BLACKPINK’s 2.2Billion Views. aespa “We Compete with Ourselves”. IVE! Forbes. (K-POP News. May 28)

First. BLACKPINK’s hit song "DDU-DU DDU-DU" has made history by becoming the first K-pop group music video to reach 2.2 billion views on TH-cam. As of 3:12 PM on May 27, the video achieved this milestone nearly five years and eleven months after its release on June 15, 2018. YG Entertainment noted, “‘DDU-DU DDU-DU’ is the title track of BLACKPINK’s first mini album ‘SQUARE UP.’ Its catchy chorus and signature gun-shooting dance move made it the most-watched K-pop music video of 2018.” Despite their exclusive contract ending last December, BLACKPINK remains a leading K-pop group globally, boasting over 93.8 million subscribers on their official TH-cam channel and accumulating more than 35.6 billion total views from 45 videos surpassing 100 million views each.
Second. Are aespa competing with NewJeans and IVE? aespa addressed their contemporaries during their first full album "ARMAGEDDON" showcase on May 27 at the Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Seoul. Karina stated, “Rather than competing with other girl groups, we focus on our own growth.” Debuting their first full album after four years, Karina expressed, “I wanted this album to be perfect. While there are some regrets, I am satisfied with the title track. We and the staff worked hard, so please appreciate it.” Pre-released track "Supernova" has already achieved significant success, topping domestic charts and amassing over 31 million streams on Spotify. Despite the competitive environment with popular groups like NewJeans and IVE, aespa members emphasized their mutual support and friendship, with Karina mentioning, “We exchanged hearts with other groups in the waiting room and have no worries. We get along well as colleagues.”
Last. IVE has been named the only K-pop artists in Forbes’ "30 Under 30 Asia" list. Starship Entertainment announced on May 17 that IVE was included in the Entertainment & Sports category, recognized among 30 leaders under the age of 30 from 22 Asia-Pacific countries. Forbes highlighted IVE’s rapid rise in the competitive K-pop industry, noting their debut track "ELEVEN" has surpassed 220 million views on TH-cam. Currently promoting their second mini album "IVE SWITCH," released on April 29, IVE is also preparing for their first world tour “SHOW WHAT I HAVE,” starting in October. Additionally, they are set to perform at the major U.S. music festival "Lollapalooza Chicago" in August, further solidifying their influence and presence in the global music scene.