Virtual boy group PLAVE broke records with their second mini-album, ASTERUM: 134-1, recording initial sales of 569,289 copies according to the Hanteo Chart as of March 5. This achievement established a new career-high record for the group. With this new release, they surpassed the sales of their debut album, which sold 27,000 copies, and their first mini-album, which sold 203,000 copies. Before its official release, ASTERUM: 134-1 had already exceeded the pre-order quantity of 500,000 copies.
PLAVE’s achievement made them the 17th highest among boy groups for initial sales, according to the Hanteo Chart. They also dominated the Circle Chart with nine consecutive weeks in weekly album sales and topped the weekly sales on Ktown4u for two straight weeks. This wave of success culminated in PLAVE winning their first music show trophy on the March 6 episode of Show Champion, becoming the first virtual group ever to win on the show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij12BleNfTQ
PLAVE ‘WAY 4 LUV’ 1st Win @ Show Champion 240306
On the March 9 episode of MBC’s Music Core, they won first place again. With 6,271 points, their single “WAY 4 LUV” beat “EASY” by LE SSERAFIM and “Bam Yang Gang” by BIBI.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4tQrB8cL28
PLAVE ‘WAY 4 LUV’ 2nd Win + Speech @ Show! Music Core 240309
All about PLAVE
PLAVE is a virtual K-pop boy group formed under VLAST, consisting of five members: Bamby, Eunho, Hamin, Noah, and Yejun. The group made its official debut on March 12, 2023, with their single album Asterum. The name is a combination of the words “play” and “rêve” (meaning “dream” in French), symbolizing their goal to create a new world where they can achieve their dreams.
PLAVE uses artificial intelligence (AI) like VTubers, who stream content using animated characters instead of showing themselves. This allows the members to engage with fans and perform without revealing their human identities. This group is also noted for being the first virtual K-pop group on Weverse, a South Korean fan community platform.
Despite their current success, the road to fame wasn’t smooth. “When PLAVE was looking for songs, our members said they felt the composers were not giving them A-level quality songs. That led the group to make their own songs,” Lee Sung-gu, CEO of VLAST, told the press.
PLAVE(플레이브) 1st Anniversary Interview 🎤
Overwhelming support
The group’s determination to produce quality music has paid off, judging by the overwhelming support for ASTERUM: 134-1. When they released it and its title track “WAY 4 LUV,” they held a press event at MBC’s Golden Mouth Hall in Mapo District, western Seoul. The members appeared onscreen to talk about their latest release. It was then that Yejun, the group’s leader, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support they’ve received.
“Honestly, it still feels like a dream. Every day, I find myself wondering, ‘How are we receiving such an incredible amount of love?’ It really makes me think about how we need to step up our game and give our fans the absolute best of ourselves.”
They say you get what you give—and because the members of PLAVE are giving it their all, they’re getting all they’ve ever dreamed of. Congratulations to the group on their unprecedented (but definitely well-deserved) success! – K-Pop News Writer
Featured Image: Their career is definitely on an upswing. Source: X/@iur4ya.