"This is sabotaging" — Fans outraged over HYBE & Geffen Records allegedly not displaying BTS' Taehyung's Layover vinyl in US stores

On October 18, 2024, the vinyl version of BTS' Taehyung’s Layover officially went on sale across the United States and Europe. Just two days after its launch, the Layover vinyls were reportedly missing from the shelves of the US Target retail stores.

BTS' Taehyung's US fanbase account, @ustaetae, shared a picture of a Target shop on October 20, reportedly indicating that the Layover vinyl exhibit was being withheld. The caption of the post read:

“I went to two Target stores today. Neither one had Layover on display and the manager told me that their instructions from the distributor was to display on October 24! That’s the reason why we can’t find them at Target!”

This issue quickly gathered steam, and BTS' Taehyung's supporters took to the internet to express their fury at HYBE and Geffen Records. Fans protested against Geffen Records and HYBE, calling them out for allegedly sabotaging Taehyung’s first-week sales. Expressing their disappointment, many fans on X commented:

“Why is that retailers in US have been advised to display Layover Vinyls on shelves at the end of the first tracking week for Billboard charts. This is sabotaging V’s first week Vinyl sales in the US”

One individual said that BTS' Taehyung’s label was unprofessional and corrupt, while another blamed BIGHIT for obstructing the idol.

“Why announce the release of layover vinyls in the US as 10/18 only to hold them from being displayed at @Target until the next tracking week? Why are you making it difficult for people to find V’s music? @BIGHIT_MUSIC @GeffenRecords unprofessional and corrupt company!” commented a fan.

“That is insane. They rly dnt want his 1st week sales to be high. Same thing happened with layover. Let's just pray he gets out of that label for his next solo album” expressed another fan.

“this is crazy...there's a Target circular showcasing it. this is exactly like @GeffenRecords silence about Layover till the week after it debuted @bts_bighit @BTS_twt @BIGHIT_MUSIC how is this okay and tolerated? how does this help the "family" narrative to obstruct 1 mbr continuously?” another user on X complained.

Several fans questioned why Geffen Records, as the distributor, allegedly gave such instructions to their retail stores.

“I don’t understand why the distributor instructed the store to display on October 24! Is this to sabotage the first week sales?” another fan stated.

“This is completely unacceptable!” expressed another X user.

“Saying that vinyl will be put on 24th is ridiculous, ordered by a company just to ruin it. and you are all silent about massive sabotage taehyung is getting and i don't want you all to cry when you see him not making top 1 on BB vinyl because you are silent now” a fan wrote.

“As a label if you cannot identify your best selling and high in-demand artist to provide him with the support he deserves -you fail!” said another X user.

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BTS' Taehyung's debut solo album Layover came out in September 2023

BTS' Taehyung's Layover photo 4 (Image via Instagram/ @bts_bighitofficial)

Kim Taehyung's first independent album, Layover, came out on September 8, 2023. Pre-release R&B and Jazz CD compositions included Love Me Again, Rainy Days, For Us, Blue, and Slow Dancing (Piano Version). The tracklist for the vinyl release of the album remains the same.

On October 18, BTS' Taehyung's Layover LP was sold out at numerous major UK record outlets, including the BTS Official UK Store, Record Store UK, Polydor, and The Sound of Vinyl.

This was especially significant because the album had just been formally released on that same day. Prior to this, pre-orders began on August 20 and were originally sold out on September 1. On October 18, it sold out for the second time.

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