LogFAQs > #941928430

Yes, album sales show the power/size of your fandom. What is a fandom? A collection of people who self identify as a fan of a particular group. What do we call things that have a lot of hardcore fans? Popular. I'd easily call a group that can generate that kind of response from people more popular than one with a bigger casual listening audience that can and will stop caring at the drop of a pin.

Who had the better year in 2018? Undoubtedly Gfriend did, despite lackluster charting they were able to continue to grow their fanbase (and therefore popularity) and harnessed that popularity to hold their first concert tour. Whereas by the end of the year that Momoland released their hit song in, nobody cared about them anymore, hell even when the dog was still number 1 you would be hard pressed to find a regular Korean who knew the group name let alone anything about them. Do you think Momoland members wouldn't immediately switch careers with Gfriend if given the chance?

Yes, a member can skyrocket to fame if a group does well digitally and the public likes them. And then that member nearly unilaterally reaps the benefits of that popularity, not the group. Irene being arguably the most publically popular female idol hasn't stopped 4 of the last 5 Red Velvet songs from horribly flopping and hasn't increased the rate at which the group gets CF deals or tv appearances. And regardless of their flops no one claims Red Velvet is no longer a top group.

You say it's a mistake to bring up JYP since their girl groups typically do well digitally and with the public. But if you're seeing the head of a company that historically performs super well in that regard give a public lecture in 2018 about how moving forward their company will completely prioritize building fandom for their current and future groups while not trying to pander to the public and chase digital success, and that doesn't set off an alarm in your head about how the industry itself sees the importance of digital success and "public recognition" you're crazy. Even if other companies haven't outside said it like JYP did the fact that nobody is making girl group songs to fit the typical Korean taste anymore should be all the sign you need. There's no real argument you can make against the entire industry clearly moving away from chasing public relevance.

Yes ITZY had the highest Gaon score in 2019 for girl groups, yet if you compare to just the year prior it barely would limp into the top 10. The public IS moving away from idol music (I live here 6 months a year I see it first hand) and the companies are responding by deprioritizing pandering to them and trying to win their affection.

No sure why it matters what you see idols cry about. Idols cry when they win music shows too so is that more important than album sales? Is that now an important measure of popularity? Is Laboum more popular than IU because they beat her on a music show? Of course not.

Your entire argument seems to hinge on thinking:
1. anyone but internet dwelling Kpop stans care about arbitrary "top group" lists.

And

2. That the Korean publics reaction to a group is judge, jury, and executioner on the matter. Despite the fact that Kpop is far bigger than Korea now and there are more consumers and listeners of Kpop outside of Korea than inside of it.

Obviously both is better, no one's arguing that, but youd be a fool to choose digital success/"public relevance" over large fandom if you had to pick one. Clearly you have your opinions which aren't going to change because this is the internet after all so I will also stop there.