#Gaon Music Chart

[250318]

© cloudsummer. | do not edit and/or crop logo

[jaehyun-updates]

220127 NCT Jaehyun at Gaon Chart Music Awards‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ © banana fish do not edit, crop, or remove the watermark

[moontaeddybear]

Circle Chart (Gaon Music Chart)

[skz-source]

© cloudsummer. | do not edit and/or crop logo

[fyeah-kangdaniel]

180214 Kang Daniel at Gaon Chart Music Awards © daniel of illusion do not edit, crop, or remove the watermark

[ohsehun-exo]

170222 EXO Sehun at 6th Gaon Chart Awards © dear my spring do not edit, crop, or remove the watermark

[venusvity]

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🍒✧˚.⋆ UR MY BABY! HELLO, I'M BAEBI!

cw: sexualization + controlling company

  JUNG YOONAH took on the stage name BAEBI in 2018 upon her debut with VENUS and the world was never the same.

Baebi would take the world by storm with her solo debut the same year Venus would debut, sparking much discussion among fans over favoritism, a debate that still rages today. But who cares about favoritism when the music is good? Bubble Pop! Would take the Kpop world by storm, becoming the song of the summer.

It peaked at number two on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart and charted atop the US Billboard World Albums. As of 2023, it has sold 560,000 copies in South Korea. 

Bubble Pop! 's commercial success was the main contributor to Angelico Entertainment's leading music sales. The song peaked at number one in South Korea, where it has sold over 2.5 million digital units. To accompany her solo release, Baebi held a series of small concerts called Baebi's Summer Splash. She was awarded Best Female Artist at the 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards and at the 2019 Golden Disk Awards.

Chart data is boring. Let's talk about something else.

Returning just a few months later with the mini album "Tell Me More" and a title track of the same name, fans grew slightly more concerned over Yoonah's concept as a soloist. According to her most dedicated fans, her sound and look were very mature, very sensual, and bordering on sexual, which didn't really match Yoonah's character.

No one would be shocked at the music and content Baebi would be releasing when looking at her creative team:

The Son Brothers, Jinhwa and Roan, would be the proud creative directors behind all of Baebi's solo work. Bubble Pop! would be Son Roan's, later turned CEO of Angelico after his brother departed from the label to become CEO of Mydol, Angelico's now parent company, first project in the Kpop realm.

"I like working with Baebi because she's something different than what you're used to seeing from the other idols out there. You can do things with Baebi you can't normally do with other idols and I find that very exciting." – Son Roan when asked about the Baebi brand in 2020.

2020 Baebi hit a career-high with her mini album "Glassdoor" and the lead single, Gashina. This song was everywhere, but even more to an extent, no Angelico artist had ever seen. Baebi was an international sensation. She'd go on a mini world tour as a soloist, the first and only Venus member to do so, promoting internationally, being the first soloist under Angelico to do so internationally.

A point of contention in Baebi's career is the botched release of her first full album, "Hello Baebi!" with the poorly promoted single, Hello. When Baebi was coming back, you knew about it, your friends knew about it, your mama knew about it, hell, even your grandma knew about it. For Hello Baebi? Not a peep. Even Baebi fans were confused when Ktown4u posted a pre-order poster for the album before Angelico even posted teasers. Which, mind you, she only got four photo teasers and a single video trailer for a full album.

When the comeback happened, promotions only lasted for two weeks, something unheard of for Baebi and the outfits? Fresh off the Forever21 rack. The stages? Bare. Nothing. The MV? Budget cut in half. Something wasn't right...Then when you looked at the album credits, neither of the Son brothers were anywhere to be seen. The entire album was made by Baebi herself, something she shared often on her Instagram or during the few interviews she did during this era.

Either way, Hello Baebi, her one cute era completely controlled by her, was deemed a flop and the Son brothers used that to their advantage, taking full creative control over Baebi's image again.

Which is where Touch came in.

Touch was noted for its overtly sexual music video, on-the-nose sexual lyrics, and latex outfits Baebi would promote in. The single, which was, of course, promoted ions better than Hello Baebi!, was phenomenally on the charts and in sales, "proving" that the mature concept is what people wanted from Baebi. At least, that's Jinhwa's belief.

Baebi's release after Touch would be a mini album titled "Stupid B—" with the promoted track TWIT. Fans that worried for Baebi would be soothed by this less sexual yet mature concept and the actual look of enjoyment on Yoonah's face when performing the song, something that seemed to be lacking when she was performing Touch.

After a year break from solo activities, Baebi would come back swinging in 2024 with her second full album, "Choke On It," and the title track LIPLOCKER, which was a hit, of course. Though the concept was leaning more toward sexual than mature, Baebi seemed more comfortable performing and actually had fun during this promotional period. She'd go on to say that LIPLOCKER was her favorite comeback since Hello Baebi!, which fans are hesitant to believe, but whatever makes her happy!

[asphodel-s]

  Persephone (Korean: 페르세포네; RR: Peleusepone, stylized in all caps) is a pop quartet formed by Heart Rot Media. The group consists of Judy, Kazu, Maika, and Daiyu. They originally debuted on May 1, 2016, with the mini album The Birth of Aphrodite, with the three-member line-up of Judy, Kazu, and Maika. A fourth member, Daiyu, was added in April of 2017 with the release of the EP Someone Loves You.  Persephone rose to domestic fame in 2017 with their single album Midnight Fiction, their first release to top the Gaon Digital Album Chart, and won them “Song of the Year” with the lead track at the Mnet Music Awards. They were also awarded “Best New Artist” at the Melon Music Awards. The release of the group’s second extended play, Someone Loves You brought them international attention and success. Persephone has become one of the most well-known South Korean figures and successful K-pop groups worldwide, earning numerous accolades and the honorific nickname “The Nation’s Flowers.”

GROUP NAME. Persephone

COMPANY.  Heart Rot Media

DEBUT DATE. May 1, 2016

DEBUT ALBUM. The Birth of Aphrodite 

GREETING. “Watch us bloom in the darkness! Hello, we are Persephone!”

FANDOM NAME. Narcissus

FANDOM COLORS. Blooming & Petal

𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒  ━━━━  WITHERING FLOWERS.

JUDITH ‘ JUDY ’ SONG   ⭒   1991

KAZUMI ‘ KAZU ’ AIUCHI   ⭒   1996

SEIYOUNG ‘ MAIKA ’ BAEK   ⭒   1997

DAIYU YANG   ⭒   1999

  𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐌𝐘 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒  ━━━━  BIRD SONGS.

‘16  |  SEPHONE  :  pre-debut extended play 

‘16  |  THE BIRTH OF APHRODITE  :  debut extended play 

‘16  |  HOLIDAY PARTY  :  single 

‘17  |  MIDNIGHT FICTION  :  single album

‘17  |  SOMEONE LOVES YOU!  :  extended play

‘17  |  VELVET ESPRESSO  :  extended play

‘17  |  CLASSIC  :  single 

‘17  |  THE VELVET CONFESSIONS  :  repackaged extended play

‘18  |  LOVE INCEPTION  :  debut japanese extended play

‘18  |  THE DISADVANTAGE OF EGO  :  studio album 

‘19  |  PRECIOUS HEART  :  extended play

‘19  |  NARCISSISTIC LOVER  :  extended play

‘19  |  THREE OF CUPS  :  extended play

‘20  |  GALILEO  :  single 

‘20  |  ANGEL’S TOUCH  :  debut english extended play

‘21  |  SENSITIVE  :  single 

‘22  |  BULLDOZER  :  studio album

‘23  |  SUPERNOVA  :  single 

‘25  |  POMEGRANATE SEEDS  :  studio album 

[lcvehee]

lost and found

#35. favorite song (+written)

꩜ .ᐟ a/n: day of the party/album release!!!!!!!! and the end of this series!!!!!!! twas a ride!!! ty all for reading :D

— twelve past midnight.

loud music blared through the sound system, your eardrums buzzing. ironically, sohee forbade taro from playing his music, saying he was cringing at the sound of his own voice. you think that's stupid though—isn't that the sole purpose of this party, celebrating his music?

anyways.

you look up from the beer can you're holding, and you find the said boy already looking at you, mouthing something.

"what?" you frowned, not hearing a thing he said.

he sighed, bringing his lips closer to your ear. your heart skipped a beat at the proximity. "wanna get some air?"

you nodded frantically, practically dragging him through the hallway.

the two of you sit on the curb, too tired to care about the dirt. the sticky sweat on your skin felt cold under the touch of the crisp summer night, yet the alcohol pulsing in your bloodstream seemed to keep you warm.

"how are you feeling?" you asked him, slurring your words and playing with the empty can in your hand.

he hums in thought, his gaze set on the nightsky.

"grateful?" he tentatively muttered, "well—uh—overwhelmed, i guess? this seemed so out of reach a few months ago, you know?"

you nodded sagely in understanding.

"how about you—hic," he asked, interrupted by his own hiccups. you laughed at the sight.

you nudged him in the ribs. "this ain't about me. this is your night."

he snorted. "come on. i can't even ask how are you?"

you rolled your eyes, waving your hand dismissively. "okay, yeah, i'm good. just glad to be celebrating this with you." at that, sohee seemed visibly satisfied.

"you know what? i have something to tell you." he mused, wiggling his eyebrows.

shocked by the goofy face he was making, you raised your eyebrows. "tell me."

"patience is a virtue, pretty girl," he said.

of course, he let a beat of silence ensue. for suspense.

"i have a favorite song on my album."

"which one is it?" you asked.

he shook his head, "guess."

you rolled your eyes.

"what's it about?"

he smirked. "you."

your eyebrows shot up. "you cornball. you wrote a whole song about me? just me?"

"mhm." sohee picked at a loose thread on his shorts, suddenly very self-conscious. "every time I sat down to write, it just kept turning into… you. so, yeah."

silence stretched between you for a beat, but it’s not heavy. far from it, actually.

then, a brilliant idea came to you. so you leaned in, just enough that your shoulders press together. "sing it for me? so i can figure out which one is it. "

"no. way." he accentuated each word.

"c'mon!"

"just stream the album on spotify, and you'll know." he chuckled. "and hey! i might even chart on gaon!"

you refused to budge. watching him squirm is fun. if he can do it, then so can you.

"pleaaase?" you dragged the word out, tilting your head against his shoulder, voice teasing.

he groaned, covering his face as pink dusted on his cheeks. "you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?

but after a second, he inhaled, tapping his fingers against his knee like he's keeping the tempo, and softly hummed the chorus and the bridge, and finally, the ending. just the melody, though, something soft and warm. although his voice was slightly shaky due to all the beers he's consumed.

as he neared the end of the song, he reached for your hand, weaving his fingers through.

"lost and found, huh?" you muttered, raising an eyebrow teasingly. "still as corny as ever."

when you turned to look at him, his lips morphed into a small smile. "can't help it," he whispered, staring fondly at you.

the two of you sat like that for a while, time stretching on, unhurried. you knew you had to come back to the party eventually, but right now, this moment is all yours. and maybe, just maybe, that’s enough.

— the end.

prev

© lcvehee 2025 | taglist is open: @secretiny @totheseok @renjuneoo @molensworld @wccycc @onlyhyunjin @mystarsohee @llearlert @nujeskz @yoursyuno @minkkumaz @rikisluv @xcosmi @eatervamp @vixensss @sftsohee @jvngw0nlvr @enaile23

[250318]

© cloudsummer. | do not edit and/or crop logo

[jaehyun-updates]

220127 NCT Jaehyun at Gaon Chart Music Awards‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ © banana fish do not edit, crop, or remove the watermark

[m3loria]

. . . and this one?

okay, it's pretty obvious. ocean bliss is a typical summer album name, a term which summarizes the joy emanating from sunny days, splashing in the ocean, vacation, drinking, it's an album which encapsulates the essence of stretching weeks shattered in heat.

. . .     % just two months after their debut album, ocean bliss was released on july eighth twenty twenty. again, somewhat unexpected, the release was much quicker than most fans of this new group expected, it was said to have been released "too early", people accusing the company of purposefully releasing projects early as a way of permeating the charts, it was "too much music" apparently, but despite the silent outcry, there was also much excitement. in contrast to the prior, this album only includes four tracks, each of them completely capturing the essence of summer fun.

. . . ▸ yet again coming around to attempt a hit to the title track, chasing summer is the album opener coming to save it all. it's so fun, so very fun, i have to get up and bust a move not gonna lie. penned by one of the summer children, hajoon, it's clear he knew what he had to do. not sure who their musical director is, but they made a mistake not having this be the title, it isn't always this good.

. . . ▸ apparently stressing the summer fun name over and over, attention! is the titular title track. though not a favorite of mine, it's much different from the groups last title track, a clear statement to the journey the groups musical direction will take in the future. it's a nice song to play on the summer night, windows left open as you drive at speeds unknown to man (do not do that, i don't endorse driving past the speed limit), i would say it deserves a crown.

. . . ▸ simply your typical summer party song, illusion details that of late night outings and getting blackout drunk, funny because only six members could probably legally drink at this time. written, produced, and arranged by again our main vocalist duo of yohan & hwan, the song was conceived literally in the middle of the night, three am in the music studio of louvix audio, maybe they snuck in a few drinks as well, some of these lyrics seem to truly amplify that fact.

. . . ▸ surprisingly already at an end, sea is a song which can give you anything. euphoria, sorrow, regret, it can give you all in one. though upbeat at a first listen, once it truly begins to settle in, you digest the dejection which entails the ending of summer, somewhat of a melancholic closing to an album that had been full of songs which were littered with happiness. seemingly in his feelings, this one included participation from kyuhyun, who also arranged the lyrics.

. . .     % era notes

attention! definitely grew more than their prior title track, it was their second number one single on the gaon digital chart, holding the spot for three consecutive weeks, the single earned seven wins in it's two week promotion period

the album also did better than their prior one, surpassing 370,000 copies in pre-orders in three days, the day before it's release, it had reached 500,000 units in pre-orders

it was certified platinum by the korean music content association on august twenty four twenty twenty after it surpassed 750,000 units in sales

sea became their most streamed song of the year following the release of the album, and it remains one of their most streamed on spotify, with over seven million streams

memorable era moments

byeol forgetting the lyrics of the title track in their fanchant guide video

taro breaking the trophy at their first win, quite literally almost bursting into tears when he realized, then proceeding to burst into tears when making eye contact with the mc

"the songs are tamer now, so stop complaining" - junmin (vlive; 07.12.20)

the start of their most well known variety shows, luminosity & chronicles of meliora [com]

the groups first mafia game, which lead to probably the loudest argument in meliora history, an argument that almost became a brawl, which was then broken up by their manager in great fear

their manager earning his own little fandom after z called him "the most handsome guy i've seen in a WHILE!"

"we are not getting paid! venmo us!" - haneul (vlive; 07.20.20) (he had to confirm he was joking to quell worries)

[midaslabels]

✩　forbes.com/profile/cho-tae-joon

From the Editor

Cho Tae-joon's father, Cho Joong-soo, was the founder of CJS Entertainment, which quickly became one of South Korea's top entertainment agencies. He has a younger brother, Cho Tae-hyeon.

Cho Tae-joon took over management of CJS Entertainment in 2015 after his father stepped down, rebranding the company as Midas Music.

Tae-joon has publicly disowned his father following his scandal.

Prior to taking over for his father, Tae-joon led the company's Training & Development department and was involved in the development and direction of PYRO and Lipgloss.

Holding majors in Marketing and Aesthetics, Tae-joon often takes on the roles of Creative Director and Executive Producer for some of his more "cherished" artists under Midas Music — as well as select artists underneath Midas Labels' sublabels.

Tae-joon has said he is most interested in furthering Midas Labels' global appeal, and further expanding the Midas Labels' family.

Tae-joon acknowledges Midas Labels' training environment as being "cutthroat," and laments that their focus is on producing the best of the best. Tae-joon wants Midas Labels' artist to not only be successful and profitable, but to be considered trendsetters and innovators — hence his heavy hand in his artists' creative direction.

Forbes Lists

#19, Korea's 50 Richest (2024)

#1954, Billionaires (2024)

Accolades

Mnet Asian Music Awards — "Special Award: Best Executive Producer Award" (2016)

Gaon Chart Music Awards — "Producer of the Year" (2016)

Mnet Asian Music Awards — "Special Award: Best Executive Producer Award" (2018)

Seoul Music Awards — "Producer Award" (2018)

Mnet Asian Music Awards — "Special Award: Best Executive Producer Award" (2019)

Gaon Chart Music Awards — "K-Pop Contribution Award" (2020)

Mnet Asian Music Awards — "Special Award: Best Executive Producer Award" (2021)

Personal Stats

Age: 43

Source of Wealth: Entertainment, Inheritance

Residence: Seoul, South Korea

Marital Status: Single

Albums produced by Cho Tae-joon

admin note: cho tae-joon oversees all production, and nothing under midas music will be produced or released without his approval. the projects listed below are merely the projects he has done creative direction and/or a&r work for. for our soloist muns (both company and group-based): assume he's worked on a fair share of your muse's projects and oversees all of them, regardless of his exact role in their projects and regardless of their own creative freedom. you may message us if you'd like specific projects listed or would like to discuss his role in your soloist's career.

"Be My Baby," TRIX

“11:59 PM,” PYRO

“I’ll Be Back,” PYRO

“Hands Up,” PYRO

“GO CRAZY!”, PYRO

“Grown,” PYRO

“Short Hair,” Lipgloss

“TOUCH N MOVE,” Lipgloss

“Heart Attack,” Lipgloss

"SHAKE IT," Lipgloss

“High Heels,” Lipgloss

“Lipgloss Everyday,” Lipgloss

“Good Luck,” Lipgloss

“Excuse Me,” Lipgloss

"Welcome Back," PHAZE

"NEW KIDS: BEGIN", PHAZE

"CRAZY FORM," PHAZE

"OUTLAW," PHAZE

"GOLDEN HOUR," PHAZE

"NEW KIDS," PHAZE

"I DECIDE," PHAZE

"ICE ON MY TEETH," PHAZE

PHZ1's and PHZ4's solo projects.

All of Haute Pink’s albums (including solo projects).

"#," SELENE/NYMTH *A&R/Executive Producer alongside Kevin Yoon, not creative direction

"12:00," SELENE/NYMTH *A&R/Executive Producer alongside Kevin Yoon, not creative direction

"&," SELENE/NYMTH *A&R/Executive Producer alongside Kevin Yoon, not creative direction

"MAP OF THE SOUL: 6", REMEDY *A&R/Executive Producer alongside Kevin Yoon, not creative direction

RMD1's and RMD4's solo projects.

All of GIRL CODE's albums.

Related

[skz-source]

© PAUSE PLAY | do not edit and/or crop logo

[fyeah-kangdaniel]

180214 Kang Daniel at Gaon Chart Music Awards © daniel of illusion do not edit, crop, or remove the watermark

[ohsehun-exo]

170222 EXO Sehun at 6th Gaon Chart Awards © dear my spring do not edit, crop, or remove the watermark