Im Young-woong released his second full-length album on August 29, 2025.
About 50,000 fans gathered the night before at listening events held in roughly 50 CGV theaters nationwide.
This release was produced as an album book without an included CD instead of a traditional disc package.
Both the musical message and the environmental reasoning behind the format drew attention.
“Speaking through the live scene” — What happened
The atmosphere was electric.
On August 29, 2025, Im Young-woong released his second studio album, "IM HERO 2."
The day before, on August 28, about 50 CGV cinemas across the country hosted synchronized listening events, and reports say roughly 50,000 fans attended.
At the screenings, new tracks played on large screens and some attendees were moved to tears.
Meanwhile, observers note that the fandom’s cohesion showed up in both numbers and moments.
The scene went beyond a simple listening party.
Clips of fans sitting together and hearing the new songs spread quickly online, and some theaters sold out.
However, the ticketing process exposed problems: overloaded servers and access failures appeared during reservations.
In short, the event both demonstrated Im’s standing and exposed organizational weak points for large-scale fandom gatherings.
- Release date: August 29, 2025
- Listening events: August 28, 2025, about 50 CGV theaters nationwide
- Attendees: about 50,000
Metaphor: the album as a ‘small book’
The format has changed.
The team announced the release as an album book — a booklet of photos and messages in place of a CD.
Producers said the choice was motivated in part by environmental concerns, and this could prompt a broader rethinking of how music is sold in physical form.
Consequently, this move could shift the standard way the industry defines a physical record.
On the other hand, discussions are likely about how to balance collectibility with the fan experience.
- The environmentally mindful production method is the central talking point
- There is a need to reassess the balance between physical ownership and digital consumption
Question: How will this affect charts and accounting?
Counting and charts face a challenge.
An album book without a CD is likely to be excluded from traditional physical-sales tallies.
As a result, official charts and rankings may not fully reflect this release’s popularity.
Historically, many industry metrics were built around physical album sales, and a format change like this pushes for a revision of counting methods.
That said, the change could affect both records and revenue.
Because sales totals play into chart positions and compensation systems, this experiment may force institutional adjustments.
Meanwhile, from the perspective of diversified income—streaming, merchandise, and events—the impact may look different.
- There is uncertainty about how charts and rankings will count album-book sales
- Industry rules and statistical methods may need updating
Affirmative view — The value of fandom and the message
Fandom strength is on display.
First, the roughly 50,000 attendees make the fandom’s ability to mobilize clear.
That number is more than a statistic: it shows fans’ desire to share a listening experience, which amplifies cultural influence.
Fans gathering to feel the music together strengthens the bond between artist and audience, some observers say.
Second, producing the album with environmental concerns in mind is seen as responding to contemporary expectations.
Some fans may accept a reduced physical product if it signals environmental responsibility, and this could spark greener production across the music business.
From this angle, the album book might become a new kind of collectible.
Third, the music itself is receiving praise.
The lead single, "Moments Like Forever" (literal translation of "순간을 영원처럼"), carries a lyrical, life-affirming message that many listeners find comforting.
Thus, the work has the potential to achieve both artistic recognition and social resonance.
- Shared live listening amplifies fandom cohesion and cultural reach
- Eco-minded production could prompt new industry standards
- Musical quality can attract emotional support from fans and the public
Critical view — Concerns about charts, ownership, and operations
Problems remain.
First, the absence of a CD means the release could be left out of official sales tallies, which would disadvantage the artist in formal records and industry metrics.
Because physical sales often factor into revenue shares and chart placements, this format shift may create practical disadvantages unless counting rules change.
Second, there is a potential loss in fan experience.
Many collectors value a tangible CD and the ritual of owning a disc; a booklet of photos and notes may not fully replace that emotional or collectible function for those fans.
Third, operational issues surfaced.
Ticketing servers crashed or became inaccessible during the listening-event booking process because of heavy traffic.
Such technical failures generate frustration among fans and indicate that better technical and managerial preparations are needed for large events.
Fourth, from an industry perspective, shrinking physical album sales could weaken support systems.
As the share of physical revenue declines, artists and labels may face less stable income, and this could eventually affect musical diversity, critics warn.
- Not including a CD could harm official counts and chart placement
- Some fans worry about losing the physical collectible experience
- Operational readiness for mass participation was insufficient
- Reducing physical releases may impact the industry’s revenue structures
Narrative analysis: causes and online reaction
Connections emerge.
Im Young-woong’s wide popularity and the large listening events are partly the result of the expanded audience for trot and other non-mainstream genres in the early to mid-2020s and the sustained visibility he built through TV shows (for example, winning or prominent placement on popular talent programs).
In particular, TV exposure translated into ongoing platform activity that widened his fan base, and this release reaffirmed the emotional link between the artist and his supporters.
Online response has been largely positive.
Many fans and commentators praise the album’s lyrical sensitivity and the environmental intention behind the format. However, complaints about chart counting, the loss of a physical disc, and event management also appear.
These mixed reactions highlight tension between industry change and consumer expectation.
Moreover, the episode underscores how an artist can act not just as a singer but as a brand and a cultural phenomenon.
Consequently, the music business may have to rethink product design, fan services, and the metrics it uses to evaluate success.
- Accumulated fandom and media exposure underlie this success
- Online commentary shows both support and criticism
- Industry and policy responses are being called for
Concluding message: what should be left behind?
Balance is the key.
First, this release reminds us that the relationship between artist and fans can create cultural connection beyond mere consumption.
Second, while eco-conscious production sends a positive signal, it can collide with existing industry systems and therefore calls for institutional adjustments.
Third, technical and policy fixes are needed for event operations and sales accounting.
IM HERO 2 stands as both a test of fandom power and a trial for industry change, analysts conclude.
The release may also prompt long-term discussions about how artists grow their brands, how fan experiences are designed, and whether hybrid products that combine physical and digital elements should become standard (for example, pairing a booklet with a code for a high-quality download or collectible NFT-like certificate—explain: a digital token that proves ownership) .
- Finding balance between fan experience and environmental responsibility is the core challenge
- Reasonable adjustments to industry rules and statistics are required
- An artist’s long-term career stability and occupation decisions deserve more attention
In short, this release means more than a new album.
How the industry balances musical message, fan cohesion, and structural change will remain the central question.
We ask readers: how do you think this decision will shape the future of the music industry?
