[K-Pop] aespa's Rich Man album tops iTunes charts in 14 countries

K-pop girl group aespa Courtesy of SM Entertainment — K-pop girl group aespa/ Courtesy of SM Entertainment

SEOUL, September 06 (AJP) - South Korean girl group aespa claimed the top spot on iTunes Top Songs charts in 14 countries with their sixth mini-album "Rich Man," their agency SM Entertainment said Saturday.

The album, released Friday, dominated charts in 14 countries including Thailand, Taiwan, and Russia. It also secured positions within the top 10 in 29 countries including the United States, France, and Japan.

"Rich Man" swept China's digital music platforms, capturing first place on QQ Music's overall and EP digital album sales charts while earning "Platinum" certification for surpassing 1 million yuan (about $140 million) in sales revenue. The album also topped Kugou Music's digital album sales chart and Tencent Music's K-pop rankings.

The title track of the same name climbed to 10th place on domestic streaming platform Melon's Top 100 chart as of 1:40 p.m. Saturday, also claiming the top spot on Japanese music platform AWA's real-time trending chart.

The record features six tracks in a range of styles, including hip hop, R&B, and pop. The title track "Rich Man" is described as a dance song driven by rough electric guitar riffs and an addictive topline, paired with shifting band sounds meant to highlight the group’s vocals and energy.

"We all really liked the fact that we didn’t portray the meaning of 'Rich Man' literally through money or through like luxury, and it was portrayed more creatively," aespa member Giselle told British music magazine NME on Friday. "It was more about being happy and confident with yourself, rich in a mindful way."

Kim Dong-young davekim0807@ajupress.com

[K-Pop] aespa's "Rich Man" album tops iTunes charts in 14 countries