# Lee Soo-man's A2O LITE tops the chart as girl groups race for the fourth quarter

- URL: https://unnienote.app/en/news/four-quarter-girl-group-battle-october-2026-a1da49
- Published: 2026-10-25T05:49:41.132Z
- Publisher: Unnie Note

> Several major girl groups are releasing new music in late October, led by Lee Soo-man's newly debuted A2O LITE.

## Key points

1. A2O LITE's debut song 'NEON' reached the top of the Melon Top 100 within 29 hours of its October 13 release.
2. BABYMONSTER released 'DESERVE' on October 23, their first new song in about four months.
3. ILLIT and IVE both release new mini albums on October 26.

## What is happening with the fourth-quarter girl group competition?

A busy wave of comebacks is hitting the K-pop scene this October. According to TEN Asia, groups from HYBE, YG Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and Starship Entertainment are all releasing music in quick succession, which has set up a tough race for chart attention.

## Who is A2O LITE?

A2O LITE is a new group produced by Lee Soo-man, the founder of SM Entertainment, who now serves as key producer at A2O Entertainment. The group debuted on October 13 with 'NEON', which the report says reached the top of the Melon Top 100 in 29 hours.

## What did BABYMONSTER release?

BABYMONSTER, under YG Entertainment, released the digital single 'DESERVE' on October 23. It is their first new song in about four months. The group moved away from their usual hip-hop and dance sound and presented a pop ballad. YG chief producer Yang Hyun-suk highlighted the members' delicate vocals and strong singing. The report notes that the group is expanding its global fanbase through their second world tour.

## Which other groups are comebacking?

NMIXX of JYP Entertainment released its mini sixth album 'Strange Muse' on October 19, and ILLIT and IVE both release new mini albums on October 26. IVE's 'Looks Can Kill' video reportedly hit first place on YouTube's worldwide music video trending chart right after release.

## Why are so many comebacks in October?

A music industry official explained that music show appearances decrease toward the end of the year, because awards shows and year-end specials often cause regular broadcasts to be cancelled or rescheduled in November and December. Many groups therefore prefer October.

## For international fans

If you are new to these groups, BABYMONSTER and IVE have active global fanbases, and both are performing on international tours or fan events. Check each group's official social media accounts for the latest dates and where their music videos and performances can be streamed in your country.

## FAQ

### When did A2O LITE debut?

A2O LITE released its debut song 'NEON' on October 13. The report says it reached the top of the Melon Top 100 within 29 hours.

### When are ILLIT and IVE releasing new albums?

Both ILLIT and IVE are releasing new mini albums on October 26. ILLIT's album is called 'BREAK EVEN' and IVE's is called 'Looks Can Kill'.

### Why do many groups release music in October?

According to a music industry official, music show appearances become scarcer toward year-end because awards shows and special programs often disrupt regular schedules in November and December.

## Sources

- [TenAsia](https://www.tenasia.co.kr/article/2026102312414)

_Written and translated with AI from official announcements and Korean media reports. If something is wrong, please let us know._