Why Does BABYMONSTER Struggle to Fill BLACKPINK’s Void?
BABYMONSTER lacks too many aspects to follow in BLACKPINK's footsteps.
Underwhelming debut and opposition to Yang Hyun Suk’s role
On November 3rd, YG officially debuted BABYMONSTER amidst ongoing contract negotiations with BLACKPINK. Though expected to be a backup if BLACKPINK doesn’t renew, BABYMONSTER’s debut was rocky. Just before their first release, Ahyeon announced her absence due to health reasons, causing YG’s stocks to plummet further.
At the time, Ahyeon stood out among the trainees, resembling Jennie visually and possessing impressive skills. Her absence from the debut lineup made netizens doubt BABYMONSTER’s ability to break away from BLACKPINK’s shadow.
Ultimately, “Batter Up” didn’t meet expectations. YG hastily introduced BABYMONSTER with a lackluster presentation. The song lacked their main producer, Teddy, which was significant. Although it carried the YG vibe, it wasn’t enough to make BABYMONSTER the “monster rookie” as promoted by the company.
Without Ahyeon, YG also didn’t put much effort into preparing the debut for BABYMONSTER. The six members were introduced with an outdated concept, and the MV resembled BLACKPINK’s style but with less investment. Even conceptualizing for BABYMONSTER, YG didn’t have a creative director.
BABYMONSTER didn’t participate in any music show stages or year-end awards. YG’s schedule for the six members received criticism. “Batter Up” disappeared from domestic music charts, and their international achievements weren’t remarkable either.
Although their YouTube views were decent, there were rumors that YG spent money on advertising, making these achievements less convincing. Right from their first release, YG limited the recognition of BABYMONSTER due to their unclear strategy.
BABYMONSTER’s debut was lackluster, and their first comeback wasn’t much better. “Stuck in the Middle,” a ballad introduced in early February 2024, lacked YG’s investment. Besides the official MV and one special stage version, it wasn’t promoted despite being a good song.
The controversy surrounding BABYMONSTER’s return was Yang Hyun Suk’s role as the production director. After his 2019 legal scandal, the public hasn’t forgiven him. Although he resigned as YG’s CEO, he still played a significant role, even training and mentoring the rookies. BABYMONSTER faced opposition from some fans due to resentment towards Yang’s leadership.
YG placed high expectations on Ahyeon
The six members had good skills, but their unique voices couldn’t shine due to the company’s PR strategy. They didn’t have the opportunity to showcase themselves with “Batter Up” or “Stuck in the Middle.” After announcing Ahyeon’s return in April along with BABYMONS7ER’s mini-album, YG began to heavily push her.
YG also changed BABYMONSTER’s debut date from November 3rd to April 1st, sparking controversy. Many speculated that YG wanted BABYMONSTER to “start over” with Ahyeon’s appearance. Fans could see YG’s intention to wait for Ahyeon’s return.
YG placed too much expectation on “Jennie’s little sister.” From the moment trainees were introduced, Ahyeon received praise, and she proved her appeal with a viral cover, “Dangerously.”
However, this wasn’t enough to assert that Ahyeon would carry BABYMONSTER in the future. Many fans pointed out YG’s unfairness in BABYMONSTER’s debut plan, wasting the talents of the six members just to wait for Ahyeon to return.
The void left by BLACKPINK is too big
As BLACKPINK’s junior, BABYMONSTER easily gained fame but also faced tremendous pressure. BLACKPINK set “firsts” that juniors find hard to surpass. The global success of the four members is evident through lucrative contracts and massive billboards worldwide.
BLACKPINK is the world’s number one girl group, holding records like the artist with the highest YouTube subscribers. Every comeback and solo project dominates music charts. It will be a long time before another girl group can hold world tour concerts attracting millions. BLACKPINK’s revenue earns YG a substantial amount.
Even when BLACKPINK goes solo, each member maintains a brilliant career. YG’s stock fluctuations depend on BLACKPINK-related news.
In the contract extension announcement, YG committed to preparing for BLACKPINK’s return with large-scale projects. However, the comeback schedule is vague as the four members focus on individual activities. BLACKPINK’s absence leaves a huge void, and it’s evident that BABYMONSTER isn’t ready to fill it.
Source: k14
