Cassettes, glasses, vinyls, Kpop albums and especially packaging seek to be quickly recognizable and original.
K-pop albums, both original and practical, are gaining popularity. Rather than simply CDs in a plastic case, they are listened to via dedicated apps using NFC chips and are produced as products symbolizing the artists and albums, thus stimulating fans’ desire to purchase them.
Until now, K-pop albums have been stigmatized as polluting “waste,” as the CDs and accessories are virtually useless, with the exception of photo cards. However, recently released albums are made up of highly valuable collectibles, which is very satisfying for fans.
NCT WISH’s album is a prime example. NCT WISH sought to differentiate itself with its own character, “WICHU,” as the “WICHU Doll Keychain Album.” This album comes in the form of a doll keychain, which can be carried in a bag. It includes a WICHU doll, a photo card, and an NFC chip that allows fans to listen to music via a dedicated app. The “WICHU Camera Album”, reminiscent of a toy camera, allows you to enjoy various photos with the viewfinder by clicking the button.
The album has been well-received. Sales continue to rise thanks to word of mouth among fans. According to the official music sales charts released Monday, cumulative sales of their second mini-album “PopPop,” released last month, have reached 1,129,353 copies. Among them, the doll keychain album sold approximately 150,000 copies, or 13.3% of the total. This doll keychain album was so successful that it ranked in the top five of the album charts for three weeks.
A manager from SM Entertainment‘s Neoproduction visual creative team, which designed NCT WISH‘s doll keychain and camera album, said, “The existing album had to conform to CD standards, so its size and shape were limited. However, thanks to the use of NFC technology, it became possible to design the album in various shapes and sizes.” “This album is remarkable because you can touch it and hold it with your hands,” he added. “It’s the age of streaming, but the value of the actual album still holds.“
It’s not the only album to spark envy among K-pop fans. NCT’s MARK released his first solo album, “THEFIRSTFRUIT,” as a juice carton. Taking inspiration from the album’s name, the group designed the album in the shape of an actual juice carton, complete with a bottle opener-shaped magnet for added convenience.
SHINee’s KEY attracted attention by releasing his third mini-album, “PLEASURE SHOP,” in the form of a wine glass. This item, featured in the music video, attracted attention thanks to its mini-CD and round photo cards. Other items, such as TOMORROW X TOGETHER‘s “Casset Tape Album” (with a built-in sound source and speaker) and NMIX’s “MP3 Album” (with a sound source integrated into the MP3 player), also attracted attention.
A music agency official said, “K-pop album sales exceeded 100 million copies in 2023, but they have been declining since then,” adding, “If the ‘Goods’ album successfully establishes itself in the music market, it will be a new profit model for K-pop.“
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: SNS Artistes
