CORTIS selected as the sole K-pop artist for Pandora's 'Artists to Watch 2026'

CORTIS has been recognized as a "top rookie" in the United States, the world's largest music market, joining a prestigious list of emerging global talent.

CORTIS was recently selected for the "Artists to Watch 2026: The Pandora Ten" list announced by Pandora, the largest ad-supported audio streaming service in the U.S. This highly-anticipated annual list identifies ten emerging artists across all genres whom the platform believes will break through in the coming year. CORTIS is the only K-pop artist to make the cut.

'The Pandora Ten' is determined by combining advanced listening data analysis with human curation by Pandora programmers. It is considered a major indicator of an artist's potential for success, having previously predicted the rise of global stars such as Post Malone, Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, and Tyla during their rookie days.

Pandora introduced CORTIS as a group bringing a "fresh new take to the K-pop genre," praising their debut album 'COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES' for showcasing versatility and a "bold artistic vision" that defies expectations. They noted that tracks like "GO!" have resonated strongly with listeners on the platform.

The 2026 list highlights a diverse range of genres alongside CORTIS. The roster includes R&B Pop singer-songwriter Cil, Southern Soul artist EJ Jones, and the Irish alternative band Florence Road. It also features Gavin Adcock, a rising figure in the Country Rock revival, and Dance music producer Ian Asher, known for his viral remixes. Rounding out the top ten are rock artist Kami Kehoe, Regional Mexican star Kane Rodriguez, Christian singer-songwriter Peter Burton, and Atlanta-based hip-hop artist Pluto.

As part of the campaign, CORTIS's image will be displayed in Times Square, the "Heart of New York," from December 12 to 18.

Meanwhile, CORTIS's potential in the U.S. market has already been proven on the Billboard charts. Their debut album 'COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES' entered the 'Billboard 200' at No. 15 (dated September 27), setting the highest ranking for a debut album by a K-pop group (excluding project groups). Despite three months having passed since its release, the album is demonstrating strong staying power, ranking at No. 169 on the latest chart (dated December 13).