PLAVE breaks initial sales record for 'HYPERDRIVE'... enters Billboard 200

Virtual singers are continuing their activities in ways similar to K-POP artists, such as decorating subway birthday billboards and communicating with fans through their own content. Fans also show support for the characters on screen as if they were real-life artists. PLAVE has steadily expanded its fandom through music activities and real-time fan communication since its debut in 2023. Recently, it set its highest first-week sales record with the fifth mini-album ’HYPERDRIVE’ and took first place on music shows. Additionally, it entered the US Billboard main album chart ’Billboard 200’ for the first time with the mini-album ’Caligo Pt.2’ and met local fans in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, and Macau through this year’s world tour ’KEEP IT MANIC.’ Isegye Idol debuted in 2021 and built its fandom by combining music, internet broadcasting, and original content. They became the first virtual artist to enter Melon’s Hall of Fame with ’LOCKDOWN’ and ranked sixth on Melon’s TOP100 with ’KIDDING.’ Since then, they have continued various activities including major music festivals and individual member concerts. The growth of PLAVE and Isegye Idol has led to a change in perception of virtual singers. Music, performance, content, and communication with fans have become key factors determining an artist’s competitiveness. Amid these changes, a new virtual singer named WON has emerged, introduced by VTOPIAN. At the starting point of WON is producer Jo Young-soo. Jo Young-soo is known for producing various hit songs such as ’My Person’ and ’La La La’ by SG WANNABE, ’There’s No One Like That’ by Seung Chul Lee, ’Love and War’ by Davichi, and ’Trust Me Now’ by Lim Young Woong. Producer Jo Young-soo described WON as ″a friend who looks at people’s hearts through songs rather than talking much about themselves.″ He emphasized a vocal-centered direction, highlighting WON’s qualities as a singer who conveys emotions through music. WON’s debut is regarded as a new attempt to broaden the musical spectrum of virtual artists. As the virtual market, which has developed focusing on performance and content, adds efforts emphasizing vocals and emotional delivery, expectations are rising for an expansion of musical possibilities.