In an online community, fromis_9 fans (flovers) expressed concern about the group's future in HYBE after seeing the group's sales.
Will the label disband them?
flovers Worry About fromis_9's Future While Under HYBE for THESE 2 Reasons
Following fromis_9's comeback, new fans took interest in the group's past albums' records, including their first-week sales, and compared these to their recent release's performance.
In the group's first-week sales report based on the Hanteo chart, fromis_9 experienced a 15% drop with their newly released album, "Unlock My World" and title track, "#menow" (June 5 to June 11), compared to its personal best record achieved through "from our Memento Box" with the lead track, "Stay This Way" ( released on June 27, 2022).
The former album only achieved 116.8k sales, while the latter released had 138.1k sales, fromis_9's highest so far.
ALSO READ: Will fromis_9 Disband? Concerns Raised After Group Cancelled Overseas Concert
Seeing this, the post's author expressed their concern.
"fromis_9 has been pushed a lot but their first-week sales still dropped. [...] It feels like (HYBE) wouldn't see the need to keep pushing fromis_9 anymore."
According to the OP, it was more alarming that HYBE is preparing for the debut of another girl group through a survival audition show.
They added:
"Right now, HYBE just announced a new girl group audition as well...
...They'll have girls groups like NewJeans and LE SSERAFIM who are already doing well, so there's no reason for them to keep Fromis_9."
Some flovers agreed with the OP, referencing how GFRIEND was disbanded by Source Music and HYBE to allegedly give way to a new girl group, which would be LE SSERAFIM.
flovers Defend fromis_9 from Disbandment Rumor
While some are claiming that HYBE may disband fromis_9 due to plummeting sales and the possibility of being replaced by the new girl group, flovers think otherwise.
According to fans, fromis_9 will most likely stay and continue with the parent label for more years, emphasizing their unrelenting popularity abroad and Korean men especially those who are in the army.
Regardless of the sales, fromis_9 is also doing well in the music charts with their new release, even achieving the #1 music show trophy from SBS's "The Show" on June 14.
On the other hand, fromis_9, comprised of nine members (hereinafter eight) made its return to the music scene with its first full-length album "Unlock My World."
This album is the team's first comeback in about a year since their fifth mini album, "From Our Momento Box," in June last year.
"Unlock My World" is an album that contains fromis_9's will to face the wider world with an unadorned and honest "real me." It conveys to listeners the courage and ambition to break from the lonely and dark side that has never been shown before.
The album shows a wider musical spectrum through 10 songs covering various genres, including its title track, "#menow."
READ MORE: fromis_9 Shares Insights on Group's Solid Synergy: 'We're just enjoying ourselves
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