BLACKPINK member Lisa (리사) recently released her first solo mini-album, 'Press Play.' While new tracks like "Tarantino" and "Sawadika" generated buzz, the official merchandise launched alongside the album also became a surprising talking point, particularly a black thong whose bold design ignited controversy. However, the high-profile discussions don't seem to have boosted album sales. After sales data emerged, Lisa once again faced criticism from some netizens who claimed the album wasn't selling well, with some even questioning if her market influence had waned. This has led to a fierce online debate between fans and detractors.
Lisa released 'Press Play' on October 23, featuring six songs, including the pre-release track "SaWaDiKa," along with physical album versions. Beyond the mixed reviews for the songs themselves, the album's sales performance became a focal point. According to Hanteo Chart (한터차트) statistics circulating online, Lisa's new work accumulated approximately 23,000 sales during the relevant tracking period. These figures quickly drew sarcastic remarks from some netizens.
Some netizens sarcastically commented that Lisa's sales performance was below expectations, mocking, "Even her sales are failing!" and "Is she going to do a livestream begging fans to buy the album?" Others questioned whether Lisa lacked significant achievements beyond YouTube view counts, with their remarks being quite sharp. In response to these criticisms, some netizens focused on the album's price and tracklist, arguing that with only six songs, the album's relatively high price might deter fans from purchasing it.
However, fans rejected this interpretation, deeming it premature to conclude that Lisa's popularity was declining based solely on limited chart data. Lisa's agency, LLOUD, operates a dedicated 'Press Play' official website, which sells various album versions and a range of merchandise. Fans pointed out that some items on the official website have repeatedly sold out, arguing that Hanteo Chart statistics alone do not accurately reflect overall album sales.
It remains unclear whether all official website sales are included in Hanteo Chart statistics, making it difficult to definitively conclude if actual sales differ from chart data based on available information. Supporters also countered by emphasizing that Lisa has established her own company, LLOUD, and independent official sales channels, meaning she does not solely rely on resources from Korean agencies. They criticized some netizens for deliberately exaggerating sales figures to undermine her solo career.
Beyond album sales, Lisa's merchandise line also became a battleground. The official merchandise collection is extensive, ranging from hoodies, T-shirts, and baseball caps to Thai-style shorts and trousers, maintaining her signature trendy style. The most surprising item was undoubtedly the black thong named "PRESS PLAY THONG," featuring a black base with a dark red "PRESS" logo, priced at approximately NT$831 (about ₩35,000). The item sparked intense discussion immediately after its reveal.
Compared to common idol merchandise like fan apparel, charms, and collectibles, Lisa's inclusion of intimate apparel in her merchandise list surprised many netizens. Some questioned the appropriateness of releasing a thong, given that many K-Pop idols have underage fans. Others believed such an item differed from typical idol merchandise, with some directly asking, "Is this suitable for BLINKs (BLACKPINK's fandom name)?" raising questions about the product's design and target audience.
With album sales criticized by detractors on one side and the thong merchandise sparking controversy over its appropriateness on the other, Lisa's new release continues to generate buzz, bringing her personal brand management and market performance under renewed scrutiny. However, with both online mockery and fan defenses holding their ground, it remains difficult to determine the overall sales success of 'Press Play' based solely on partial chart data or merchandise sell-outs. Whether this wave of discussion will translate into actual purchases remains to be seen.
