English Entertainment Boy band market reshapes as Stray Kids, SEVENTEEN an..

The boy band market is shifting dramatically. After BTS, which has dominated the world, and SEVENTEEN, which still shows its strength, groups vying for the new throne are advancing. As Stray Kids expand their influence, the steady rise of junior groups that are building their presence is also notable. Who will seize the new hegemony in the boy band era?

First to gain an edge in the global market is Stray Kids. They entered No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard main album chart, the Billboard 200, with their fourth studio album KARMA, released in August, marking a rare feat of seven consecutive works reaching the top. Their concerts have also steadily grown in scale, developing to the point of staging stadium tours.

ENHYPEN and TOMORROW X TOGETHER are also riding strong momentum. ENHYPEN continued sellouts across Asia, the U.S. and Europe, successfully holding stadium and dome tours. TOMORROW X TOGETHER has been showing its popularity by touring in the Americas following Europe.

All three groups have solidified global fandoms to the extent that they each own multiple music videos with hundreds of millions of views on YouTube and songs with hundreds of millions of streams on Spotify.

Next-generation boy bands are following in their seniors' footsteps with rapid growth. First, BoyNextDoor's rise stands out. From their debut, they expanded their domestic fan base significantly with freewheeling energy and approachable charm. Their digital single released earlier this year, 오늘만 I LOVE YOU, performed well on music charts, overturning the perception that boy groups fare worse on streaming than on album sales. Known as skilled idols who insist on using handheld microphones, they also captivated global fandoms. As a result, among boy groups that debuted at the same time, they quickly went on tour and performed at Lollapalooza Chicago in the U.S. All their released mini albums have entered the U.S. Billboard 200, and their popularity in North America and Japan is notable.

RIIZE drew immediate attention at debut with standout visuals and addictive music. Last year, they succeeded in broadening their listener base with LOVE 119, which samples izi's classic 응급실. They are steadily expanding their presence overseas. They announced they will perform at Tokyo Dome in Japan in February next year, drawing attention; it is the shortest record for a K-pop boy group, achieved about two years and five months after debut. With their first world tour underway, their fandom is expected to become even more solid.

The newcomers' performances are also striking. Cortis, which debuted in August, started as a younger-sibling group of BTS and TOMORROW X TOGETHER and early on made its mark with global fandom. They emphasized creative capabilities and gained word-of-mouth through outstanding live skills. They were the first among this year's rookies to enter the U.S. Billboard 200 and surpassed 6 million monthly listeners on Spotify (as of Sept. 29). Alphadriveone, selected through Mnet's survival program Boys 2 Planet, is also a dark horse. Its official SNS account passed 1 million followers just two days after opening. Given the nature of survival programs, they have a strong support base, so explosive growth is likely.