Tag: PLAVE

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PLAVE Partners With HYBE Labels for Japanese Activities

PLAVE

PLAVE is set to officially debut in Japan. Earlier this year, VLAST Entertainment CEO Lee Seong-gu admitted that he and the members want to expand their presence beyond their homeland. “We don’t know if it’ll happen this year, but we’re focusing on PLAVE’s overseas expansion, hoping to receive love beyond Korea.” Now, their dream is becoming a reality with the help of an influential partner.

PLAVE(플레이브) ‘왜요 왜요 왜?’ | AliExpress 2024 Weverse Con Festival

‘Glocalization’

VLAST Entertainment recently announced, “We have signed an agreement with HYBE Japan for the Japanese debut and activities of our group PLAVE. We anticipate high-quality activities in Japan through this collaboration with HYBE Japan, who has a deep understanding of the Japanese market.”

Earlier this year, rumors were rife that HYBE had acquired VLAST Entertainment, but Lee cleared them up at a press conference. “The rumors about HYBE acquiring us are false. They invested small stakes to help us with overseas expansion, not for funding purposes.”

PLAVE(플레이브) ‘Watch Me Woo!’ | AliExpress 2024 Weverse Con Festival

HYBE Japan will now support PLAVE’s activities. The contract HYBE Japan signed with VLAST Entertainment is the largest of its kind among artists outside HYBE Labels. Its confidence that PLAVE will find success in Japan played a key role in finalizing this agreement. VLAST Entertainment will now actively promote the five-member virtual boy group in the Land of the Rising Sun by working very closely with HYBE Japan.

HYBE Japan employs a ‘glocalization’ strategy, leveraging HYBE‘s global expertise while understanding the Japanese market. They manage strategic planning for K-pop artists in Japan, including music distribution, concerts, product planning and sales, IP-related businesses, content production, media bookings, and PR. PLAVE now has all that and more on their side as they begin promoting in Japan.

PLAVE(플레이브) ‘WAY 4 LUV’ | AliExpress 2024 Weverse Con Festival

About PLAVE

PLAVE, consisting of Yejun, Noah, Bambi, Eunho, and Hamin, quickly gained popularity in Asia since their debut in March 2023. Their second EP, ASTERUM:134-1, topped HMV & BOOKS Japan’s K-pop sales charts for the first half of 2024. Its title track, “WAY 4 LUV,” not only entered the top ranks of South Korean music charts but also made them the first-ever virtual group to win No. 1 on MBC’s Show! Music Core.

PLAVE is known for their advanced use of motion capture technology combined with high-quality visuals and direction. They also garnered much love from fans through interactive live broadcasts. As a self-producing group, all members participate in songwriting, composing, and choreography, showcasing their musical talent and vocal prowess. 

PLAVE(플레이브) ‘니가 사는 그집’ (원곡 : 박진영) | AliExpress 2024 Weverse Con Festival

On April 13 and 14, PLAVE successfully held their first solo fan concert, Hello, Asterum!, at the Olympic Hall in Seoul. The presale saw 70,000 users accessing the ticketing site simultaneously, resulting in a complete sell-out.

Lee expressed gratitude to the fans, “Last year, despite our efforts, nothing worked out. We couldn’t get on shows or receive any offers. Now, thanks to the fans’ love, we are receiving many proposals for TV and commercial appearances. We are very thankful.” – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Thanks to HYBE, PLAVE will finally get to do something they’ve dreamed of doing since debut. Source: X/@plave_official.

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PLAVE’s Yejun Goes On Hiatus Due To Health Issues

Yejun is taking a break. The artist behind the virtual idol of the same name will go on hiatus due to health issues and will be unable to participate in all of PLAVE’s current activities.

VLAST Announces PLAVE Member Yejun’s Temporary Hiatus

VLAST shared an official statement regarding Yejun’s health.

“Despite consistent care, Yejun’s throat condition worsened, and he was recently diagnosed with the early stages of vocal nodules. Above all, rest is the top priority for Yejun’s recovery,” the statement read.

“To dedicate himself to recovering, we plan to minimize Yejun’s PLAVE live broadcasts and other schedules for the time being,” it continued.

The news of Yejun’s health issues has come as a concern for fans of PLAVE, who have been eagerly following the group’s journey since their debut. As one of the key members of the virtual boy band, Yejun has played a significant role in shaping PLAVE’s identity and music style.

Vocal cord nodules can be a serious condition for singers and performers, as it can affect their ability to sing and perform effectively. Recognizing the importance of prioritizing Yejun’s health and well-being, VLAST has made the decision to scale back his activities to allow him time to focus on his recovery.

Fans have expressed their support and understanding for Yejun during this challenging time, sending messages of encouragement and well wishes for his speedy recovery. Many have emphasized the importance of taking care of one’s health, especially in a demanding industry like K-pop where rigorous schedules and intense performances are commonplace.

Despite Yejun’s temporary hiatus, PLAVE continues to move forward with their plans for the upcoming fan concert. While Yejun’s absence may be felt, fans are optimistic that the rest of the members will be able to deliver a memorable performance that showcases their talent and dedication to their craft.

As Yejun takes the necessary steps to recuperate and regain his vocal health, fans remain hopeful for his swift return to the stage. In the meantime, they continue to show their unwavering support for both Yejun and the rest of the PLAVE members, eagerly anticipating their future activities and music releases.

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Virtual Boy Group PLAVE Sells 500K Copies of Second EP

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.

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