2013 is off to a great start in K-pop with the return of some of the top acts in the music industry. Even though digital sales have been steadily taking over the physical album sales, this year many idols have enjoyed high album sales.
The ranking isn’t exactly scientific as album releases vary by date, and certain albums have more than one part or include repackage editions. But still, when’s a ranking ever not fun?
Here is a list of the top 10 artists who sold the most albums in 2013 so far from January 1 to April 30 courtesy of Gaon:
1. SHINee
283,189 albums sold (Part 1 & Part 2)
‘Dream Girl: Misconceptions of You‘ released February 2
Why So Serious?: Misconceptions of Me‘ released April 26
SM Entertainment
2. Girls’ Generation
282,760 albums sold
‘I Got a Boy‘ released January 1
SM Entertainment
3. Jaejoong
206,740 albums sold (EP & Repackaged Album)
‘I‘ released January 17
‘Y‘ released February 26
C-JeS Entertainment
JYJ3’s Note: Kim Jaejoong is the Solo Artist that ranked high in the Top 10 of GAON Chart. He released 2 MINI-Albums with limited editions.
4. INFINITE
158,084 albums sold
‘New Challenge‘ released March 21
Woollim Entertainment
5. Cho Yong Pil
150,000 albums sold
‘Hello‘ released April 24
YPC Production
6. CNBLUE
118,666 albums sold
‘RE:BLUE‘ released January 14
FNC Entertainment
7. INFINITE-H
91,958 albums sold
‘Fly High‘ released January 10
Woollim Entertainment
8. B.A.P
77,990 albums sold
‘One Shot‘ released February 12
TS Entertainment
9. TEEN TOP
76,917 albums sold
‘No.1‘ released February 25
T.O.P Media
10. Super Junior-M
50,505 albums sold
‘Break Down‘ released January 7
SM Entertainment
JYJ3 
i’m still proud with what JJ achieved from the sold albums
congratulations JJ
Our dearest Jaejoong at number 3. This achievement can hardly be misunderstood by those who follow music anywhere – inside Korea or anywhere else. With NO promotion possible in Korea, he’s in the Top 3, only bested by 2 of SM’s relentlessly promoted and hyped acts. This is an AMAZING achievement, but then I’ve heard the album and it is great, truly great and was a great critical success as well. This fact in a way sets it above both SHINee and SNSD, but only charts are counted so that’s what this is. I only wish he had been given more time to expand on this long awaited direction that he has said over and over he feels a special affinity for. As we have seen, there was time to do more and then time to do more full length concerts. I still wonder why he didn’t go that way but then perhaps he was counting on JYJ’s activities to start up as summer approaches. I just hope he allows himself to dwell on this success – people often don’t – they only dwell and take to heart their failures. And this is a success against all odds on a grand scale.
THIS!!!!
Though truthfully, i dont think he would be at number 3 if his albums werent poduced at a limited amount only -if CJes had recorded more…that sales number would be way higher…maybe even number 1…his fans didnt have much of a choice after his album sold out…T_T
SM achievements isnt even comparable to this great man becasue he did this WITHOUT the glitz and glamour…n promotion and something totally new (ROCK) from what his fans are used to. Apart from a few concerts, i dont think he has recorded anything in this genre before.
he breaks ll expectations and rises up to a new level everytime…he truly thrives in adversity
JYJ Fighting!
Feel glad that I helped a little bit by buying his album.
Thank you!
@shivyn
Thanks for the compliment – I loved your comment too. I guess we can now all understand WHY SM has tried so desperately to shut down the careers of the members of JYJ. THIS sort of thing confirms their worst fears. Showing everyone in Korea that not only is their life after walking away from SM, but there is SUCCESS and MONEY to be had if you have real talent and real charisma, not the puffed up, hyped up manufactured kind. This is just exactly what SM has been trying so hard to keep from happening.
What Lillbaiyu said!! 🙂
Tell them again Lil~*
@ lilibaiyu
i totally second that!! i find SM artist (though goodlookinig) manufactured too…very fake…and i especially have a thing against the ones who hurt these three boys and those who believed those lies because even I as a new fans had the curtsey to READ and UNDERSTAND the situation before makiing stupd and naive brainless assumptions.
And you’re right. These boys have REAL talent and it shone through…i sometimes feel like showing SMmy middle finger and saying that despite all their so called ‘Elitness’, they got scared of three little boys barely into adulthood (at the time) but look at them now..despite all that SM tried to do..they are stil here…they are still standing!! and what is SM doing? Dancing in its boxes!
So proud of JJ! He managed to sell well sespite not being able to promote. I hope he reaches #1.
That’s it. Solo act without TV promo or massive advertising, KJJ/JYJ ranked HOT on the chart. You Rock Baby!
Congratulations Kim Jaejoong!
Take note CJes, you better learn for the next time (If ever Jae will have solo album under your company). It’s not the banning but the management company itself stole the chance for being #1. If only there were enough albums during the first weeks and month, continuous replenishment of stocks in offline stores. I can see unknown Kpop idols’ album in our local stores but not a shadow of I or Y. Jaejoong may not be known as one of the best singers in SK but he can sell that much with a new music genre and with the help of just local artists only, What a miss, hope next time is better.
yup, there is a huge demand for Jae’s album, but it’s not CJes’s fault there are not enough copies.
A&G is a small company with small production capacity and they work with indie bands predominantly.With capacity like that, thay just can produce 50000 copies,maximum 100000 copies if they force it.
i think people forget about what happened when Cjes asking them to produce extra copies for In Heaven album.
A&G overwhelmed because it and made In Heaven delay so much
sadly, so true.
i can’t blame Cjes for all. but then, Cjes went all out in producing junsu’s album if i recalled. they released enough for the offline stores and there’s no short stocks. i wonder if junsu’s album was predicted for some times so they have more preparation, while JJ’s album was an idea coming all of sudden so there’s not enough preparation. hmmm… i hope it’s the latter
i don’t think Cjes just went all out in producing Junsu. Junsu and Jaejoong share same amount in their album production.
just when it come to jaejoong,the album is out of stock because Jaejoong has large amount of international fans.
sure,three of them popular internationally but you have to admit that Jaejoong has the largest international fans among JYJ.
even, if Cjes asking extra copies i don’t think A&G can afford it, if they can pretty sure it will need longer time .
@yukasato
From what i’ve seen and observed, whatever support CJES gave to Junsu’s album, they did the same for Jaejoong’s. Maybe it was poor planning on their part to not have sufficient stock for Jae’s album, but to suggest that CJES favoured Junsu just doesn’t make sense. Any achievement by any of the JYJ members is a reflection of CJES’ success. If, like what we have all established, CJES works for JYJ and not the other way round, then it would be silly of CJES to want to sabotage their client’s efforts.
In a management company and an artist relationship, the former cannot just wash its hand and throw the blame to a third party when it failed to deliver . Poor planning and underestimation thus it didn’t meet the requirement of it’s client, that’s plain and simple. Why mention A&G maximum capacity of 100k albums when it had pressed 120k in the first batch? What was CJes basis of ordering 120k only. And why are you mentioning In Heaven, that’s years ago. In business, one can’t just throw excuses and blame to other party. When you failed, you failed.
It seems with the little bits of info avail, that the boys have a big part in how their affairs are handled. I could be one hundred percent wrong, but cjes seems to treat them with the utmost respect. Jae might have underestimated his popularity and agreed on the numbers? He seems to always praise the other members and put himself down so that’s why I’m thinking that, but again it’s a wild guess. Yes, they failed in predicting the numbers but being a new company, in all fairness to cjes, I think they are trying to do their best for the guys. It’s awesome that Jae did so well as solo artist, though I’m not surprised with that priceless voice of his.
@Kris errr…JJ is ONE of the BEST SINGERS in SK. it just somewhat he was overshadowed by our Junchan. the vocal coaches and critics admit this. but oh well, the said “pretty boy can’t sing” was what limiting JJ, from debut till this time. some people just don’t want to open their eyes and ears. (his beauty was like two side of sword)
the next time JYJ gain their freedom, the one thing that I wish Cjes to do is to put JJ (and NOT Junsu, he got his share already no matter how much i like watching him singing on stage) in an immortal song or i am a singer rather than some random spot in variety show (Running Man and law of the Jungle Excluded, lol)
back to topic :
for someone who didn’t (couldn’t) appear on TV and promoting his music freely, what JJ achieved is amazing
his fandom locally and internationally are unimaginable.
I’m still amazed by what JJ can do.
@yukasato
” JJ is ONE of the BEST SINGERS in SK”
🙂 as in capslock, lol
For me he is THE BEST, when I listen to music I don’t care about those rankings by vocal coaches and critics, it is just my audio and my feelings are programmed to like Jaejoong’s voice and singing more.
Kris
I did care about what the rankings, vocal coaches, or professionals in the industry had to say only because I find it interesting and like knowing the WHY, but I think you may have the right ticket because it doesn’t make me like the singers they choose any more or less, so why should I even care. Everyone has their own personal preference. Bob Dyl–, a very successful American musician who has won many awards and ranked highly, has a voice that is not to my personal preference. I respect him and admire his accomplishments, but as a singer, his nasal tone is not my choice to listen to even if he were ranked as the best.
To me, Jaejoong has a gift of pure expression and his incredible voice touches you deeply (his acting is the same, he’s not afraid or ashamed to express even though his image may be hurt). And like you, I won’t care what anyone says, to me his voice is the best. The best ever.
I wonder how many more albums would sell if he did a world tour like…
@kris
“it is just my audio and my feelings”… love it, same here (⌒‿⌒)
@ljyjNjoy
“aejoong has a gift of pure expression and his incredible voice touches you deeply (his acting is the same, he’s not afraid or ashamed to express even though his image may be hurt)”
I think the exact same thing!! (*¯︶¯*) ♥
@IjyjNjoy and @makiforjyj
” Jaejoong has a gift of pure expression and his incredible voice touches you deeply …”
This is what sets him apart from others. I’ve listened to a lot of singers with great voices in my lifetime, but only very few have touched me so deeply, and Jaejoong is one of them
In Nov 2011, a Korean vocal coach listed the best 30 male idols with great singing ability. It was a profesional assesment. The assesment was based on 5 indicators: tone, treble, skill, volume and expresiveness. Each idicator was assesed and grade seperately and then summed up to get a total grade. Junsu ranked no 1, Jaejoong ranked no 2, Yoochun ranked no 11. Yesung from super junior was ranked no 7 by the way. There are a lot of article about this. This is one of the link http://www.intuned.com/n/best-30-male-idols-with-singing-ability-by-korean-vocal-coach::3907.html
But there is also another ranking from 2012, and I think JYJ fans would not agree because Junsu just ranked 3rd, lol, and no Jaejoong but as I said I depend on my own ears and heart not from a vocal coach.
http://www.gurupop.com/fanclubs/vixx/43118-RANDOM-PLAY-Who-the-Best-Male-Idols-with-Singing-Ability-by-Korean-Vocal-Coach
why do they always choose one person in such polls ?
I mean even in suju there’s more than one ( three actually) .
just take all the good singers and rank them ….ALL
I check the site ^__^. Well the assesment there is not clear. There was no exact and clear indicators whatsoever of the assesment. There was no grades of each indicator. For me the previous assesment was so far the most extensive and professional and detached from personal biases. As for why in the other one Jaejoong’s name wasn’t there, my theory is, at that time Jaejoong was almost non exist in the singing arena (he was busy with dramas). So they passed his name. Anyway, I prefer to choose the assesment that suit me the most ^__^. Luckily, the one I prefer this time is very objective and profesional. (It’s not always the case I admit lol)
@kris
The singers we all favor is such a personal, subjective thing, isn’t it? I bet we all have our favorites and they all differ wildly from each other. Today I learned, for instance, that for some people, JGS is their favorite singer! Go figure. 🙂
And this is not a ranking but a review, I just want to share it to everybody who hasn’t read it.
http://www.yam-mag.com/reviews/music-reviews/jaejoong-kim-i/
Kim Jaejoong’s voice is a masterpiece, a complex portrayal of raw emotion that twists and turns, navigating listeners through something completely unlike the whimpering mewls of teen heartthrobs.
Though comparatively smoother than veterans of the genre (Rock), his almost dove-like coo wraps around grit and fire to produce a complicated contradiction of sound: at once light and soft, and then rough and textured as if run through with the jagged shards of a broken heart.
Tackling a genre so blatantly disparate from anything he’s done before is a gamble. He would either be lauded for his audacity or condemned for treading on territory reserved for those with more rugged musical pasts. However, Jaejoong takes the gamble hands first. Having written and co-produced every song on the EP, he was not afraid to delve deeper into himself to give listeners an unfettered view of the humanity underneath the public persona. Such an unbridled unveiling of self runs the risk of becoming self-indulgent, even maudlin. However, the sincerity in the vocal brings the lyrics to a shimmering newness that’s a testament to his absolute need to purge whatever lay trapped in his soul.
Wow!!! Thanks for sharing this great review. The writer totally absorbed him, awesome to read what you feel. I love the first paragraph:
“Kim Jaejoong’s voice is a masterpiece, a complex portrayal of raw emotion that twists and turns, navigating listeners through something completely unlike the whimpering mewls of teen heartthrobs.” She hit the bull’s eye!
woooooooooow ………greatest…
I truly feel this was fixed but JJ Congratulations as I have heard Shinee and they are not that good cute but ok. Girls generation another factory remix of all the old female groups. I think the numbers are a little low on JJ’s album sales Ok yes I am pouting SM top 2 I don’t think so.
Woohoo…yay yeahhhh!!! So proud of him!! He’s one heck of a relentless fighter!! Doing sooo good without any broadcasting promotions…amazing,simply amazing!!! ^^♥
Wow that’s impressive! Really really impressive! He almost surpassed the 9-membered girls who has every broadcast station openned wide before them. This is impressive! major! He must be feeling hight right about now!
that was great… im a proud of u JJ!!
I always had the feeling that if JJ ever recorded a solo album he would break the bank–and he did! This is a great lesson. He should really get the gears going when (and if) he produces a second solo album. They should press as many albums as possible and promote him to the skies! He has incredibly devoted fans who will support all of his projects–there just needs to be enough product available so they can purchase.
Congratz JJ. Proud of you >.<
I just bought JJ’s repackaged album Y this week, even if it cost an arm and a leg. I know I’m a little late but boy was it worth it (just no splurging for the next month). I was told that was the only copy, how lucky was I? Looked for other JYJ albums but they didn’t have any. The sales clerk promised she’ll call the office and inquire, but normally they’re in short supply. I was told people are looking for them!!! I hope CJes will produce more next time so we can also help bring our boys to the top of the charts (never mind living off canned food for the next year!)
Congrats JJ. Outcomes like this is what draws people to JYJ. Despite all odds and setbacks, true talent cannot be stopped and put down. When i listen to JYJ songs, I can tell which one is JJ’s coz his voice is really quite unique. I can almost fall asleep with it. I’m sure it’ll give me a restful night with beautiful dreams (in hindsight, might not be too restful!!) Keep it up, JYJ, and keep on supporting, JYJ fans!!!
good that jyj has new fans like u ^^ 🙂 i really hope cjes has about 500K albums ready for JYJ’s comeback.
well well well Mr. Kim 🙂
WW! Congratulations!!
Im really proud of jj and jaehaerems jyj fans who bought jj’s album…i hope we could break records for jyj this year coz their time for enlistment is getting nearer it worries me…hope we can unite and get no 1 for physical sales this year…jyj fighting!!!
This, without any promotional activities or publicity. daebak~
my sister is one of those loyal JJ fans,she brough two version JJ mini album “I” and “Y” lol
hope JYJ album dong great just like this or hope it whould even be more sucsessful
JJ’s album is only MINI Album and others are FULL Albums. If he makes Full Album, it will be at the top.
And this is JJ alone against idol groups (more than one), if one-by-one, again it will be at the top.
@gladiola
I believe that if Jaejoong had wanted to make a full album he would have. I think the release of the mini-album was his choice and that no one forced him to do or not do anything one way or the other. I believe C-jeS gives the members full creative freedom and then they go about the business of selling what the members deliver to them.
Very proud of him. ❤ Now let's hope for a full album!
All of top 10 are GROUPs except Jaejoong and Cho Yong Pil. For the best selling solo album of all time, Kim Jaejoong ranked no 1 with 206,740 album sold, no 2 is Gdragon “one of a kind” with 204,326 album sold, no 3 is kim Junsu with 127,620 album sold. I’m so proud our boys made it to the top three without any broadcasting promotion ^__^ <3<3<3
@fine day
Me too. So so pleased for them. Here in the U.S. we’ve long understood the power of the “off-the-radar” underground group, signed with no big record company, who comes up from nowhere seemingly on sheer talent and charisma alone and hits the very top in no time at all. JYJ is one of those groups. What they do sells itself. Very VERY few groups have what they have.
I recheck some sites just to make sure. Yup, it confirmed. Kim Jaejoong mini album broke the record to became THE HIGHEST SELLING ALBUM BY SOLO ARTIST IN KOREA. In just 5 days “I” was already sold 140,795 copies. Link http://www.hellokpop.com/2013/02/08/kim-jae-joongs-i-outsells-fellow-member-kim-junsus-tarantalegra-in-5-days/
its like a Korean Thriller album…..sweet
Who’s Bad??
Album sales used to be higher in the past so the 1st gen idols like Heejun, Kangta and HyeSung used to sell 200-300k … so unless they’re talking about just sales since GAON started, G-dragon didn’t hold the record to begin with.
Good job,Jaejoong! With no promotion,limited time to prepare and only a mini album,Jaejoong landed #3.He maybe made more money than the top 2 because of less cost of ad.
@jjeyelash
“He maybe made more money than the top 2 because of less cost of ad.”
Well, I think that’s a given. lol SM singers are subject to the infamous SM accounting system, where their already meager royalty rate is further whittled away by “expenses” they had no control over and for which there is no possibility of disputing. (Remember what JYJ went through trying to get a hard copy of the last accounting they were presented so they could go over it with an attorney. They never did actually get one.) SNSD makes their money from commercial endorsements and CFs and drama roles, for the lucky ones. SM likes to trot out how rich Siwon is but what they fail to mention is that he had family millions to begin with. **rolls eyes** SM. They never miss a trick.
I read Chunnie’s interview in JYJ1000 days magazine. He said when he left SM, HE DIDN’T EVEN HAVE A CAR!! For god sake, not even a f…king car !! Now he has a Porsche, Ferrari, Lexus, Audi, BMW mini cooper (my dream car btw), Range Rover even a Roll Royce Ghost!! AND A YACHT !!! Less than 4 years of leaving SM, now look how rich he became. Not to mention his fast collections of prestigious awards as an actor. Their bravery to stand up against the demon was paid wonderfully. Poor those SM artists ^__^
BTW, that luxurious yacht is priced at 1 billion won ^__^
@fine day
It’s a success story unlike any other – their huge success is unprecedented. They have done exactly what SM feared they would do: show the world SM merely uses and exploits their young singers, tying them to impossible contracts with almost no way out. And everything SM has done to JYJ over the last 3 years has done only one thing: shown the world how evil and corrupt they are. SM has ruined their own reputation, simple as that. The members of JYJ are all millionaires. Their future is full of unlimited possibility.
@lilibaiyu
I wonder how much SNSD get from their CFs, dramas & commercial endorsements. Do they have a separate agency for those ventures, cause I just assumed SM handled them period. In which case I assume SM is also taking the majority of their earnings there too.
* butting in * … if I remember correctly , idols get the most money cut form CF so that’s were they get most of their income .
this is one of the reasons it’s a big thing for them and their fans .
@Sapphire ans meme & jyj
Yes, that’s what I’ve heard too – the idols actually are allowed to keep a large proportion of those revenue streams. This is the common understanding. But album sales, unless the heavens have opened and God has spoken directly to Lee Soo Man about his accounting practices… album sales are still considered an adjunct of “promotion” and are routinely decimated after all the expenses.
ITs not fair south korea broadcast stations still restrict jyj activities till now. JYJ fans should voice out this concern towards the fan web thoroughly, so that our voice can be heard even to the south korea government bodies . JUST NOT FAIR ..
@maria
There is wide-spread corruption and a system of under-the-table pay-offs going on in the K-Entertainment business that has been in place for at least 20 years that I know of. The KFTC (Korean Fair Trade Commission) has tried to shut down this system of undue influence and collusion and failed. SME is at the forefront of offenders here. So when we say, “It’s not fair that this is happening and it needs to stop now” what we are saying to the various program directors at the TV networks, etc. etc. who have been taking money for doing SME’s bidding for decades now is to suddenly grow a conscience and stop taking those pay-offs. THAT’S what is so difficult, that’s what we are fighting: these people’s own inherent self-interest and greed.
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