The virtual idol group PLAVE has set a new record by entering Melon's prestigious "Billions Club" in the shortest time ever.

Melon's Hall of Fame comprises of the "Millions Album" category, celebrating albums that achieve over 1 million streams within 24 hours of release, and the "Artists Category (Billions Club)," which honors artists who have surpassed 1 billion cumulative streams since their debut. 

On July 17, PLAVE achieved 1.00362 billion streams for all their released songs, securing their place in the Billions Club on the Melon music platform. As of July 2024, Melon services around 3 million artists, but only 109 have reached the milestone of 1 billion cumulative streams.

PLAVE's entry into the Billions Club came just 494 days after their debut on March 12, 2023, breaking the previous record of 498 days set by NewJeans.

Earlier, PLAVE also stood out in Melon's 2024 Mid-Year Review in the Millions Album category. Their second mini-album, 'ASTERUM: 134-1,' recorded the highest streams among all Millions of Albums in the first half of the year. The title track 'WAY 4 LUV' amassed a total of 104 million streams, making it the most-streamed song by any artist in the first half of 2024.

This achievement is particularly significant as all 16 songs PLAVE has released since their debut are self-written and composed by the members. Their music not only reflects the group's unique universe but also their affection for their fandom, PLLI, along with inside jokes and messages to their past selves.

The dedication of PLLIs, their fans, played a crucial role in this success. Recognizing that streaming numbers are a key metric for virtual idol groups, the fandom consistently encouraged streaming efforts. Inspired by a member's comment, "Let's work like oxen," the phrase "Stream like oxen" became popular, leading to the creation of a dedicated social media account and website, "PLAVE Streaming Team," for organized efforts.

Moreover, the mini-album 'ASTERUM: 134-1' ranked 4th in "The 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2024 (So Far): Staff Picks" by Billboard staff. The album was praised for its advanced use of motion capture technology and the deep musical involvement of all five members. Among the tracks, "Virtual Idol" received accolades for its clever critique of those who do not consider PLAVE a real group.

In February, PLAVE made history as the first virtual idol group to win 1st place on a terrestrial music broadcast with 'ASTERUM: 134-1.' Their first solo concert saw over 70,000 fans logging in simultaneously during the pre-sale ticket opening, showcasing their popularity. Rapidly gaining traction, PLAVE is not just a new type of idol but is also writing a new chapter in K-pop history.

Additionally, PLAVE members are nominated in various categories on the fan voting service "Giftree." Member Ye Jun is currently leading in the "Star Full of Refreshing Charms" category, Ha Min in the "Golden Maknae Star" category, and Noah in the "Weekly Popular Star" category. The top vote-getters in each category receive a week of subway digital billboard support, a WikiTree Instagram card news feature, and a promotional article package. Fans can easily access the voting service by searching "Giftree" in English on the portal.

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