aespa win best international group at TIMA after Lemonade hits US top 10
aespa left Hong Kong with a trophy and two American chart positions to show for it.
The four-member group won the best international group honour at the second annual TMElive International Music Awards, held in Hong Kong on Aug. 22-23, where they headlined alongside Stray Kids, Charlie Puth and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, Billboard reported.
The win followed the release of Lemonade, the group's second studio album. It reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200, the weekly ranking of the most popular albums in the United States. That result gave aespa its third top-10 entry on that chart.
The album's title track also travelled. “Lemonade” reached No. 20 on the Billboard Global 200, which ranks the most popular songs worldwide across streaming and sales.
At the awards, aespa took the stage at Kai Tak Stadium. The set paired “Whiplash” with “Lemonade”, putting an established single next to the new title track for the Hong Kong crowd.
Backstage, member Karina put the charts in perspective. She told Billboard at the event that the group is satisfied if its music gives strength to many people, valuing that response over achievements.
Earlier, aespa spoke to Billboard Korea about LEMONADE, the legacy they hope to leave and their self-described “metallic” identity, the futuristic sound and visual world built around the group since debut.
What makes this stand out is the pairing. A top-10 album in the US is a sales story. A headline slot in Hong Kong is a live story. aespa carried both in the same month.
