Lim Young-woong's Albums: Harmony of Old and New—Explosive Dual Success on Melon

Singer Lim Young-woong is continuing his unrivaled presence on Melon, driving both his past albums and new releases to simultaneous success. His 2nd full-length album, released over a year ago, has surpassed a staggering 1.6 billion streams, and his new album released to celebrate his 10th debut anniversary also exceeded 100 million streams in just 22 days. He has effectively captured both "long-term success" and the "new release craze" at the same time.

According to Melon's cumulative streaming counts, Lim Young-woong's 2nd full-length album 'IM HERO 2' surpassed 1.6 billion cumulative streams by the end of September. This follows an addition of 100 million streams in about 49 days after recording 1.5 billion on August 12, meaning it has been played an average of about 2.04 million times per day.

The timing of the release is particularly eye-catching. 'IM HERO 2' was released on August 29 last year, meaning it has already been well over a year since its release. Unlike the typical music market where initial interest in new songs cools down quickly, the fact that an album released over a year ago is still accumulating around 2 million streams per day confirms both Lim Young-woong's solid fandom and his mass popularity.

The upward trend of 'IM HERO 2' has been steady. After surpassing 1.4 billion cumulative streams on July 13, it reached 1.5 billion in 30 days, and then surpassed 1.6 billion in about 49 days. Including the title track 'A Moment Like Eternity', a total of 11 songs, such as 'ULSSIGU', 'I'll Become a Wildflower', 'Because It's Raining', 'Don't Look Back', and 'I Understand, I'm Sorry', are driving consistent long-term play.

However, before the run of the old work could even end, the new work also set records. On September 8, Lim Young-woong released the special digital album 'IM HERO 10' to commemorate his 10th debut anniversary, and as of the end of September, this album recorded approximately 112.9 million cumulative streams. It surpassed 100 million streams about 22 days after its release, an explosive speed reaching an average of about 5.14 million plays per day.

'IM HERO 10' contains a total of 10 songs, including the title track 'Tto Tto', which Lim Young-woong participated in writing and composing, as well as new songs and newly arranged versions of existing representative songs such as 'Gather Around', 'Baila', 'Please Be Happy', 'To Us Who Have Lived', and 'New York'. Immediately after release, all songs entered the upper ranks of major music charts, and 'Tto Tto' and 'Gather Around' sat side-by-side at 1st and 2nd place on the Melon HOT100 1 and 2, proving the firepower of the new release.

It is not just records in terms of albums. Lim Young-woong's individual cumulative streams on Melon are also increasing at a fearsome pace. Following surpassing 14.5 billion in mid-September, it exceeded 14.6 billion by the end of the same month. With the old work surpassing 1.6 billion, the new work quickly surpassing 100 million, and his individual cumulative total reaching 14.6 billion, Lim Young-woong's music records are effectively ongoing.

Ultimately, Lim Young-woong is demonstrating both the "power to make people keep listening to old albums" and the "power to make people consume new music as soon as it is released." As a rare spectacle unfolds where an album over a year old races toward 1.6 billion and a brand-new release quickly breaks 100 million, attention is focused on how far Lim Young-woong's long-term success record on Melon will continue.

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