In a remarkable incident that recently took place in Shibuya, Tokyo, a large number of SEVENTEEN’s latest albums were spotted dumped in the streets. A Japanese netizen disseminated the news on X (previously known as Twitter) along with images, stating, “A lot of SEVENTEEN are piling up on the sideway of Shibuya Parco in Tokyo Japan with the memo ‘Feel free to take it’”. The albums in question were none other than “17 Is Right Here”, which debuted on April 29th.
The X post also highlighted signs that read, “If you find anyone selling or distributing goods on private land, please report it to the police immediately”, “There are CCTVs around”, and such. Subsequent reports indicate that the albums were later placed in trash bags and removed from the site.
This occurrence highlights a recurring issue within the K-pop industry, where agencies often resort to including collectible photocards in albums, thereby encouraging fans to buy multiple copies in hopes of obtaining their desired member’s card.
At a recent press conference on April 25th, CEO Min Hee-jin addressed this issue head-on, expressing her disapproval by stating, “I know agencies are doing anything to increase sales, leading the market to become abnormal and disrupt the stock market”, further mentioning, “In the end, the burden is passed on to fans and the idols as they keep doing fansigning events”.
Notwithstanding the controversy, “17 Is Right Here” experienced robust sales, moving 2.26 million copies on its initial release day and securing the number one spot on Japan’s Oricon Daily Album Rankings on April 30th with 255,979 copies sold.
Source: nate
FAQ about the SEVENTEEN Albums Incident
- What happened with SEVENTEEN’s albums in Tokyo?
Large numbers of SEVENTEEN’s album “17 Is Right Here” were found abandoned on the streets of Shibuya, Tokyo with a note inviting passersby to take them for free. - Why were the albums thrown away?
The post does not explicitly state why the albums were discarded, but it draws attention to practices in the K-pop industry that may lead to excess inventory. - What did CEO Min Hee-jin say about the issue?
Min Hee-jin criticized the K-pop industry’s sales tactics, which she believes create an unhealthy market and burden both fans and idols. - How well did “17 Is Right Here” perform sales-wise?
The album sold 2.26 million copies on its first day and topped the Oricon Daily Album Rankings in Japan on April 30th.
Conclusion
The disposal of SEVENTEEN’s albums in Tokyo has sparked conversations regarding industry practices in K-pop, especially around the marketing strategies used to boost album sales. Min Hee-jin’s criticism not only echoes a growing sentiment about the sustainability and ethics of such practices but also presents an opportunity for reflection and potential change within the industry. Despite the debate, SEVENTEEN’s “17 Is Right Here” enjoys significant commercial success, indicating the high demand and loyal following the group maintains.