ATEEZ Makes Historic Debut on Billboard Hot 100 with 'Lemon Drop'

《Kim Ji-won's Shooting Star》
Kim Ji-won, a reporter from Ten Asia's music team, brings you a refreshing taste of the music industry like a 'shooting star'.

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K-pop group ATEEZ has achieved a significant milestone by making their debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time since their debut.

According to Billboard's announcement on the 23rd (local time), ATEEZ's title track 'Lemon Drop' from their mini 12th album 'GOLDEN HOUR: Part.3', released on the 13th, entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 69 for the week of June 28. This marks ATEEZ's first entry into the Hot 100 chart in their 8-year career. Among K-pop boy groups, they are the third to achieve this feat, following BTS and Stray Kids.

The album recorded over 100,000 copies sold in its first week, making it the highest-selling album among K-pop artists who entered the Hot 100 this year. Although ATEEZ has previously achieved success on Billboard's main album chart, the Billboard 200, this is their first entry into the Hot 100, marking a significant milestone in their career.

Notably, ATEEZ's achievement is remarkable as they are not affiliated with a major entertainment company. KQ Entertainment, the agency behind ATEEZ, is not one of the so-called 'Big 4' agencies like HYBE, SM, JYP, or YG. ATEEZ debuted under a relatively smaller agency and gradually expanded their fan base in the global market, including North America. They have built a dedicated fandom through their unique world-building and album series.

ATEEZ has consistently expanded their reach by participating in world tours and global festivals, steadily increasing their presence overseas. They have expanded their tour locations and increased the scale of their performances, establishing a strong foothold, particularly abroad. Next month, they will engage with local fans through a new world tour, performing in stadiums across five North American cities. Due to high demand, additional shows have been added in Orlando and Los Angeles. Their entry into the Billboard Hot 100 is seen as a culmination of these ongoing efforts.

ATEEZ's entry into the Hot 100 is a testament to the competitiveness of boy groups from smaller agencies on the global stage. They have demonstrated that it is possible to stand out in the global market with high-quality music, even without the backing of a major agency.

Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr