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YG Entertainment announces comebacks for Winner's Mino and Yoon, Blinks say they 'never prioritize Blackpink'

YG debuted their new boy group Treasure amidst Blackpink's highly anticipated comeback. Mino's solo comeback also coincides with the group's first Korean studio album, releasing in October

YG Entertainment has released its comeback schedule for 2020, and it includes solo albums from Winner's Mino and Yoon as well as a comeback from sibling duo Akdong Musician, or AKMU. YG uploaded a statement along with the schedule to their social media, and it immediately got Winner's fans excited. The group's last releases included the single 'Hold', which dropped earlier this year in March and featured AKMU's Lee Su-hyun in the music video, and their third studio album 'Remember', which dropped in April.

The group couldn't promote the album as a whole, however, owing to member Kim Jin-woo (who goes by 'Jinwoo' or 'Jinu') enlisting for his mandatory military service just before the album's release. Member Lee Seung-hoon enlisted not long after. Mino and Seungyoon (who goes by 'Yoon') have not revealed any plans to enlist yet, but in the interim, the two are getting the chance to drop some new music.

Following the news of new music from YG artistes, fans were naturally excited. Some expressed disbelief, owing largely to criticisms YG has faced for how poorly they promote their artistes. Sharing YG's comeback schedule, which includes Blackpink's pre-release singles and their upcoming album as well as the debut of YG's new boy group Treasure, one fan asked, "Hey @ygent_official you sure you are not sick right? Those are really real, right? YG artist will dominate the half of Year of 2020," while another said, "Wow! YG going wild."

Other fans saw this as YG finally stepping up their game and delivering on their promises. One tweet, which included an image of YG's rising stocks, read, "YG RISE! Spoil your fans with a lot of content and you will gain a lot of love! BP, Treasure, AKMU and Mino’s solo. iKON and BB comeback are what’s left @ygent_official."

Winner fans were soon sharing their excitement online. One fan said, "Mino full album, LETSSS GOOO," adding, "Waiting for Yoon's." One fan said, "MINO SOLO ALBUM WITH 10 NEW SONGS IN OCTOBER THIS IS NOT A DRILL," another stated, "SONG MINO LEGGOOO!" and one fan shared, "MINO ALBUM IN OCTOBER CAN YOU HEAR ME SCREAM."

But amid the celebrations, some Blackpink fans expressed serious disappointment. The issue, it appears, is with YG's consistent failure to meet fan's demands when it comes to promoting Blackpink's music. The group, who debuted in 2016, to massive success, has set and broken so many records that it's hard to keep track. They're also set to drop a new single featuring Selena Gomez later this month. And while other agencies might take the opportunity to revel in that, YG has been relatively tame in how much they have promoted the upcoming single as well as the album, which drops in October. But in addition to the alleged lack of promotion, fans are also upset that the other comebacks all seem to coincide with Blackpink's. Treasure debuted amid the release of Blackpink's two singles, and AKMU, Mino, and Yoon are all seemingly returning around the time 'Blackpink: The Album' drops.

One evidently dejected fan shared, "No matter how many records they break, no matter what crazy levels of success they reach, YG entertainment will never prioritize Blackpink. It's so sickening." Another said, "So Mino is coming with a full album in October, it's not his fault at anyways and I actually like him, but we're just mad at YG for pushing other artists in the same month as BP first June and now October."

And soon, Blinks were starting to feel particularly slighted by Mino's comeback, specifically because YG is yet to give Blackpink members Jisoo, Lisa, and Rosé solos. One fan stated, "It's over, we're never getting the rest of the members' solos," while another said, "YG giving men with no audience comebacks doesn't sit right with me."

Some fans took a moment to remind their fellow Blinks that Mino had done nothing to earn the hate. After all, Winner, who debuted in 2013, has been active for far longer and seeing as the remaining members will be enlisting at some point as well, it's only fair they get a shot at a comeback. One fan tweeted, "Please don't hate Mino. Hate the company."

Other fans soon tweeted in agreement, redirecting their anger towards YG instead, and demanding an answer. One fan stated, "SORRY FOR BEING DISRESPECTFUL, CONGRATS TO MINO AND WINNER BUT YGE!!!!!!!! ARE YOU HAVING AMNESIA????? WHY YOU ALWAYS RELEASE STATEMENT ABOUT THE MEMBERS' SOLO WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN FULFILL IT. I'M SO ANNOYED RN YOU RT."

YG hasn't commented on the fans' anger just yet, but given that the Blinks have been steadily campaigning for better management of the group for years, YG might not have the luxury of staying silent for much longer.