8 Record-Breaking Achievements of Aespa's 'Savage' Mini Album

"Savage aespa" quickly dominated YouTube's global trending chart, amassing an impressive 30 million views in just 24 hours after its release. The K-pop sensation's hit track received widespread acclaim from music critics for its "addictive hooks and refrains".

The success of the savage song extended far beyond views, however. The savage aespa album shattered expectations with pre-order sales surpassing 400,000 copies, eventually earning Triple Platinum certification from the Korean Music Contents Association for selling 750,000 copies. Furthermore, the music video became the aespa group's fastest to reach the 100 million view milestone, while the track itself became their second top five entry on Korea's Gaon Digital Chart as well as their first top 40 entry on the Billboard Global 200. These achievements represent just the beginning of what made "Savage" a truly record-breaking release in K-pop history.

Record-Breaking Pre-Order Sales

The extraordinary pre-order sales of aespa's first mini album marked a pivotal moment in the group's rapid rise to K-pop stardom. Released less than a year after their November 2020 debut, the savage aespa album shattered expectations and set new benchmarks for rookie girl groups.

Pre-order sales of Savage aespa album

SM Entertainment officially confirmed that the savage aespa album accumulated a staggering 401,088 pre-order copies before its October 5, 2021 release. This remarkable achievement positioned the mini album as the best-selling K-pop girl group debut album at that time. The pre-release buzz was so significant that the album secured the number one spot on YouTube's global trending videos list immediately after release.

Most notably, these impressive pre-order figures came despite aespa having no previous physical album releases since their debut with "Black Mamba" single in November 2020. Essentially, the group managed to build a substantial fan base eager to purchase their first physical product through digital singles alone—a testament to their explosive popularity following their hit "Next Level."

Why this milestone matters

For a rookie group less than a year into their career, achieving over 400,000 pre-orders represented an exceptional feat that placed aespa among established industry powerhouses. At that time, only a handful of K-pop girl groups had ever reached similar pre-order numbers.

The significance of this milestone becomes even clearer when considering that aespa recorded approximately 130,000 pre-orders on just the Ktown4U store alone—four times higher than some of their fourth-generation competitors. This early sales indicator suggested that aespa had not only secured their position as a leading fourth-generation group but was also challenging the dominance of more established acts.

Additionally, these numbers demonstrated SM Entertainment's successful strategy in building the aespa brand through their unique metaverse concept and distinctive musical style. The pre-order success validated their innovative approach and positioned the aespa group as trend-setters rather than followers in the competitive K-pop landscape.

Sales figures and comparisons

Once released, the savage aespa album continued its record-breaking trajectory. According to Hanteo Chart, the album sold 147,195 copies on its first day and accumulated 276,877 copies in its first week (October 5-11). This remarkable performance established aespa as the girl group with the fourth-highest first-week sales in Hanteo history at that time, behind only BLACKPINK, IZ*ONE, and TWICE.

By October 21, just fifteen days after release, the album had sold over 513,292 copies. This achievement made aespa the fifth K-pop girl group ever to surpass half a million copies sold for a single release, joining industry titans BLACKPINK, Girls' Generation, TWICE, and IZ*ONE.

In another significant milestone, by October 29, "Savage" officially became 2021's best-selling girl group album on the Hanteo Chart with 339,737 copies, surpassing TWICE's "Taste of Love" which had sold 339,019 copies.

The album's international performance was equally impressive. In the United States, savage aespa debuted at number 20 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling nearly 17,500 copies in its first week. This made it the highest-charting debut album by a K-pop girl group in Billboard history. On Billboard's Top Album Sales chart, the mini album reached number 2, making aespa only the fourth South Korean girl group to break into the top 10 on that chart.

Top Rankings on Korean Digital Charts

Beyond impressive pre-order sales, savage aespa carved out unprecedented territory on Korean digital music charts, cementing the rookie group's position among K-pop's elite performers. The title track rapidly ascended multiple platforms simultaneously, showcasing the group's extraordinary digital power.

Savage song chart performance in Korea

Shortly after release, "Savage" achieved what many established artists still strive for—a perfect all-kill on Korean music charts. This prestigious achievement occurred on October 15, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. KST, when the savage song simultaneously ranked first on daily and real-time charts across Genie, Bugs, FLO, VIBE, and iChart's real-time and weekly charts. Remarkably, aespa secured this milestone just 10 months after debut, becoming the fourth-fastest girl group in history to obtain their first perfect all-kill.

On Gaon Digital Chart, "Savage" debuted at position 4 for the week of October 3-9, 2021. Subsequently, the track climbed to position 2 during the following week (October 10-16). Moreover, the song entered at number 37 on Billboard's K-pop Hot 100 in the chart issue dated October 16, 2021, before peaking at position 2 for two consecutive weeks.

Throughout its chart run, the track maintained impressive longevity. According to Gaon's year-end charts, "Savage" ranked 84th for 2021 and 58th for 2022, demonstrating sustained popularity well beyond its initial promotional period.

Impact on aespa group's reputation

The exceptional chart performance of "Savage" definitively established aespa as digital powerhouses rather than one-hit wonders following their earlier success with "Next Level". In fact, the track contributed to aespa's status as chart royalty, with the aespa group accumulating two weeks at number one on Melon's weekly chart through both "Next Level" and "Savage".

Above all, their rapid rise to dominance proved their staying power in the highly competitive K-pop landscape. The song received impressive accolades across music programs, winning eight music show awards in total. This included three non-consecutive wins that earned them the coveted "triple crown" award on SBS's Inkigayo.

The track's success propelled aespa to the top of social charts as well. On Gaon's Social Chart, they jumped 13 places to reach number 5, becoming the only fourth-generation group inside the Top 5 at that time.

Gaon and Melon chart data

On Gaon's detailed metrics, "Savage" amassed over 21 million digital points in its first week, claiming the number 4 position on the digital chart. The track stood as the highest-ranking song by a female artist on the tally during that period. Gaon's streaming chart similarly reflected the song's dominance, with "Savage" securing the number 8 spot.

The savage aespa album concurrently topped Gaon's Album Chart for the week of October 3-9, selling 198,017 copies. It maintained strong positions in subsequent weeks, jumping 62 spots to hit number 2 on the Gaon Album Chart for the week of October 17-23.

Melon, Korea's largest music streaming platform, saw equally impressive results. "Savage" claimed the number 1 position on Melon's real-time chart, contributing to aespa's legacy of consistently high-charting singles. Interestingly, this track became part of an exceptional streak, as aespa would go on to chart eight consecutive songs in Melon's Daily Chart Top 10 across their future releases.

By month-end, "Savage" had secured the number 3 position on both South Korea's Gaon monthly chart and the K-pop Hot 100 monthly ranking, confirming its status as one of 2021's defining K-pop releases.

Billboard Global 200 and World Digital Song Sales Success

Alongside their domestic triumphs, savage aespa made remarkable strides on international music charts, proving their global appeal extended far beyond South Korea's borders. The mini album's impressive performance on multiple Billboard charts marked a historic breakthrough for the rookie group.

Savage aespa on Billboard charts

The savage aespa album debuted at number 20 on the prestigious Billboard 200 chart, an extraordinary achievement that made history as the highest-charting debut album by a K-pop girl group in Billboard history. This milestone was particularly impressive considering it was aespa's first physical-format offering since their November 2020 debut.

Beyond the main Billboard 200, the EP simultaneously conquered multiple specialty charts. Most notably, "Savage" claimed the number one position on both Billboard's World Albums chart and the Independent Albums chart. Additionally, the mini album reached the number two spot on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart with 17,500 units in pure sales.

The savage song itself performed remarkably well on global rankings. Initially entering at position 77 on the Billboard Global 200 chart dated October 16, 2021, the track climbed to position 39 the following week. Likewise, on the Billboard Global Excl. US chart, "Savage" debuted at position 44 before peaking at position 24 just one week later.

Why international charting is significant

For aespa, achieving substantial presence on Billboard charts represented a critical breakthrough in their global expansion strategy. International chart success serves as a key indicator of a K-pop act's potential longevity and worldwide appeal, particularly for groups from major entertainment companies aiming to establish global fanbases.

The significance of this achievement becomes even clearer when considering "Savage" marked just the fourth song from the rookie group to reach the Billboard Global 200. This accomplishment tied aespa with fellow South Korean girl group Twice for the third-most placements among K-pop acts on that chart at the time.

Furthermore, these Billboard achievements came shortly after aespa signed with Creative Artists Agency in July 2021, marking their first step toward US expansion. The subsequent chart success validated this strategic move, demonstrating that their distinctive sound and concept could resonate with international audiences.

Billboard rankings and stats

Looking at specific rankings, "Savage" marked a significant improvement over aespa's previous releases. While their debut single "Black Mamba" reached number 138 on the Billboard Global 200, and "Next Level" peaked at number 65, "Savage" pushed the group into the top 40 for the first time by reaching number 39. This upward trajectory on global charts illustrated aespa's rapidly growing international influence.

On the World Digital Song Sales chart, "Savage" debuted at number 13 during the week of October 16, 2021. This performance came after their previous releases had already established the group's presence on this chart, with "Black Mamba" having reached number 5 and "Next Level" peaking at number 3.

Consequently, 2021 became a landmark year for K-pop on Billboard charts, with 17 different albums by South Korean musicians debuting on the Billboard 200. Among these were five acts appearing on the chart for the first time, including aespa alongside Itzy, Ateez, Enhypen and Seventeen. This collective achievement underscored how aespa group's success was part of K-pop's broader global expansion.

The savage aespa album's impressive performance ultimately positioned the group among the fastest-rising K-pop acts internationally, establishing them as formidable contenders on the global music scene just one year after their debut.

Fastest Aespa Music Video to Reach 100 Million Views

The music video for savage aespa set a blistering pace on YouTube, shattering the aespa group's previous viewing records and firmly establishing their growing dominance in the visual arena of K-pop. Their meteoric rise in viewership metrics underscored their expanding global fanbase.

Savage music video viewership

On October 23, 2021, at approximately 1:30 p.m. KST, the savage aespa music video officially surpassed the coveted 100 million view threshold on YouTube. This milestone came remarkably quickly—just 17 days, 19 hours, and 30 minutes after the video's initial release on October 5. The visually striking production, directed by 725 (SL8 Visual Lab), featured a dark, futuristic atmosphere depicting the group preparing to battle Black Mamba in Kwangya.

The savage song music video demonstrated exceptional momentum from the moment of its release. Within just three days, the video had already accumulated over 50 million views. This rapid viewership accumulation placed the video among the fastest-growing K-pop releases of 2021, with music videos consistently ranking among YouTube's most popular new content.

Comparison with previous aespa videos

The achievement represented a significant acceleration in the aespa group's YouTube performance trajectory. "Savage" reached the 100 million mark approximately 15 days faster than their previous release "Next Level," which had required 32 days, 8 hours, and 30 minutes to achieve the same milestone. This dramatic improvement indicated exponential growth in the group's popularity between releases.

Specifically, SM Entertainment confirmed that "Savage" had shattered their internal record, becoming aespa's fastest music video ever to hit the 100 million mark. Though "Black Mamba" reached this viewership threshold at a comparatively slower pace, it nevertheless holds its own distinguished record as the fastest debut music video by any K-pop group to reach 100 million views, having accomplished this feat in 51 days.

This consistent pattern of breaking viewership records across three consecutive releases—"Black Mamba," "Next Level," and "Savage"—demonstrated the aespa group's extraordinary and sustained growth in popularity throughout their first year.

YouTube milestones and timeline

The viewership journey of the savage aespa music video followed an impressive timeline:

October 5, 2021 (6 p.m. KST): Initial release of the music video
Within 24 hours: Accumulated 30 million views and topped YouTube's global trending chart
October 8, 2021: Surpassed 50 million views
October 23, 2021 (1:30 p.m. KST): Officially crossed the 100 million view threshold

This rapid accumulation of views positioned aespa alongside other Korean music industry powerhouses like BTS, Blackpink, PSY, and Twice, who frequently dominate YouTube's fastest viral video rankings. The members expressed their delight at reaching similar viewership milestones with previous releases, with the group stating after "Black Mamba" hit 100 million: "We were absolutely delighted to hear that our 'Black Mamba' music video reached more than 100 million views".

Ultimately, this YouTube success reinforced aespa's status as one of K-pop's fastest-rising fourth-generation groups, with their unique metaverse concept and distinctive musical style continuing to attract millions of viewers worldwide.

Triple Platinum Certification in South Korea

The commercial triumph of savage aespa received official recognition through an impressive certification milestone that cemented the mini album's place in K-pop history. This achievement validated the aespa group's growing market power and dedicated fanbase.

Savage aespa album certification

The Korean Music Contents Association (KMCA) officially awarded Triple Platinum certification to the savage aespa album on November 10, 2022. This prestigious recognition came after the mini album had sold an impressive 750,000 copies on Circle Chart. Remarkably, the certification journey for the album moved rapidly, starting with no certifications upon release, then quickly achieving Double Platinum status within two months of its October 2021 release. The savage song itself earned separate recognition in the streaming category, receiving Platinum certification after reaching 100 million streams.

What Triple Platinum means

In South Korea's music industry, the certification system operates under specific thresholds established by the KMCA (formerly Gaon Chart) in January 2018. Under this framework, albums qualify for:

Platinum certification at 250,000 sales
Double Platinum at 500,000 sales
Triple Platinum at 750,000 sales
Million certification at 1,000,000 sales

Therefore, Triple Platinum status indicates that an album has achieved between 750,000 and 999,999 sales - a milestone typically reserved for the industry's top performers. Altogether, this certification places aespa savage among an elite group of K-pop albums to reach this threshold, joining works by established acts such as Wanna One, SEVENTEEN, EXO, and NCT 127.

KMCA certification details

The certification process itself follows strict guidelines administered by the Korea Music Content Industry Association. Primarily, certification is awarded based on shipment figures provided by record labels and distributors. For an album to qualify for KMCA certification, it must be:

A domestic or foreign album released in Korea
Based on sales volume of a single album in the same media with identical tracklists
Released after January 1, 2018
At least six weeks after its release date

Interestingly, the savage aespa album exceeded initial sales projections, ultimately selling approximately 787,600 copies according to comprehensive data. This impressive performance positioned it as the best-selling debut physical release by any SM Entertainment act at that time. Indeed, the certification highlighted the mini album's continued commercial success long after its initial release period, demonstrating the aespa group's lasting appeal beyond their immediate comeback promotions.

The Triple Platinum achievement for aespa savage proved especially significant given the group had debuted just one year earlier, illustrating their exceptionally rapid rise to commercial dominance in the competitive K-pop industry.

Gold Certification in Japan for Streaming

In yet another testament to their global influence, savage aespa achieved significant recognition in the Japanese music market through official streaming certification. This milestone further expanded the group's impressive list of international accolades beyond their domestic success.

Savage aespa streaming success in Japan

The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) officially awarded "Savage" a gold certification on June 27, 2023. This achievement marked a significant milestone as it became aespa group's first-ever streaming certification in Japan. The aespa savage track gained substantial popularity among Japanese listeners, demonstrating the group's growing appeal beyond South Korean borders. Importantly, this recognition came alongside other K-pop heavyweights who received similar certifications that year, highlighting aespa's rapid rise to prominence in the competitive Japanese music market.

RIAJ certification explained

In 2020, the RIAJ implemented a comprehensive new certification system specifically for online streaming of songs. This system operates alongside their pre-existing certification frameworks for physical album shipments and digital download sales. Under these guidelines, songs receive tiered recognition based on accumulated streaming numbers:

Silver certification: 30 million streams
Gold certification: 50 million streams
Platinum certification: 100 million streams

This structured approach provides official recognition for digital consumption, reflecting how streaming has fundamentally transformed music consumption patterns. Henceforth, artists can receive formal acknowledgment for their streaming performance separate from traditional sales metrics.

Streaming numbers and timeline

To qualify for gold certification, the savage song had to surpass the 50 million stream threshold within the Japanese market. This certification process operates on a monthly reporting cycle, with achievements announced in batches by the RIAJ. Altogether, this accomplishment positioned "Savage" among a select group of K-pop songs to achieve gold status in Japan, joining tracks from prominent artists like TWICE, BTS, and LE SSERAFIM.

The significance of this certification extends beyond mere numbers. It demonstrates savage aespa's enduring popularity long after its initial release period and illustrates how the distinctive sound of the savage aespa album successfully transcended cultural and language barriers to connect with Japanese audiences.

Multiple Music Show Wins and Triple Crown

The savage aespa title track dominated South Korean music shows, collecting multiple trophies that affirmed the rookie group's growing influence in the competitive K-pop industry. Each win highlighted the song's commercial success among both fans and industry professionals.

Savage aespa music show victories

Aespa secured their first music show trophy for "Savage" on October 13, 2021, during MBC's "Show Champion". This initial victory came just days after the mini album's release, where they triumphantly defeated contenders including ITZY, N.Flying, Jo Yu Ri, and WOODZ. In their acceptance speech, the members thanked SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo Man along with their dedicated fans.

This momentum continued across other major music programs. By October 26, 2021, the savage song had accumulated seven music show trophies, ultimately reaching a total of eight wins across various South Korean weekly music programs. These victories spanned multiple broadcasting networks, including SBS, KBS, and MBC.

What is a Triple Crown in K-pop

A Triple Crown represents one of the highest honors on Korean music shows, typically awarded when an artist wins first place for three consecutive weeks on the same program. After this achievement, songs are usually removed from competition eligibility for the remainder of their promotion cycle.

Primarily, this prestigious accomplishment signifies extraordinary public support and commercial success. For most idols, even securing a single music show win marks significant validation, whereas a Triple Crown establishes them among the industry's elite performers.

List of wins and scores

The aespa group's "Savage" collected victories across five different music programs:

Show Champion (MBC): October 13, 2021 – 6,370 points
Music Bank (KBS): October 15, 2021 – 7,958 points
Show! Music Core (MBC): October 16 & October 23, 2021 – 9,099 and 7,271 points respectively
Inkigayo (SBS): October 17, October 24 & December 5, 2021 – 10,699, 9,388, and 6,330 points respectively
The Show (SBS MTV): October 26, 2021 – 7,048 points

Markedly, their three non-consecutive wins on SBS's Inkigayo earned them the coveted Triple Crown distinction, placing them among an exclusive group of artists who have achieved this milestone.

Critical Acclaim and Year-End List Features

Beyond commercial success, the savage aespa mini album garnered exceptional critical reception from music experts worldwide, establishing the rookie group as artistic innovators in the K-pop landscape.

Savage aespa reviews and rankings

Music critics overwhelmingly praised the EP upon its October 2021 release. NME awarded the mini album four stars out of five, describing it as a bold statement that "digs deep to traverse beyond the boundaries of K-pop". AllMusic critic David Crone called it "a glitchy, futuristic take on the K-Pop mini-album" that continued to "demonstrate the star power of Aespa's leading foursome".

The savage aespa album was honored in numerous year-end lists. Most notably, it secured the #6 position on NME's "25 Best K-pop Songs of 2021" and was included in TIME's top 10 best K-pop songs list. Paper magazine ranked it impressively at #3 in their "40 Best K-Pop Songs of 2021" countdown. In a particularly significant achievement, music webzine Tonplein named "Savage" the best K-pop track of 2021 in their annual settlement.

Why critics praised the song

Critics primarily celebrated the track's innovative production and distinctive sound. Carmen Chin from NME highlighted its "addictive hooks and refrains that sit on top of masterfully layered production". Many reviewers compared the savage song's "clanging electronic instrumentation" to the work of late Scottish musician and record producer Sophie.

Aside from production quality, the aespa group's vocal performances received substantial praise. Billboard's Starr Bowenbank described the track as "assertive and daring," noting it was "worthy of a replay (or two) to catch every one of its intricate elements".

Mentions in NME, Billboard, TIME, and more

Undoubtedly, the album's most prestigious recognition came when it was included in The New York Times' year-end list. Music critic Jon Caramanica featured the EP in his personal top 40 Best Albums of 2021—one of only two K-pop albums to receive this honor alongside NCT 127's "Sticker".

Additionally, the mini album appeared in:

Dazed's "Best K-pop tracks of 2021" at position 26
PhilStar Life's "21 K-pop title tracks that defined 2021" at number 14
Teen Vogue's "21 Best K-Pop Music Videos of 2021"