HYBE and Geffen Records' global girl group KATSEYE has soared to the top ranks of the US Billboard main album chart just one year after their debut, further establishing their presence as the next pop icons.
According to the latest US Billboard chart released on July 8th (local time), KATSEYE's second EP 'BEAUTIFUL CHAOS' has claimed the 4th spot on the 'Billboard 200'. This marks KATSEYE's highest position on the 'Billboard 200' and their second consecutive album entry. Their first EP 'SIS (Soft Is Strong)' had previously entered the chart at 119th place (as of August 31, 2024), making this a significant leap of 115 spots.
KATSEYE is also making remarkable strides on the Billboard 'Hot 100'. The track 'Gabriela' from 'BEAUTIFUL CHAOS' has landed at 87th place this week, climbing 7 spots and charting for the second consecutive week. Another track, 'Gnarly', has ranked at 96th. After debuting at 92nd place on the 'Hot 100' (as of May 17), it briefly paused before making a comeback and re-entering at 90th place (as of June 21), staying in the rankings for a total of 5 weeks.
KATSEYE continues to dominate the Billboard Global Song Charts as well. 'Gabriela' has reached 29th on the 'Global 200', with 'Gnarly' at 53rd. Excluding the US, 'Gabriela' and 'Gnarly' have ranked 23rd and 46th, respectively.
Released on June 27th, 'BEAUTIFUL CHAOS' is an album where KATSEYE navigates through the 'beautiful chaos' they've encountered as artists, interpreting it through their unique perspective and emotions. The journey and growth of the six members are encapsulated in tracks like 'Gnarly', 'Gabriela', 'Gameboy', 'Mean Girls', and 'M.I.A'. The album has garnered a warm reception from music fans worldwide, thanks to its fusion of various genres, visually appealing aesthetics, and storytelling. KATSEYE's powerful performances and diverse charm have solidified their identity in the global pop market.
Jung Hyun In, Senior Creative Producer at HXG (HYBE x Geffen Records), stated, "In conceptualizing and realizing the KATSEYE project, we strived to thoroughly understand the similarities and differences in market cultures and industrial systems. This process played a key role in turning our high-level vision into reality," adding, "KATSEYE is still growing. Based on accumulated data and experience, we will create more opportunities moving forward."
KATSEYE's successful trajectory underscores the effectiveness of the 'K-pop production system' led by HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk in the US music industry. HYBE's integrated approach, from trainee selection to training, music production, and branding, has proven that the unique strategies of K-pop can indeed resonate in the global market.
Meanwhile, KATSEYE is scheduled to perform at major world music festivals, including 'Lollapalooza Chicago' in the US on August 3rd (local time) and 'Summer Sonic 2025' in Japan on August 17th.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)