Physical Sale vs. Digital Sales

[Bom-E]

It seems like a trend that idols either tend to do really good in Physical sales, or Digital sales.. but it's rare to see both? (minus BigBang and other big acts)

for instance, 4minute has been doing really well on digital charts, but they're awfully weak in the Physical sales area. 
compare to 2PM, who seems to be doing very well with Physical sales yet their digital sales are no where to be seen on the charts even in the first week. 

And why is it that people recognize the achievement of Digital sales more than Album sales? 

 

and also.. (i'm using 2PM as example), knowing their entire album will release right after, doesn't it make sense that people would rather wait for the entire album to be out rather than downloading one song? So why is it such a big deal that if so so so does weak on digital sales.. but nobody ever mention about their chart topping Physical sales? 


Sorry, too many questions I know :(

[Delincious]

Digitals are more representative of general public

While Physicals are of fans.

And people like to discredit everything fans do because "omg stupid fangirls"

[Dina]

TVXQ is weak in digital sales but strong in Physical. I buy both albums from itunes and the physical album, they chart on Gaon for weeks after its release.

[fuckJohnny]

inb4 YG vs SM arguments.

[GANJI.]

On the topic of 2PM, on Hello Counselor there was an ajhumma fan who started distributing their new CDs to the public that she bought with her own money because other ppl MIGHT HAVE NOT known that 2PM made their comeback. And she's done it on some music show too. So there you have your physical sales.

 

Non-fans are more likely to download the song instead of buying the whole album, which means they liked the song for the song and not for the artist who sings it (that's the idea at least)...

[Saesang Pan]

TVXQ is weak in digital sales but strong in Physical. I buy both albums from itunes and the physical album, they chart on Gaon for weeks after its release.

every SM artists duh

[Regina]

I hold physical sales to higher value than digital. Selling well digitally means any old John Doe liked your song so they bought it for $1.29. Selling well physically means you have an actual fan base — groups of people who like your material and support you as an artist.

[fuckJohnny]

every SM artists duh

 

SNSD does well digitally and extremely well physically.

[Taecmetothefloor]

It seems like a trend that idols either tend to do really good in Physical sales, or Digital sales.. but it's rare to see both? (minus BigBang and other big acts)

 

for instance, 4minute has been doing really well on digital charts, but they're awfully weak in the Physical sales area. 

compare to 2PM, who seems to be doing very well with Physical sales yet their digital sales are no where to be seen on the charts even in the first week. 

 

And why is it that people recognize the achievement of Digital sales more than Album sales? 

 

and also.. (i'm using 2PM as example), knowing their entire album will release right after, doesn't it make sense that people would rather wait for the entire album to be out rather than downloading one song? So why is it such a big deal that if so so so does weak on digital sales.. but nobody ever mention about their chart topping Physical sales? 

 

 

Sorry, too many questions I know :(

To many,digital sales show how much interest the song gains from not only fans, but the public. If the song can do well or decent on the digital charts, it means people obviously like the song. That's also why many people say to wait a few days to see how a song or album does digitally because if there is enough hype, it can chart well during the first day or 2 but fall.

 

In 2pm's case, Comeback When You Hear This song was in the top 2-3 on various charts for the first 3 days and top 10 for the first week on instiz but then lost momentum already (though their monthly scores weren't as bad as i thought they would be).

 

Physical albums are usually bought buy fans and fans usually buy multiple copies for fan signings, buying projects, etc. That's why many dismiss them.

 

 

Though it's nice to do well on either one, there still are other factors that play into an artist's success besides sales. 

[Delincious]

every SM artists duh

Snsd and Shinee though.

[lovergurl]

I hold physical sales to higher value than digital. Selling well digitally means any old John Doe liked your song so they bought it for 6 cents. Selling well physically means you have an actual fan base — groups of people who like your material and support you as an artist.

 

Fixed

[comandhurst]

Both don't mean anything if you can't make people to come to your concerts.

[Mr. Squirrel Princess]

Digital sales are more indicative whether the general public likes a song.

Physical sales are more so how hardcore a fanbase a group has.

 

Both are important but I personally feel digital sales are a bit more important. # of non-fans (general public) outweighs # of fans. So thus it's harder to be popular with the public then it is to have a huge fanbase.

 

The general public more so buys albums digitally then physically. It's not like a non fan will will rush out and buy a physical album even if they like a whole album. (Which is true for the west too.) They will just buy the whole album digitally. Fans are the ones who buy physical albums.

[mikiangel]

I think only SNSD and BigBang are strong on both fields! That`s why they are National Girl and National Boy group! Everybody else struggle with one or another!

[Dina]

every SM artists duh

I don't follow anyone else so I wouldn't know, I've stated what I know for my bias group.

[Regina]

Physical albums are usually bought buy fans and fans usually buy multiple copies for fan signings, buying projects, etc. That's why many dismiss them.

 

This is literally a mindset that only K-pop fans have. If some American artist sold 800,000 copies, no one would say "That's JUST their fanbase tho so it doesn't count. that's not the public's real opinion on them."  This makes no sense, in any world.

[Taecmetothefloor]

This is literally a mindset that only K-pop fans have. If some American artist sold 800,000 copies, no one would say "That's JUST their fanbase tho so it doesn't count. that's not the public's real opinion on them."  This makes no sense, in any world.

I know but i was explaining the mindsets of the two that people apply to kpop music

[kingofwar]

ppl buy album because they know they will have lot of good song inside

ppl download single because they know the rest of the album suck

 

---------

eternity play suck song while the good one only the single one

will you play it all?

[Greenturtle]

Both don't mean anything if you can't make people to come to your concerts.

Second this. Concerts still bring in the most revenue if executed well ( ticket sales + tour merchandise) That's how artists actually make money in the west besides the endorsement deals they get...

 

 

Plus money made from digital + physicals would most likely be used to first cover the costs of producing the album ( composers, studio engineers, photoshoot, music video, music lawyers etc)

 

But I guess you can argue that if you can sell large number of albums, then you can most likely also pull off large scaled concerts?

[Mr. Squirrel Princess]

This is literally a mindset that only K-pop fans have. If some American artist sold 800,000 copies, no one would say "That's JUST their fanbase tho so it doesn't count. that's not the public's real opinion on them."  This makes no sense, in any world.

It's because digital albums and physical albums are counted on separate charts in Korea while on let's say on Billboard a purchase of an album digitally is also counted with a purchase of an album physically.

 

Non fans in Korea will just buy an album digitally if they like it. So it's quite easy to separate the two, fans and general public, when both sales are separated.

[Chungie]

Physical sales pays their bills whereas Digital brings them public recognition. Choose one.

 

 

every SM artists duh

 

SNSD,  BoA and f(x). Know them? Thought so.

I think only SNSD and BigBang are strong on both fields! That`s why they are National Girl and National Boy group! Everybody else struggle with one or another!

 

YUS!!! My two faves <333

[lovergurl]

Both don't mean anything if you can't make people to come to your concerts.

 

Which is where that fanbase ppl dismiss so much might come in handy

[wisteria]

While we're at it let's tier the male groups based on Physicals and Digitals

I think BigBang sells extremely well on both

Super Junior, TVXQ, (JYJ?) extremely well on physical
B2ST, SHINee, Cnblue(?) great on both
Infinite, 2PM well on both

EXO great on physical, bad on digital

 

who else?

[silicon soul]

Digital: shows how much people like a song. Generally it's fans and a greater number of non fans buying them.

 

Physical: fans rule with just a very small amount of non fans. Shows support for artist.

[s4a]

In general, if you state that physical sales are more important, that's pretty much indication #1 that you primarily stan a male idol group but I will tell you why digital is wayyyyyyyyy more important overall. Why?

 

There are more female idol groups, female artists and male artists than there are male idol groups and those three demographics all depend on digital sales. Excluding SNSD, the vast majority of the industry needs digital to stay active and relevant and each song's popularity will go a long way for the overall group. Look at what happened to SISTAR once they started having digital hits. CFs. Public recognition. Status. Same with 4minute to a point. T-ara, same thing.

 

Very rarely do you have an artist like Cho Yong Pil come along and sell very well physically for a solo.

 

Now, physical is important for some and I don't want to downplay its importance. i just think some fans like to aggressively downplay digital because their oppas don't do well in that area.