Seoul:A2O Lite, the new girl group produced by former SM Entertainment chief Lee Soo-man, quickly rose to prominence by securing the No. 1 spot on South Korea's largest music streaming platform, Melon, shortly after the release of its debut single. However, the group experienced a swift decline to sixth place within hours, as shown by the latest data.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the group's debut single, "Neon," reached the top of Melon's Top 100 chart by 11 p.m. on Wednesday, just 29 hours after its release at 6 p.m. the previous day. This rapid ascent is notable for a rookie group, despite the song dropping to sixth place the following morning. By 10 a.m. Thursday, Soyeon's "I'm Gonna Toesa (feat. Kian84)" reclaimed the No. 1 position.
A2O Lite, a nine-member group, was launched by A2O Entertainment, the company Lee founded after leaving SM Entertainment. The launch coincided with the introduction of a 15-member boy group, A2O Soul, at a media showcase in Goyang, near Seoul, on Monday. This marked Lee's return to the domestic K-pop scene following the expiration of a three-year non-compete agreement earlier this year, which was part of the conditions when he sold his stake in SM Entertainment to Hybe in February 2023.
The group's achievement has drawn attention due to the unconventional approach of "Neon," which diverges from the current K-pop trend of short songs tailored for social media dance challenges. Instead, "Neon" is a longer track, lasting 3 minutes and 28 seconds, and features synchronized choreography, coordinated outfits, high notes, and a dance break, reminiscent of earlier K-pop generations. The song was produced by Yoo Young-jin, known for his work with iconic SM Entertainment acts such as H.O.T., BoA, TVXQ, Girls' Generation, SHINee, and aespa.
A2O Lite has also sparked online interest for its members' appearances, which evoke memories of former SM Entertainment artists. Fans have noted similarities between Aijing and BoA during her debut era, as well as resemblances between Oa and former members of S.E.S. and Girls' Generation. The group features multinational members from South Korea, China, Japan, and Thailand.