Baby Monster has proven its status as a 'monster rookie' with dazzling achievements as it celebrates its official debut anniversary.
After releasing its first mini-album 'BABYMONS7ER' on April 1 of last year, Baby Monster officially debuted in the music industry and has been garnering attention from music fans both domestically and globally for the past year, truly experiencing 'rapid growth.'
The strength and distinguishing factor of Baby Monster is undoubtedly its talent. Although the official debut song 'SHEESH' did not make a strong impact upon release, the group showcased unparalleled live performances in music shows, YouTube content, and entertainment programs, establishing its presence and beginning to attract word-of-mouth attention among global K-pop fans.
Ultimately, 'SHEESH' consistently rose in the music charts, securing a top position in daily charts and even winning first place on music shows.
The all-rounder combination of members who excel in vocals, rap, dance, and visuals, along with their flawless live skills that defy their rookie status, have been more than enough to captivate global K-pop fans.
Furthermore, with activities from their first full-length album 'DRIP' released in November of last year, Baby Monster solidified its title as a 'talented monster rookie.' The overwhelming live capabilities demonstrated with handheld microphones drew attention and showcased the group's chart-riding power.
Thanks to this, album sales soared. Baby Monster sold 400,000 copies of its first mini-album, setting a new record for first-week sales for a K-pop girl group debut album, and with the first full-length album, sales increased by approximately 1.7 times to 670,000 copies, achieving the remarkable feat of entering the Billboard 200 at 149th. Cumulative sales exceeded 790,000 and 920,000 copies, surpassing a total of 1.72 million, nearing million-seller status.
Global metrics are also impressive. Since its official debut, Baby Monster has gained about 4.28 million subscribers on its official YouTube channel, surpassing 8.89 million, and already holds 8 videos with over 100 million views, while the cumulative view count of its official channel has exceeded 4.2 billion.
'DRIP' broke its own record by reaching 16th and 30th place on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. and Billboard Global 200, respectively, charting for 16 weeks and 20 weeks in a row while maintaining its popularity, and on Spotify, the total cumulative streaming count has surpassed 1.1 billion with just two albums.
Additionally, Baby Monster has been recognized for its powerful live performances since debut, making it extraordinary for a rookie to conduct a fan meeting tour in 12 sessions across 7 cities right after debut, followed by its first world tour 'HELLO MONSTERS' since last year, which kicked off in January at the KSPO DOME in Seoul.
Entering the KSPO DOME, known as the 'holy place of K-pop,' within less than a year after debut is not an easy feat for a rookie girl group. Baby Monster fully demonstrated its abilities with impressive live performances and relaxed stage manners, making it hard to believe they are rookies.
Afterward, Baby Monster toured North America and Japan, gaining word-of-mouth among global audiences and recorded sellouts for all venues, even in limited-view seating areas, with additional concert inquiries pouring in. As a result, they added several performances in parts of Asia and expanded the North American tour by adding 6 shows, completing its first world tour plan with a total of 20 cities and 32 performances.
In this way, Baby Monster has shown a growth rate that is hard to believe for a rookie as it celebrates its first anniversary, firmly establishing itself as YG's next-generation girl group. Expectations are rising for Baby Monster, which is preparing several projects for the second half of this year.
[Photo] YG Entertainment
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