ALD1's Pre-Debut Charts Already Breaking Records

Wait, They're Debuting TOMORROW?

For a group that hasn’t officially debuted yet, ALD1 has already been moving like industry insiders knew what was coming. Their official debut lands on January 12, but the rollout started long before most fans even memorized the members’ names. Rio, Junser, Arno, Gunwoo, Sangwon, Shinlong, Ansin, and Sanghyun didn’t quietly appear out of nowhere — they stepped onto major stages like MAMA 2025 and the Melon Music Awards last month, signaling that this debut was already being treated as something bigger.

The Pre-Release Track Already Hit Different

Here's where it gets wild. They dropped "Formula" on December 3 as a pre-release, and the numbers? They don't lie.

• Melon Hot 100: 4th place
• Genie Music: 3rd place
• Line Music Japan: Entered real-time top 100
• iTunes: Top 10 in 11 different countries
• Billboard Japan Hot 100: Charted

This is insane for a pre-debut song. Like, most groups are still doing showcase rounds at this stage, and ALD1 is already sitting pretty on international charts. That "Formula" track isn't just a throwaway either, fans are actually streaming it and adding it to playlists. The fact that it hit top 4 on Melon means the Korean GP is already paying attention.

Their Debut Album Is About That Team Unity

The mini album dropping is called "Euphoria," and based on what the company's been saying, it's about the journey of eight members becoming one team. Not just eight solo artists who happen to share a name, but an actual unit that builds something together. The concept photos and trailers have been rolling out piece by piece, and fans have already started theorizing about what the narrative is going to be.

Why This Actually Matters

Look, 2026 just started and ALD1 is already the first idol group debuting this year. That's not just trivia, that's positioning. The company clearly has confidence, they're not hiding these guys until the last second. They're being featured at major award shows, they're getting chart placements before the official debut, and the strategy feels calculated in a good way.

Is "Formula" going to be the title track? We don't know yet. Could there be a different main song on "Euphoria"? Possibly. But the fact that fans are already invested, already streaming, already theorizing about member dynamics? That's the pre-debut hype cycle working exactly how it's supposed to.

January 12 is literally days away. If you've been sleeping on ALD1, now's the time to actually check them out instead of getting caught off guard when everyone's suddenly talking about them.