On May 18, YG Entertainment made a huge announcement regarding their plans for BLACKPINK's upcoming major return, which created various reactions from the fans. However, most BLINKs are extremely upset for not revealing any follow-up plans regarding the members' solo debut and comeback.
On YG Entertainment's official website, the agency posted its official announcement, saying:
"Hello, This is YG Entertainment. We would like to inform you of BLACKPINK's plan this year. After preparing and working for a long time, BLACKPINK's new songs are already finalized and recorded. With a total of 10 songs, the group is currently gearing up for their comeback."
Regarding BLACKPINK’s First Official Album #BLACKPINK https://t.co/VBY7A8MIq7#BLACKPINK #블랙핑크 #JISOO #지수 #JENNIE #제니 #ROSÉ #로제 #LISA #리사 @ygofficialblink pic.twitter.com/ZgRaJkINiF — BLACKPINK4WAYS (@BLACKPINK4WAYS) May 18, 2020
As stated in the announcement, BLACKPINK will drop a pre-release track this June, which means that the official comeback will not happen on the same month. Based on the initial reports, BLACKPINK's new album may drop around early to mid-June.
In addition, another single from the group will be released on July or August, followed by the official release of BLACKPINK's comeback album on September. Due to this, fans and netizens, especially BLINKs, expressed various sentiments on social media. Some are happy that the company os stretching out the group's comeback as it is more exciting for the fans, while some are in disbelief that YG didn't keep its promise of a June comeback.
Why can’t YG do the SIMPLEST things for Blackpink. He does it for ALL of his groups EXCEPT Blackpink. Blackpink accounts for more than 80% of their revenue and they can’t even get a twitter update talking about their comeback. Instead we get some bullsh*t that’s probably a lie. — Jennie’s Journal⁴ ✧ Sσυɾ Cαɳԃყ (@JenniesJournals) May 19, 2020
Moreover, as YG reveals BLACKPINK's schedule for the remaining months of 2020, BLINKs are wondering if when would BLACKPINK's members solo debut going to happen.
yg groups comebacks and by putting the album in september that lowers the chance of us getting the solos, chulichaeng deserve a solo debut too and not just to have it put in the album, yg is so dumb and this whole strategy is so unneeded blackpink are a kpop group not western. — sal⁷⁷₄₄₄ (@neocultureblink) May 18, 2020
It has been a year since the agency promised to get Rosé, Jisoo, and Lisa solo comebacks. However, they only had one comeback in 2019, and no further news about the solo debut of each member. Fans are hoping that it could happen this 2020, but it looks like there are no plans as well.
So Jisoo solo, Rosé solo and Lisa solo are already forgotten I guess. YG didn’t even plan to debut them solo. But it was predictable... pic.twitter.com/nu6rF6bo9s — Where is Blackpink? (@JisooMyDrug) May 18, 2020
Rosé will be just the main vocalist of Blackpink for another year. No solo, no OST,no collabs. YG didn't even metion her solo!!! And a bside in the album isn't a Solo debut, it's just a bside and it's unfair. @ygent_official @ygofficialblink #ROSé #로제 — Delight 25th / Sour Candy 29th (@Rosievocalqueen) May 18, 2020
"My hope and goal is for Black Pink to make 2 comebacks, and also for Rosé, Lisa, and Jisoo to debut solo, in that order."#남들_반만큼이라도_해봐_와2지#NO_More_Lies_YG @ygofficialblinkpic.twitter.com/KbZBVfQbVX — bab (@rosiexuxi) May 14, 2020
Just recently, BLINKs provided a special protest project right after BLACKPINK's comeback announcement, demanding YG Entertainment to treat the female idols better through a protest truck which travelled around Seoul.
The truck shows BLINKs 12 demands including proper comeback and promotion for BLACKPINK members' solo debut. BLINKs also demands more appearances of the group in music shows and in television.
However, YG never met the BLINKs demands. Instead, YG Entertainment disappointed fans by making them wait for more months before the girl group's major comeback.
Furthermore, there are only about three weeks remaining before June, but there's no official teaser or any signs regarding BLACKPINK's pre-release track which is scheduled to be released in June.
