IU Brings in More Revenue Than Any Other K-Pop Idol Star

Surprising news has recently emerged regarding the well-loved singer IU, who is reported to have earnings over $10 million USD in the year of 2011. This startling salary has surpassed various idols prominent in the K-Pop scene, especially SNSD, Wonder Girls, and KARA. IU’s yearly earnings has confirmed her place as both number one in successful comeback and in the highest revenue this year.

On December 25, Gaon music charts placed IU’s “Last Fantasy” album, which debuted on November 29, as number one on their album rankings. Also, IU’s title song “You and I” placed at the very top on Gaon’s top ten singles chart in December, which was practically undefeatable through the weeks of November 27 to December 17. All of IU’s songs on her “Last Fantasy” album have placed within the top 20 on Gaon’s top 100 song list.

IU is already known to have recorded $6 million USD in record sales last quarter, but the newly revealed figure of $10 million USD annually has stunned a lot of people. IU’s last album, “Real,” which debuted on December 9 2010, had similar music chart dominance as “Last Fantasy” and her title song for that album was “A Good Day.” This single gained instant popularity due to IU’s amazing ability to reach three stages of consecutive high notes, an attempt clearly heard in the middle of the song, and this feature along with the song’s cute lyrics gained popularity not only amongst the youth but the middle-aged audience as well.

“A Good Day” remained strong from the day of its release to February of 2011, in which the song was always found in the top ten of the nation’s top music ranking charts. Moving on from IU’s album songs, her Original Sound Tracks (O.S.T.) attempts were quite successful as well, with her single “Someday” appearing on “Dream High” and “Only I Didn’t Know” being the main song of “Real Plus.” These two songs were well known in the months of January and February this year and also reached high on Gaon charts, even reaching number one for both O.S.T.’s.

Continuing her strong efforts, IU released two singles in May and June. Firstly, her “Hold My Hand” O.S.T. for the highly popular drama “The Greatest Love” ranked seventh on Gaon’s top-ten singles list from May 22 but by May 28 rose to second place. Secondly in June, IU collaborated with figure skater Kim Yuna to release “Ice Flower” which also followed in IU’s successful O.S.T. footsteps and ranked high as well. Undoubtedly, IU’s skills are backed up with expertise and predictable success in all her songs and albums. This characteristic of the singer’s has carried on through to her most recent album “Last Fantasy.”

Now combining her record sales success, radio broadcastings, and commercial castings, the approximate revenue figure recorded up to this point is easily over the $10 million USD mark. Going back to her “Last Fantasy” album, IU has reached her success due to help from various well-known musicians and song writers that made the songs as magical as they are. However, IU is only nineteen, and with high anticipation people will be awaiting what the incredibly talented singer along with her equally skilled music team will produce next. The possibilities are never-ending, and it seems IU’s salary is equally infinite.