Rookie girl group BabyMonster (BABYMONS7ER) from YG Entertainment has finally confirmed its debut lineup. Five months have passed since the group was officially announced on January 1, indicating the significant investment YG Entertainment has made into Baby Monster. However, the extended debut promotion has raised some concerns about potential setbacks.

BabyMonster, which officially announced its launch on January 1, carried out its debut survival show 'Last Evaluation' from March. The purpose was to select the debut group from seven trainees. The eighth episode, revealing the final lineup, was released on the 28th of last month, and after a two-week period, the final debut group was announced on the 12th. The debut group, initially announced by YG's executive producer Yang Hyun-suk, consisted of members Luca, Pharita, Ah-hyeon, Haram, and Chiquita. Rora joined another YG girl group, while Asa was set to participate in a new project in Japan.

However, Producer Yang Hyun-suk admitted, "The fans who wanted a seven-member debut were close to 98%, 99%. There was confusion about whether to stick to the original plan or not," and eventually, he decided to debut all seven members. After a period of preparation, the seven-member Baby Monster is expected to officially enter the music industry this fall.

BabyMonster's debut process reminds one of the group Stray Kids. Like BabyMonster, Stray Kids also debuted through a survival show where nine trainees from their company competed for seven spots. Although two trainees were eliminated during the broadcast, all members ended up debuting after viewers voted more for a nine-member debut than a seven-member one during the final episode. At the time of Stray Kids' debut, the support rate for a nine-member debut reached 96%. Executive producer Yang Hyun-suk also admitted that the overwhelming support for a seven-member debut was the reason for his change of heart. Unless severe flaws are shown, viewers naturally sympathize and root for the trainees. Given the choice between partial debut and full group debut, most people will naturally choose the latter.

Whether YG's decision to debut all seven members was part of a scripted plan or if they actually intended to eliminate two members remains unclear. However, the strategy of consistently presenting content and maintaining exposure over a long period certainly seems intentional. By showing various aspects and gathering people, they can debut with a solid core fandom. The fact that over half a million viewers flocked to BabyMonster's live debut announcement proves they have already secured a significant fandom. Moreover, the slow and steady promotion allows for individual focus on each member.

However, there are not only advantages to a prolonged debut promotion. Baby Monster, which announced its launch on January 1, invested three months just to introduce seven trainees. Suddenly, the announcement of a survival show set the debut back to square one. The two-month-long survival show ended without any eliminations, and BabyMonster was back where it started. Five months have passed since the launch announcement, but it may feel like they're continually introducing members rather than progressing towards debut. Meanwhile, their competitors are showing direct activities, not just promotions, which could potentially divert attention. As producer Yang Hyun-suk himself said, they may be "wasting precious time on something that already has a predetermined answer."

The reason why YG is investing so much effort is clear: BabyMonster is a girl group that absolutely cannot fail. BabyMonster is the girl group that YG is launching after a whopping seven years. BLACKPINK, which has grown into a globally recognized girl group, has its contract expiring this year. Reports suggest that all members are leaning towards renewing their contracts, but it's too early to breathe a sigh of relief. Even if all members renew, the emergence of a new girl group capable of attracting a new fandom remains crucial.

Moreover, observing the current leading fourth-generation girl groups, they've shown impressive momentum, capturing both fandom and popularity since their debut albums. The debut of BabyMonsters, a product of the large entertainment company YG, is inevitably compared to these already established girl groups. For these various reasons, the promotion period for Baby Monsters' debut is being extended. The strategy of YG to gradually infiltrate by showcasing the members over a long period is gaining attention- will it turn out to be a 'masterstroke,' or end up being a 'penny-wise, pound-foolish' move? The world watches with anticipation as the story unfolds.

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