YG's rookie girl group BABYMONSTER has surpassed 1.72 million in cumulative album sales just one year after their official debut. In addition to various dazzling records, they continually demonstrate their infinite potential as next-generation K-pop hopefuls, making greater leaps in the second half of 2025.
After making their official debut on April 1 last year, BABYMONSTER has completed unprecedented large-scale projects, including the release of their first studio album and their first world tour. It has been a significant year, achieving growth beyond what Billboard called them, "the most promising K-pop rookie of 2024."
# Driving music chart rankings with talent.. the power of the 'monster rookie'
The foundation of BABYMONSTER's explosive rise has been their talent. Their wide-ranging spectrum and high-quality musical world, along with their handheld microphone live performances on various music shows, radio, and year-end stages, have repeatedly created a huge response and become the catalyst for their popularity.
In fact, 'SHEESH' and 'DRIP' have been on a reverse surge, continually climbing the ranks on major domestic music charts, including Melon, immediately after their performances. In particular, 'DRIP' set new personal bests, ranking 16th on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. and 30th on Billboard Global 200, charting for 16 and 20 consecutive weeks, and continues to enjoy popularity.
They also made their mark on Spotify, the world's largest music platform. 'SHEESH' achieved the highest entry record among K-pop girl group songs in 2024 upon release, signaling early popularity. Following this, their subsequent releases have received warm affection from listeners, with total cumulative streaming surpassing 1.1 billion. Given the achievement from just two albums, future trends are keenly awaited.
# Popularity of albums and YouTube soars.. powerful fandom
The deepening fan base has become the driving force behind their growth. With their mini album [BABYMONS7ER], they set a new first-week sales record for a K-pop girl group debut album (401,287 copies), while their first studio album [DRIP] recorded an increase of approximately 1.7 times in sales (677,961 copies) compared to previously, entering the Billboard 200 at 149th. Cumulative sales through continuous activities have exceeded 790,000 and 920,000, totaling over 1.72 million copies, nearing million-seller status.
Not only in albums but also on YouTube, the center of the global music market, they have established a remarkable presence. The number of subscribers, a key indicator of loyal fandom formation, has increased by about 4.28 million since their official debut, reaching a total of 8.89 million. Additionally, there are eight videos with over 100 million views, including the music video for 'SHEESH,' which set the shortest record for a K-pop girl group debut song, and the official channel's total views have soared past 4.2 billion.
# Large-scale fan meetings → world tour.. rising to global prominence
BABYMONSTER has steadily increased their engagement with fans through a fan meeting tour in seven cities and 12 sessions last year, as well as participating in music festivals like Japan's 'Summersonic' and the Greater China 'TMEA.' This year, they are set for their debut world tour, '2025 BABYMONSTER 1st WORLD TOUR,' which has been expanded to more than double the size, covering 20 cities and 32 sessions compared to the fan meeting tour.
As a result, BABYMONSTER's global popularity is expected to intensify in the second half of 2025. With their world tour underway, expectations are high for their live performance skills to bloom even further, and they are firmly making their presence felt among local fans through various broadcasting, radio, and YouTube channels around the world.
BABYMONSTER's growth narrative, which has left a significant mark on K-pop since their debut year, is just beginning. YG representatives noted, "We will continue to provide unwavering support so they can fully showcase their endless potential and limitless musical capabilities as artists," adding, "In the second half of 2025, we will be engaging with fans through various projects, so please keep a keen eye out for us."
[Photo] Provided by YG Entertainment.
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