A2O LITE’s ‘NEON’ hits No. 1 on Melon real-time chart just 26 hours after release

After releasing the music on the 13th at 6 PM, it recorded 1st place on the 14th at 8 PM, just 26 hours later, and maintained its position until 1 PM on the 15th. As the first music from the multinational 9-member group with an average age of about 15 years old achieved chart success immediately after release, Lee Soo-man's resumption of domestic music activities and the debut stage of the new group are receiving attention together.

Online users who encountered the debut stage and music left reactions saying they were reminded of former SM artists such as BoA, Girls' Generation, and f(x). One sentiment expressed was, "It feels like they gathered as many people as BoA to debut them as f(x)." A2O LITE held a joint debut show with the 15-member boy group A2O SOUL on the 12th at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do. The members of the two teams total 24 people. During the debut show, Lee Soo-man also introduced content plans that combine music with technology.

‘NEON’, which rose to the top of the charts in 26 hours

A2O LITE's debut song ‘NEON’ was released on the 13th at 6 PM. The song first took 1st place on the Melon real-time chart at 8 PM the following day, the 14th. This was 26 hours after the release. The 1st place record continued until 1 PM on the 15th. Following the release of the music, it rose to the top within a little over a day and maintained its ranking until the following afternoon. The original report stated that along with the performance on the Melon real-time chart, reactions to the music and performance continued on SNS and online communities immediately after the debut.

‘NEON’ is an electronic pop song that repeats the title with varying pitches. It places vocal repetitions over a heavy bass, with the texture of electronic sounds and repetitive composition forming the core of the song. The original report pointed out the sense of highly unique electronic pop that f(x) presented through these electronic sounds and repetitions. The song also includes sections that highlight high notes and a dance break. It is a composition that contains both listening elements and the performance to be shown on stage. The members powerfully executed dynamic choreography, transferring the intensity of the music to the stage with energy in every movement. Yoo Young-jin, who has worked with Lee Soo-man for a long time since the SM era, participated in the lyrics, composition, and performance of ‘NEON’.

Composed of members with Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and American nationalities

A2O LITE consists of Yeong, Bora, and A-yun from Korea; Siri, Merci, and Ai Qing from China; Himeki from Japan; Rada from Thailand; and Oa, who holds dual American and Japanese nationality. It is a multinational team of nine people with various nationalities and backgrounds. The original report introduced the group's average age as approximately 15 years old. According to a reference article, Ai Qing is a 13-year-old member, and after the members' visuals and stage were revealed, reactions appeared online saying they were reminded of former SM artists. One user wrote, "It's scary because they still have the sense," and another user reacted, "Wow, it's goosebumps how their sense hasn't died."

The joint debut show for the two teams was held on the 12th at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do. A2O Entertainment revealed the girl group A2O LITE and the boy group A2O SOUL together. A2O SOUL consists of 15 members, making a total of 24 rookies when the two teams are combined. After the debut show, reactions continued online regarding not only the member composition but also the music, choreography, and stage production. A reference article included content that a user mentioned the song length of over 3 minutes, the dance break, and the high note parts, reminding them of BoA, f(x), SHINee, and aespa. The original report also quoted an evaluation from a fan who saw the debut stage, stating that the names of BoA, Girls' Generation, and f(x) were mentioned together.

A2O vision combining existing experience and technology

The creative method explained by Lee Soo-man in a previously released interview is to look back at what already exists and transform or reconstruct it. He also revealed a vision to create good singers and groups and, through them, present good content. While the names of former SM artists were mentioned alongside the music and stage of A2O LITE, the original report introduced this in connection with the direction of developing the production experience Lee Soo-man has built into new content. However, what was emphasized as the starting point in the production vision he presented is music. His thought is that the song must be good to lead to dance, music videos, and production.

In the debut show, content utilizing technology was also introduced besides music. It is the 4DGS technology that films artists from various angles and implements them in a three-dimensional space. A2O presents an experience where fans can appreciate artists from their desired location and viewpoint, and also announced communication content such as video talk shows. The method of appreciating artists by selecting the location and viewpoint where the fan views the screen is one of the technology utilization plans revealed at the debut show. The original report stated that along with these technological attempts, music was chosen as the starting point for differentiation. A2O LITE will begin full-scale activities after recording the chart performance for the debut song ‘NEON’. The plans announced at the debut show are in a direction that deals with music, performance, and video content together.

Resuming domestic activities after leaving SM... controversies raised immediately after debut

When Lee Soo-man sold his SM shares to HYBE in 2023, he entered into an agreement that limits competing businesses such as domestic album producing. Afterward, he presented the girl group A2O MAY in China, and after the agreement period ended, he intensified domestic activities. According to the reference article, the agreement in question expired in February this year. This debut show was the occasion where Lee Soo-man revealed A2O LITE and A2O SOUL under the name of A2O Entertainment.

Immediately after A2O LITE's debut, allegations of unpaid wages related to member Ai Qing's parents were also raised, centered around Chinese online communities. A media report, citing local Chinese media, stated that they claimed all employees at an education-related company in Beijing, where Ai Qing's mother serves as the legal representative and her father serves as the auditor, had experienced unpaid wages since 2024. It was also reported that although the employees agreed to installment payments after labor mediation, Ai Qing's parents only fulfilled the promise for the first 3 months and then delayed wages again. The report also included that employees presented a promissory note for unpaid wages of approximately 40,000 yuan and contents of demanding conversations as evidence. On a corporate information platform, it appeared that two cases of court compulsory execution against the company and Ai Qing's parents were filed on August 31, and the compulsory execution amount was reported to be approximately 3.45 million yuan. However, local media reports stated that it is not clear whether the parents are on the list of habitual defaulters or whether the entire compulsory execution amount is unpaid wages. At the time of the report, Lee Soo-man's side did not release a separate position.

A2O LITE began full-scale activities after recording 1st place on the charts with the debut song ‘NEON’. A2O introduced communication content such as 4DGS technology, fan-participatory viewing methods, and video talk shows at the debut show. Lee Soo-man revealed 24 rookies through the two teams, A2O LITE and A2O SOUL, and the company presented a content plan that combines music, performance, and technology.

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