PLAVE Management: "Initially Faced Rejection Everywhere, Now Offers Pouring In

Article published: April 22, 2024

Original source: https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/011/0004330976

English translation: plaveintl

Since their debut as virtual idols in March last year, PLAVE has been embraced by fans with open arms. Their February release, 'ASTERUM: 134-1,' sold a staggering initial 570,000 copies, marking them as half-million sellers, and they recently clinched the top spot on MBC's 'Show! Music Core' last month. Their recent solo fan concert this month also boasted a sold-out crowd, further cementing their popularity.

But it wasn't always smooth sailing. In the early days, PLAVE encountered numerous hurdles, as virtual idols were still a novelty in South Korea. CEO Lee Sung-gu shared, "Last year, everything seemed to be an uphill battle – from securing concert venues to reaching out to record labels and agencies. We fielded questions like 'What's a virtual idol, and how do they even make music?' Even when we received advertising proposals, we were met with comments like 'Since there are no real people, just do it like this.' It felt like we were constantly hitting dead ends, with TV show appearances and other opportunities eluding us."

However, as their fanbase rapidly expanded and their popularity soared, those challenges gradually faded into the background. Lee expressed heartfelt gratitude to their fans, saying, "We owe it all to our fans. Thanks to their unwavering support, we're now inundated with offers, from advertising gigs to appearance opportunities. It's all thanks to our fans that we're able to continue our journey as virtual idols, and I believe perceptions about virtual idols are steadily evolving for the better."