SM Under Fire for Putting NCT’s Tracks on Different Idol’s Album: ‘Is This Supposed to Be a Joke'

In the dynamic world of K-pop, where physical albums are as much a collectible as a listening medium, fans were recently taken aback by a bizarre incident involving SHINee Taemin’s latest release.

NCT, SM Entertainment

SHINee Taemin

Traditionally, physical albums have been a staple for K-pop enthusiasts, serving not only as a means to listen to music but also as coveted items for album sale records and exclusive fan events.

However, with the rise of digital streaming, the function of physical CDs has shifted from being a primary listening tool to more of a visual and sentimental display.

A recent viral video posted on social media platform X has sparked considerable amusement and disbelief among K-pop fans.

MY FUCKING GUILTY CD HAS FUCKING NCT127 FAVORITE ON IT IM NOT FUCKING JOKING pic.twitter.com/CpbrlzK9Gn

— president of jongtae land (@bvmkii) July 1, 2024

The video captures the moment when a fan attempted to play Taemin’s fourth mini-album, “Guilty,” only to hear tracks from NCT’s disc instead! The unexpected mix-up occurred when the fan inserted Taemin’s album into a stereo, only to find NCT’s “Favorite” playing instead of Taemin’s expected tracks.

this is what people mean by kpop fans will not notice if the cd is broken 😭 man i think sm did something funny like this more than once but we’re just oblivious about it 😭 https://t.co/17uFwbWorO

— ✨ (@yoggurtshake) July 1, 2024

i can't tell if this is fr or just a joke but i realized i've never played my cds to check the quality uhhh https://t.co/RkbNuk21e5

— nae cosmic ๋࣭ ⭑⚝ (@doromibear) July 3, 2024

— Zhan (@ZhannBal) July 1, 2024

Both Taemin and NCT’s albums coincidentally feature 14 tracks, which added to the confusion and amusement surrounding the incident. Social media erupted with humorous reactions and memes as fans shared their disbelief over the mix-up.

— ¹²⁷₂₉ℕ𝕖𝕠 ℂ𝕠𝕦𝕡𝕤 𝕋𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕟𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕘𝕪₈₈¹⁷ (@catboijohnny) July 1, 2024

Some joked that the mix-up was so subtle that they might not have noticed if different albums were swapped entirely.

That would be interessting to see the komca sticker number. There is probably other cd from the same batch that have nct music instead 😂

— 𝘿𝙪𝙗𝙪𝙪𝙮𝙖 💜 OnTaem Sweet Escape (@Dubuuya) July 1, 2024

Others pointed out the irony of NCT being involved in yet another unexpected album-related situation.

The incident highlights the evolving role of physical albums in the K-pop industry, where they are increasingly valued for their aesthetic appeal and collectible nature rather than their primary function as a music player.

As fans continue to cherish physical albums for their sentimental and symbolic value, unexpected occurrences like this serve as lighthearted reminders of the unpredictable nature of fandom and music consumption in the digital age.