aespa's Dirty Work debuts on the Global Spotify Chart at No. 63 but here's why netizens are calling it fake
aespa's Dirty Work makes stellar Spotify record
aespa entered the Global Spotify Chart, just a day after their June 27 release, ranking 63rd with an impressive 1,836,980 streams. Additionally, they also achieved a historic feat by recording the biggest debut by a K-pop group on Spotify Counter in 2025. With 2,396,906 streams, they surpassed the previous record-holder ENHYPEN. The boy band achieved the feat with 2,206,770 streams for Bad Desire (With or Without You).
Why is aespa's Spotify record being called fraudulent?
Following the news of aespa's Spotify achievement being out, people started digging into the top streaming nations. They discovered that out of the 1,836,980 Spotify Global Chart streams, 625,837 came from Thailand. It accounts to 35% of the total number, sparking suspicions among fans. They even called the Thai fans "bots" and accused them of inflating numbers through unfair means.
Furthermore, the K-pop group's decision to release three additional versions of the same song has been criticized for seemingly being an attempt to increase the streaming numbers. This move has been labeled as a form of payola, with many viewing it as an unethical tactic.
However, a bunch of dedicated aespa fans swiftly rallied to their defense, calming that the streaming was done through legally permissible means. They explained that "Spotify has literally done multiple bot removal exercises in the last 12 months particularly targeting kpop." They also brought up that during Spotify's bot cleanse session, it was HYBE groups, particularly BTS, who were penalised.
They also lauded Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ningning for doing a good job at their comeback, despite lacking proper promotional support from their agency SM Entertainment and also receiving immense hate for their latest political controversy regarding alleged right-wing inclination.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Lies meant to ruin my life': Ex-THE BOYZ's Ju Haknyeon hits back after scandal with former adult star Asuka Kirara collapses
Former member of THE BOYZ Ju Haknyeon has spoken up in the wake of a significant development in the incident that caused him to leave the group. Rumours that stated that the idol had met Asuka Kirara, a former Japanese adult film actress, at a private bar which sparked a whole debate online, which swiftly turned into accusations of prostitution. From the start, Haknyeon refuted the allegations, but actions were taken and he was removed from the group. Police drop case citing lack of evidence On July 2, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station officially stated that they would not be pursuing an investigation in this matter. Authorities cited a lack of sufficient evidence, noting that the accusations originated solely from an online article. In fact, the article had only sparked discussion without any specific circumstances or substantiated details to warrant legal action. Ju Haknyeon responds with legal action In the wake of the police announcement, Haknyeon took to Instagram with a direct message. He shared the report about his legal action against the original journalist and captioned it, "An article of lies that aims to ruin my life. Just why did you do that? Let the court reveal the truth." Agency under fire for premature decision While all this drama took place, his agency One Hundred Label still removed him from THE BOYZ and had his contract terminated. At the time, the agency cited the "gravity of the situation" and said it was reviewing available evidence - a decision now drawing criticism as premature, following the police decision to close the case. Fans rally behind Haknyeon Many, especially on X (formerly known as Twitter) were relieved to see Haknyeon's name cleared. However, they also expressed outrage at how the agency handled the situation. On social media, posts criticizing One Hundred Label have gone viral, accusing the company of failing to conduct a proper internal review before cutting ties with him. it's so stupid and careless as fck for 100 to kick hak out without doing a fact-check that could've been SO EASY bcs hak came to them to clear everything. i hope you rot in the hell, 100. lord, please take away haknyeon and kirara's sufferings , triple it and give it to 100red label and those media outlets who ruined their reputation MEDIA AND ONE HUNDRED APOLOGIES TO HAKNYEON AND BRING HAKNYEON BACK @100RED_official haknyeon suing the journalist of tenasia for writing a false article about him. if he wins this case, the journalist must pay him 1 billion krw plus interest and lawsuit costs as compensation for ruining his reputation. i'll support him for fighting his innocence ! It remains to be seen whether One Hundred Label will take accountability, especially as Ju Haknyeon receives a wave of support from fans. Many have rallied behind the K-pop idol, calling for responsibility from those who acted on unverified claims. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
How Labubu dolls turned CEO Wang Ning into China's youngest billionaire with a net worth of $22 billion
What began as a whimsical sketch in an artist's notebook has transformed into a global collectible sensation, catapulting Pop Mart CEO Wang Ning into the ranks of China's wealthiest individuals. The designer toy Labubu — a quirky, wide-eyed character with pointed ears — has become a cultural phenomenon, driving a massive surge in Pop Mart's growth and Wang's fortune. Labubu was originally created by Hong Kong-based artist Kasing Lung as part of his illustrated series 'The Monsters'. The character first appeared in Lung's book in 2015, but it wasn't until 2023 that it was introduced to the commercial market through Pop Mart's popular blind-box format. The toy's rise to global fame gained momentum in 2024, when K-pop star Lisa from Blackpink publicly expressed her love for Labubu. Lisa was also spotted with a Labubu doll. In a Vanity Fair interview, Lisa said, 'If I fly to New York, I go to Miami, I try to find Pop Mart there. Paris, everywhere. Kind of like finding treasure.' Lisa's endorsement sparked a wave of international interest, and soon celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, and Dua Lipa were also seen with the collectible, boosting its appeal worldwide. Labubu dolls have has since evolved from a novelty into a major revenue generator. According to Emily Brough, head of licensing for Pop Mart North America, the toy generated over $419 million in 2024 alone — a 726 per cent year-on-year increase. Its popularity has extended to the collector's market, with a life-sized Labubu doll fetching 1.08 million Yuan (approximately $150,275) at a Beijing auction. Pop Mart's blind-box strategy—where customers don't know which version of the toy they'll receive—has been key to Labubu's appeal. The surprise element has resonated with both casual buyers and serious collectors, contributing significantly to the brand's explosive success. Wang Ning, the 38-year-old founder, chairman, and CEO of Pop Mart, has seen his net worth surge from $7.59 billion at the end of 2024 to $22.1 billion by June 2025, according to the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List. This leap has made him the youngest billionaire among China's top ten richest individuals. A graduate in advertising from Zhengzhou University, Wang founded Pop Mart in 2010, initially selling comics and mobile accessories. The company pivoted in 2016 with the success of the Molly doll series, laying the foundation for Labubu's eventual breakout.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
BTS V Goes Shirtless, Looks Worried About His Pimple In New Photos
Last Updated: V walked out of his mandatory military discharge on June 10, 2025. He was also accompanied by his fellow BTS member, RM. BTS member V often shares glimpses of his behind-the-camera life on his social media. On Wednesday too, the globally popular K-pop singer took to his Instagram handle and dropped a series of pictures, which have left ARMYs in complete awe. In one of the pictures that BTS V shared, he was seen taking a mirror selfie with a pack of juice in his hand. The singer sported a black vest and was seen flaunting his biceps. Another picture featured Kim Taehyung posing shirtless with his back towards the mirror. V was also seen striking a pose in a red printed jacket in one of the clicks. He was also seen enjoying a meal in what looked like a restaurant in one of the photographs. With several other photos, V also shared glimpses of his mouth-watering meals. Check it out here: V walked out of his mandatory military discharge on June 10, 2025. He was also accompanied by his fellow BTS member, RM. The two globally popular singers stepped out in uniform at the Sports Park in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, as fans from across the world cheered and welcomed them. While RM was seen playing a saxophone, V was seen holding bouquets of flowers. They were all smiles as they posed for the cameras and marked their comeback. Later, V also took to his Instagram story to share a picture of himself and RM walking together, arms around each other, while donning their military uniforms. Along with that, he mentioned the dates they enlisted in the army as well as when they got discharged (12-11-2023 to 06-10-2025). Now that all BTS members have completed their mandatory military service, the group is officially planning to make a comeback. Recently, the global K-pop sensation confirmed that the group will return in spring 2026 with a brand-new album and an international tour. The announcement came during a surprise 30-minute livestream on Weverse featuring all seven members – Jung Kook, V, Jimin, Suga, Jin, J-Hope and RM – together for the first time since September 2022.
