ATEEZ's Meteoric Rise: Can Their Latest Comeback Reach New Heights on the Billboard Charts?

《Songwriter's Insight by Min-Kyung Lee》
Min-Kyung Lee, a current singer-songwriter, shares her perspective on music, analyzing hidden meanings and behind-the-scenes stories.

---

As ATEEZ makes their comeback, all eyes are on whether the group, known for their 'step-by-step growth' from a small agency to the top of the Billboard charts, can reach new heights.

On the 6th, ATEEZ released their 13th mini-album 'GOLDEN HOUR: Part.4' at 2 PM. The album includes five tracks: the title track 'Adrenaline,' along with 'Ghost,' 'NASA,' 'On The Road,' and 'Choose.'

The album features a mix of minimalism and grandeur, with contrasting sounds. The title track 'Adrenaline,' an EDM genre song, exemplifies this with its electronic sound. It builds up with a shout before the chorus, leaving a bar empty, and then continues with a strong bass drum and synth lead, highlighting ATEEZ's unique 'Teto' style.

The fourth track, 'On The Road,' is also noteworthy. It starts with a lyrical guitar performance and transitions into a grand arrangement with the members' chanting. The addition of a 16th-note bass in the second verse adds a refreshing feel, reminiscent of their 2019 hit 'WAVE.' Both songs share a similar message of walking together no matter what happens.

ATEEZ's comeback carries significant pressure due to the impressive Billboard chart performance of their previous work. Their title track from the 12th mini-album entered the Billboard Hot 100 at 69th place, a first for a K-pop group, with only BLACKPINK (55th) and ATEEZ achieving such high rankings. This surpassed even BTS's first entry record (85th).

Industry experts attribute their success to strong performances and early targeting of overseas markets. ATEEZ embarked on a world tour just four months after debuting in March 2019, performing in five North American cities and ten European cities, solidifying their early fanbase. By 2020, they attracted 100,000 attendees to a single tour.

Initially performing in small halls and theaters, ATEEZ evolved into an arena-touring artist by 2022 and a stadium performer by 2024. During their 2024 world tour, they performed at New York's Citi Field, a stage graced by legends like Beyoncé and Paul McCartney, becoming the second K-pop act after BTS to do so. They dispelled the notion of a weaker domestic fanbase by selling out two consecutive shows at Seoul's KSPO DOME in 2024.

Their Billboard chart performance has shown consistent growth. They first entered the Billboard 200 at 42nd place in 2021 and climbed to 3rd with 'THE WORLD EP. 1: MOVEMENT' the following year. This trajectory led to their second full album, 'The World Episode Final: Will,' reaching the top of the Billboard 200 in 2023.

In 2025, they achieved notable success with single tracks, with the 12th mini-album's title track 'Lemon Drop' reaching 69th and 68th on the Billboard Hot 100 consecutively.

Min-Kyung Lee, TenAsia Reporter 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr