ATEEZ Achieves Second No. 1 on Billboard 200, Continuing the Myth of K-Pop's Small Agencies

The popular group ATEEZ (에이티즈) continues to write the narrative of success for K-Pop's smaller agencies. On the Billboard 200 chart dated September 30, ATEEZ secured the top spot with their mini album 'GOLDEN HOUR: Part.2'. This marks their second time reaching No. 1 on the chart, following their previous success with their second full album 'THE WORLD EP FIN: WILL' at the end of last year.

Notably, ATEEZ is the first group from a small K-Pop agency to achieve this milestone. They have now joined the ranks of global sensations like BTS (방탄소년단) and Stray Kids (스트레이 키즈) as the third K-Pop act to have multiple albums reach the top of this chart.

In addition to their Billboard achievements, ATEEZ has also made waves on the UK Official Chart, where 'GOLDEN HOUR: Part.2' debuted at No. 4. They became the first K-Pop group to land in the 'Top 5' three times within a year and the first to rank in the 'Top 10' four consecutive times.

Previously, ATEEZ's mini album 'THE WORLD EPISODE 2: OUTLAW' made its first entry into the Official Albums Chart's Top 10, while their second full album 'THE WORLD EP FIN: WILL' reached No. 2, and their mini album 'GOLDEN HOUR: Part.1' landed at No. 4.

Together with Stray Kids, ATEEZ is currently one of the most popular K-Pop groups in the Western market. Since their debut on October 24, 2018, they have established themselves as a leading group of the fourth generation of K-Pop boy bands. Their name, ATEEZ, is an abbreviation of 'A TEEnage Z', symbolizing their ambition to encompass everything about teenagers.

From the outset, ATEEZ garnered attention primarily from international audiences, and their participation in the 2021 Mnet survival show 'KINGDOM: LEGENDARY WAR', where they placed third, further solidified their name among K-Pop fans. Stray Kids won the top spot in that competition.

With a pirate king concept, ATEEZ continues to push the boundaries of K-Pop boy groups' initial appeal overseas. They have built a strong narrative around their established universe, delivering powerful performances on stage. KQ Entertainment's CEO Kim Kyu-wook has been instrumental in this direction.

The music produced by their dedicated producer EDEN and the production team 'Eden-ary' is both trendy and optimized for performance, which has helped their fandom, ATINY, grow through guerrilla-style activities.

Recent numerical successes reflect ATEEZ's true potential, but it is their solid performances, akin to the strength of a mountain, that create their unique world, especially evident in live settings. Their performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2023 showcased this.

As the first K-Pop boy group to perform at the festival, ATEEZ demonstrated their live singing and performance skills alongside a live band, further elevating their status. Their choreography remained flawless even during intense dance sequences, with main vocalist Jongho's high notes impressively intact.

A standout moment was their performance of 'The Real (흥 Ver.)', which epitomized their essence. Amidst a backdrop of flags depicting mythical creatures and a stunning LED display showcasing traditional Korean beauty, member Hongjoong held a fan inscribed with 'Hello Coachella' in Hangul. They incorporated elements of traditional Korean folk games and even featured a lion mask dance, representing the expulsion of misfortune, showcasing the 'K-HOT CHILLI PEPPER' of Korean culture.

This performance solidified their presence in North America, where they met over 200,000 fans during their 2024 World Tour 'TOWARDS THE LIGHT: WILL TO POWER'. They made history as the first K-Pop boy group to perform at Globe Life Field in Arlington and Citi Field in New York.

In light of ATEEZ's rising popularity, KQ Entertainment held a pop-up exhibition titled 'KQ ENT. (ATEEZ & xikers): A GRAMMY Museum Pop-Up' at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles from April to June. Xikers is a boy group under KQ and a direct junior to ATEEZ.

ATEEZ is actively working to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reflecting their grassroots popularity in the local scene. They have also been focusing on domestic engagement, recently headlining the Grand Mint Festival 2024, a major autumn music festival in Korea. Members Hongjoong and Jongho are currently appearing on KBS 2TV's 'The Singer'.

As they approach their seventh anniversary next year, discussions regarding contract renewals are underway, and given their recent success, a positive outcome with KQ is anticipated.