MUSIC
Le Seraphim's sales exceeded KRW 19.3 billion in the first year of its debut in Japan
According to Japan's 'Oricon Annual Ranking 2023' announced on the 5th (counting period December 12, 2022 - December 10, 23), Le Seraphim (Chaewon Kim, Sakura, Yunjin Heo, Kazuha, Eunchae Hong) ranked first in the sales category by artist. Ranked first in ‘Rookie Ranking’.
Oricon said, “Le Seraphim posted sales of 2.12 billion yen (about 19.3 billion won) during the counting period. “Based on the ‘Rookie Ranking’, it is the first time in 20 years since 2003 that a female group has exceeded 2 billion yen in sales (about 18.2 billion won),” he explained.
'Rookie Ranking', established in 1969, determines rankings by adding up the sales amount of singles, albums, streaming, and music DVDs. Considering that Le Seraphim's first solo tour, which attracted a total of 60,000 audiences in Japan alone, as well as various performances and advertising fees, were not counted, their overall achievements in Japan last year are expected to be greater.
Looking at Le Seraphim's 'Rookie Ranking' sales, music and albums were evenly loved in the following order: streaming (49%), singles (31%), albums (18%), and downloads (2%). Based on Oricon rankings, the title song of the 2nd mini album 'ANTIFRAGILE' in April last year and the title song 'FEARLESS' of the debut album in May each surpassed 100 million streams, and the title song of the 1st full-length album 'UNFORGIVEN (feat. Nile) Rodgers)' and the b-side song 'Eve, Psyche and Bluebeard's Wife' were also successful, reaching a cumulative number of views of 100 million within six months of release.
Le Seraphim also achieved good results in album sales. The Japanese debut single 'FEARLESS', released in January last year, broke the record for first place in Japanese debut albums (album sales per week based on release date) previously set by a K-pop girl group, and became the first debut single by an overseas female artist to reach 50. It shipped more than 10,000 copies and received ‘double platinum’ certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan. In addition, the first Korean full-length album 'UNFORGIVEN', released in May of last year, achieved a remarkable achievement by entering the Oricon weekly album rankings at #1 (as of May 15, 2023) and charting in the 'Top 100' for 21 weeks.
Meanwhile, on the 31st of last month, Le Seraphim was invited to Japan's representative year-end special broadcast, NHK's 'Red and White Songshuen', which boasts an unrivaled presence in terms of viewer ratings and topicality, for two consecutive years, proving its solid popularity and influence. In addition, the first English digital single 'Perfect Night' was firmly placed at the top of local music charts even during the year-end and New Year holidays, raising expectations for Le Seraphim's activities in the new year.
Reporter Junho Yoon, Ten Asia delo410@tenasia.co.kr
