KATSEYE rises as global hot rookie with Billboard and Grammy spotlight

KATSEYE, a global girl group formed through the collaboration between HYBE and Geffen Records, is showing unstoppable momentum. The group has been achieving standout results since early 2026, solidifying their path as “hot rookies.”

KATSEYE was formed through the audition project ‘The Debut: Dream Academy,’ based on the K-pop methodology, and officially debuted in August 2024. Since then, they have steadily built recognition with songs such as ‘Touch,’ ‘Gnarly,’ ‘Gameboy,’ and ‘Gabriela.’

After gaining attention locally as rookies last year, the group has continued their bold rise this year. On January 2nd local time, KATSEYE released their new single ‘Internet Girl.’ The track features a flashy dance pop sound and an addictive hook, while adding humorous flair through lyrics that incorporate internet slang, satirizing chaotic online culture. With this song, KATSEYE once again showcased their distinctive ability to pull off unique concepts.

They soon drew renewed attention in the United States and delivered impressive achievements. According to the latest chart released by Billboard on January 13th (dated January 17th), ‘Internet Girl’ debuted at No. 29 on the ‘Hot 100.’ This marks KATSEYE’s highest ranking on the chart to date, reflecting their growing popularity in the U.S. The song later charted at No. 59 on the January 24th chart and No. 85 on the January 31st chart, showing a relatively steady descent.

It’s not just ‘Internet Girl.’ ‘Gabriela,’ released in June last year, reached No. 21 on the January 17th ‘Hot 100’ chart, setting the group’s personal best ranking on the chart. It also ranked No. 27 on the January 31st chart, proving its staying power. Notably, the song has remained in the upper tier of the chart about seven months after release, underscoring KATSEYE’s sustained local popularity.

Riding this momentum, KATSEYE was nominated for Best New Artist, one of the four general field categories, at the ‘68th Annual Grammy Awards.’ Considering the prestige and influence of the Grammy Awards, being nominated alone is a major achievement, further increasing attention on the group in the local market.

On the 1st, at the ‘68th Annual Grammy Awards’ held at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, KATSEYE attended as one of the Best New Artist nominees and heated up the venue with an energetic performance of their hit song ‘Gnarly’ during the nominee introduction. The performance, emphasizing synchronized choreography—a strength of K-pop—maximized the group’s appeal, earning applause from fellow artists in attendance.

Although KATSEYE did not take home an award at the ‘68th Annual Grammy Awards,’ the fact that they were nominated and even performed on stage less than two years after debut demonstrated their remarkable growth.

From what began as an experimental project under HYBE to a clear success story, all eyes are now on what steps KATSEYE will take next.