Billboard Explains: The Rise of ITZY
Written by djfrosty on January 12, 2024
The ladies of ITZY are certifiable It Girls. Like popular K-pop girl groups before them — including f(x), 2NE1, BLACKPINK and TWICE — ITZY has quickly vaulted to international stardom, appearing on several Billboard charts since its 2019 debut.
2023 was a banner year for the quintet comprised of Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong and Yuna. During the summer, the group released its seventh EP, Kill My Doubt, which housed lead single “Cake.” The EP became the girls’ fifth entry on the Billboard 200. They made their first appearance on the ranking back in 2021 with their Guess Who EP (No. 148), and have since made one trip to the chart’s top 10 with 2022’s Checkmate: Mini Album EP (No. 8).
To kick off the new year, ITZY launched its sophomore studio album on Jan. 8. Titled Born to Be, the LP features the single “Untouchable,” as well as each group member’s debut solo track. Born to Be marks the group’s first Korean-language LP since 2021’s Crazy in Love, which reached No. 11 on the Billboard 200.
Since the group’s first Billboard chart appearance, ITZY has placed four songs on the Billboard Global 200, the top 40 hit “In the Morning” (No. 34). On the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, the group has notched five entries, reaching the top 40 with both “In the Morning” (No. 22) and “Loco” (No. 29). In addition, the award-winning group has landed 10 songs on the World Digital Songs Sales Chart, including the top 10 hits: “Dalla Dalla” (No. 2), “Wannabe” (No. 4), “Icy” (No. 7) and “Not Shy” (No. 8).
Check out the full Billboard Explains video on the rise of ITZY above.
After that video, catch up on more Billboard Explains videos and learn about Peso Pluma and the Mexican music boom, the role record labels play, origins of hip-hop, how Beyoncé arrived at Renaissance, the evolution of girl groups, BBMAs, NFTs, SXSW, the magic of boy bands, American Music Awards, the Billboard Latin Music Awards, the Hot 100 chart, how R&B/hip-hop became the biggest genre in the U.S., how festivals book their lineups, Billie Eilish’s formula for success, the history of rap battles, nonbinary awareness in music, the Billboard Music Awards, the Free Britney movement, rise of K-pop in the U.S., why Taylor Swift is re-recording her first six albums, the boom of hit all-female collaborations, how Grammy nominees and winners are chosen, why songwriters are selling their publishing catalogs, how the Super Bowl halftime show is booked and more.