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'TWICE Restock': ONCEs slam JYPE as Republic Records signs their bands Stray Kids, Itzy

Fans point out the difference of treatment between JYPE's TWICE and their newer K-pop groups

On February 11, Universal Music Group announced through Billboard that they were expanding their partnership with JYPE. While their record label Republic Records previously had only signed JYPE’s girl group TWICE in 2020, they have now also taken on JYPE’s fourth-gen groups Stray Kids and Itzy. Citing the success that TWICE got in USA thanks to the American label, they shared that they would also be helping Stray Kids and Itzy grow in USA.

Republic Records shared that they had “helped TWICE land two top 10 albums on the Billboard 200, as well as the girl group’s first Hot 100 and Pop Airplay hit with the English-language single ‘The Feels’.” They would further be helping Stray Kids, Itzy and TWICE extend their global popularity. And while Stray Kids and Itzy fans are celebrating their favorites’ newest venture, the news hasn’t gone over well with TWICE’s fans.

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TWICE albums out of stock for a year

While TWICE is one of the biggest third-gen girl groups with global popularity, they have often struggled with their physical album sales. Since their debut in 2015, they yet to have a million-seller album. And fans feel that this is because JYPE is sabotaging them by not restocking enough albums even when there is a demand. This argument is backed up by the fact that the K-pop group has no problem in the digital market with their last single ‘The Feels’ going viral and crossing millions of streams and downloads, topping iTunes and other digital charts including Billboard.

Amidst the news of JYPE expanding their partnership with Republic Records that claims to have helped TWICE in the American market, ONCEs (TWICE’s fandom) have decided to use the momentum to bring attention to the K-pop group’s physical sales. While their last album ‘Formula of Love’ went through several obstacles as it was out of stock even during the pre-order period, it made 819K sales. Fans have been trending ‘restock TWICE albums’ as it has been a year since all of their albums went out of stock. They also called out Republic for not helping restock while taking credit for ‘The Feels’ popularity in USA.

Stray Kids and ITZY fans celebrated with tweets like, “You made it, boys,” and “Let’s celebrate ITZY signing with a US Label.”

'Where is the help'

Meanwhile TWICE fans made tweets like, “TWICE RESTOCK @jypnation @JYPETWICE RESTOCK TWICE ALBUMS!!! It's been a whole YEAR since the last restocking of TWICE's old albums, and WE WANT TO BUY! JYPE artists get constant restocking except TWICE. ONCE require a massive restock of old and new albums.” One fan was indignant, “WHERE IS THE HELP?? IN WHICH PART??” Another added, “We never expect anything from you guys and you always reach the disappoint in major levels =_= JYPE AND REPUBLIC RECORDS DO YOUR JOB RESTOCK TASTE OF LOVE ON TARGET AND TWICE SHOP.” 

A ONCE posted, “In the end we have to keep begging for jype to restock twice albums when they overstock their other artists. fans want to spend money on twice but they refuae to make twice bigger. twice takes the first step, open the way for others, but they don't let them go all the way.” Another angry fan said, “ONCEs help the girls grow, not you or jype u can't even restock their albums helped grow.” 

A ONCE shared, “Republic and jype throwing twice’s name left and right to show the success their partnership has but its just funny to me how that partnership didn’t help twice in the slightest and they had once and twice carrying themselves in everything.” One fan tried to explain why they were angry, “No one is disregarding your artist's hardwork. Ever since miss A mishap, twice has been the lab rat, poison tester, the elder sister who takes all the burden so that their juniors don't have to go through with it. They test with twice and do better jobs for the other groups.”

'ONCEs have beef with Republic Records'

With the three fandoms also dragging each other, some fans tried to clear the air, “Onces have beef with @RepublicRecords not Stays or Midzys The fact is 2 years have passed but all Twice got was the bare minimum and now that RR signed ITZY and SKz, they suddenly claim RR helped Twice. Set your expectations, if JYPe disappointed you, Republic will do the same.”

An Itzy fan commented, “I’ll just say this, yes twice had a big contribution to making the groups of jyp be involved with RR, but itzy was already achieving so much without the label. So kindly stop saying itzy’s success here in the U.S is because of twice, don’t discredit.” A Stray Kids fan added, “I'm so happy stray kids became million sellers before the US label deal because this achievement was theirs from organic growth only and no one can steal that from them.”

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