Hello MYs,
We’re sorry that aespa did not make it to the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Here is an overview of how Billboard calculates points. Billboard considers airplay, streaming and sales (physical and digital.)
Our team along with other MYs (because it was not just us but a lot of MYs buying) we funded bought 1K+ in digital sales within the rules of Billboard. This is evident because as per Billboard Dirty Work’s sold around 1K digital sales in the US last week. We did everything right, even double checking with accounts knowledgeable on Hot 100.
Physical sales made up 46% of Dirty Work’s charting points and all those physical sales were unfortunately not counted. This took away a huge chunk of the points needed to chart. We have no control over these sales, their reporting or their admissibility.
Out of 17K physical sales, we only funded 144 physical sales so no… we along with MYs in our team did not mass buy 18K sales for “Dirty Work.” That would have cost over $100,000… we are not that rich lol! That is a narrative created by antis to discredit aespa and MYs and it is damaging to run with it in the long run.
We have no control over aespa’s physical sales and as a result we could not ensure those would be counted. That was up to SM/ Virgin Music. The physical sales are what cost “Dirty Work’s” its entry to Hot 100.
We did our best within our power to make aespa debut. We are very sorry that the goal did not materialize as we all wanted.