charting album on the Billboard 200 when it hit No. 112 in June 2014, beating out entires from BoA (whose self-titled English album hit No. 127 in 2009) and G-Dragon (who has landed three titles on the Billboard 200, peaking so far with One of a Kind at No. 161 in 2013).

Taeyang is now only the second solo K-pop act to score multiple chart-toppers on World Albums. Remarkably, the only other artist to do so is his BIGBANG band mate G-Dragon, who has three No. 1s.

From his debut solo record Solar released in 2010, Taeyang has always been a R&B crooner, but has continuously grown more experimental and ambitious with genre and theme explorations.

The LP's overarching electro-R&B theme is set by the introduction track "White Night" and sealed as it moves into the gorgeous "Wake Me Up" single with its waterfalls of moving synthesizers. The sensual standout "Naked" sees Tae passionately pleading a case for intimacy ("I want you naked/ Through the night," he sings over punchy production) while the record's sole collaboration on "Tonight" featuring Zico sees the guys detailing the intricate intimacies of transforming a hook up into true love among a slew of sexy lyrics (Good luck not getting chills when Taeyang closes the track belting "Let's make love because it feels so right/ Tonight is the night/ We can't stop, baby, won't stop" in his best Michael Jackson impression). Yet among all the artistic boundaries Taeyang pushes here, the simple piano ballad single "Darling" mostly proves how the 29-year-old's most precious instrument is his own voice.

Elsewhere on the Billboard charts, White Night starts at No. 5 on Heatseekers Albums (his second entry on the chart that sees few K-pop acts) and "Wake Me Up" debuts at No. 9 on the World Digital Song Sales as the fifth-best selling K-pop song in America this week. As the main artist, Taeyang peaked at No. 2 on World Digital Song Sales with 2013's "Ringa Linga," but also has a No. 1 with G-Dragon (credited to GD x Taeyang) with 2014's "Good Boy."

Taeyang also debuts on the Social 50 chart at No. 47, marking his first-ever appearance on the ranking. He's the fourth most active K-pop act in the world this week after BTS, EXO and Seventeen. Stay tuned to Billboard.com for a deeper story into Taeyang's social gains on Thursday.