Everyone knows the only way to keep a band relevant is to continue releasing music at a consistent pace. Taking too long between releases has frustrated the trajectory of so many artists. But what happens if you take consistent releases so seriously, you release new music every month? That’s what Day6 did early on in their career, and they found it had major impacts on their success. After doing just that, Day6 ended up with an expanded discography, increased fan engagement, and numerous live shows that boosted their skills and credibility as performers.
The group Day6 originally was meant to debut under JYP Entertainment as 5LIVE, but after a slight lineup change, the name was switched to better reflect the group. They officially debuted in September 2015, and received positive attention for their pop rock style within the K-pop sphere. Then in 2017, the group announced the Every Day6 project; the group would release one new single with a b-side every single month in 2017. They held to it and reaped major benefits.
The first impact this had on the group was that it massively expanded their discography. In the two years they had existed up to this point, Day6 had only released 12 songs. With the Every Day6 project, they added an additional 25 songs to their catalog (two per month, with one bonus song at the end of the year) and tripled their output. Many of these songs were compiled and added to other new tracks for two albums released throughout the year, which helped expand their presence even further.
As they released new music, Day6 were also constantly sharing content for fans during this project. For example, the fandom name, ‘My Day,’ was unveiled alongside their first album. Each month, fans would excitedly gather, both online and physically, to listen to the new music and share what they loved about it. Some fans even expressed excitement that each new song was better than the last. They never had to wait long for new music, and the predictable schedule helped facilitate the building hype.
The last aspect of the Every Day6 project that helped boost Day6’s reputation were their frequent shows during the project. Every time there was a new song coming out, the group would hold concerts promoting the upcoming single. Even in rock music, many groups don’t have the opportunity to perform 12 times in one year, and that’s not even counting the numerous appearances of Day6 on television, variety shows, and other performances in 2017. The group seriously ramped up their experience level, and with it came deeper respect and recognition in the industry for Day6.
Since then, the group has seemed content to do their own thing and focus on the music they enjoy. They started a hiatus for military service in 2021 and have recently shown signs of getting ready to return. Until we hear of a full comeback, we’ll be waiting excitedly for these innovative rock stars and re-living the memories of that incredible year of releases.