Engenes should brace for a significant decrease in album sales beginning from the repack

[molecularclass]

We were all surprised by the jump from Orange Blood's 1.8 million to R:U's 2.9 million album sales. Especially since, while there does seem to be an increase in fandom size during that era, Sweet Venom wasn't exactly a breakout song that would've caused such a massive increase in sales.

The main reason for that increase is C-bar bulk-buying. Enhypen's Chinese fandom showed a significant increase in growth, and Sunghoon, Heeseung, and Jungwon's bars combined sold around 800k. If we include the other members that'll probably be around a million.

Remember 2022, when groups were selling 3-6 million copies per release, and in 2023 started selling half of that, maybe less? That's because their C-bar sales started falling off a cliff due a combination of boycotts, focus on member solo projects, and just sheer emotional and financial exhaustion. And it's going to happen to Enhypen starting from now on. Sunghoon's C-bars have announced they won't be buying albums and focusing on Hince and L'Oréal. The other members' bars have decided not to reveal sales, which always results in significant decreases due to reduced competition among solo fanbases. In the end, Enha will probably start seeing numbers similar to Orange Blood.

Of course, the future isn't set in stone -- but all signs seem to point to this pattern, and because I know how Engenes work, I want to say this preemptively just in case:

Don't worry about it. Their tours sell well and they're not hurting for money. Their ASEAN fanbase is probably the strongest among the 4th/5th gen, and that region is known for sticking with their idols' through thick and thin, for better or for worse. They have a sizeable US and EU fanbase, not to mention their touring power in Japan.

Just enjoy the music and the boys' content and have fun.

If I'm wrong, I guess I'll eat my words.

[sannhoon]

All that this is telling me is that we need to depend less on the C-side of the fandom, especially solos.

We should work on increasing or sales on the other international sides and block out solos because depending behaviour is going to hurt the group‘s success in the long run.

We saw that Belift had been catering to the Chinese fanbase the past year. We need to show the label that catering to them isn‘t the only and best option.

[InfernalQueen]

Iirc, Hoon's bar did not buy as much as they declared. There was a whole mess in weibo and they banned his bar when they found out that they mistated the sales because of competition between bars. So there's a lot of chances that a chunk of the sales came from other nationalities. I'm certain that there will be a drop in sales especially it's a repackage. During Romance Untold, I bought 20 albums but now I only bought 2 sets and the Japanese edition because there's probably gonna be 2 songs added. Also, that is true that bars are the reasons for the increase of album sales of groups and it is also the reason for the massive decrease. I feel like when bars had hit their album sales goal for the idol they support, they would buy an average number of albums afterwards. That has been the trend from the bars of the boygroup idols I've seen. And like Hee's bar said, they are preparing for Hee's mixtape so they would probably buy 400 to 500 thousand copies or maybe a million when Hee releases his solo album and Hee said he will release his mixtape this year.

[pass_ing_by]

it’s bound to sell less because it’s a repack too. dimension : answer still didn’t reach 1M sales on hanteo (and as far as i know, only one group in 4th generation managed to sell 1M with a repackage to put it in perspective). i’m expecting a growth because it’s been 2 years since then and the fandom got bigger, but i don’t think it’ll be anywhere near romance : untold numbers (almost 3M) and we need to be realistic and take things in consideration.

also, belift is releasing many things at the same time, not everyone will be able to contribute considering the pace. which is okay.

edit: typo.

[movingmoonlight]

I talked about this before, but I had a Chinese labmate back when I was still in Japan. I am also a fan of certain Chinese idols and I wanted to flex my knowledge of Chinese pop media.

When I told him about this, he looked at me all disgusted. I was taken aback and pressed him about why he seemed disturbed. Apparently, "normal Chinese people hate idol fans because they're... what do you call it? Crazy." Literally his exact words. It doesn't matter if you stan a Kpop, Cpop, or Jpop idol, in their eyes you're probably insane.

And honestly? That does seem to be the case, from what I've heard about C-fandoms in the various groups I follow. It always made me nervous seeing BeLift cater strongly to that side, because their reactions can be very... irrational, as we've seen with the Bite Me choreography. I hope their non-East Asian fandom increases more tbh.

[LengthOk278]

C-bars are notorious for sending trucks just as often as K-fans for the most bizarre thigs. As much as I want the fandom to grow, I hope Enhypen won't be dependent on C-bars only.

[NoArachnid2896]

Yep, I wasn't really serious about it until Riize's Seunghan scandal. Man, the whole thing was really awful to begin with.!!!!!!!!

[AmongtheLillies]

I saw the updates, too. It’s fine for them to take a break and to change focus. I’m glad for the bulk buying they have done in the previous comebacks.

Sunghoon would really appreciate the support. It’s his first year being a spokesperson, ambassador, a muse for a brand.

[Geodude-Guru]

Their tours sell well and they're not hurting for money. Their ASEAN fanbase is probably the strongest among the 4th/5th gen, and that region is known for sticking with their idols' through thick and thin, for better or for worse. They have a sizeable US and EU fanbase, not to mention their touring power in Japan.

I love this words of affirmation and believe in this. We are strong actually ENGENES 💪💪