ILLIT’s ‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE’ Shatters Expectations, Eyes Billboard Hot 100 Entry! 🔥📈

In the fiercely competitive landscape of global music, a group’s rapid ascent is not merely a fleeting trend but a significant market indicator. ILLIT, the dynamic quintet, is not just participating in this race; they are setting a blistering pace, with their track ‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE’ now poised at the very threshold of the prestigious Billboard Hot 100.

According to the latest charts announced by U.S. music media giant Billboard on January 13 (for the January 17 chart date), ILLIT‘s lead single from their first album, ‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE’, has made a remarkable leap. The track surged three places from the previous week, landing at number 7 on the ‘Bubbling Under Hot 100’ chart. This critical chart measures songs that have not quite entered the main ‘Hot 100’ but are undeniably on the brink, reflecting an explosive surge in public interest.

The journey of ‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE’ on this chart has been nothing short of meteoric. It first debuted at number 17 on the January 3 chart, climbed to number 10 by January 10, and has now solidified its position at number 7, marking its third consecutive week of upward mobility. This consistent rise signals a sustained, organic growth in listener engagement.

Beyond the domestic charts, ‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE’ is demonstrating formidable strength across global streaming platforms, fueled by its viral presence. This week, the track achieved new personal bests, securing number 45 on Billboard’s ‘Global (Excl. US)’ chart, a jump of seven places from last week, and number 60 on the ‘Global 200’, rising ten spots. These charts are crucial indicators, aggregating streaming data from over 200 countries and regions worldwide.

The undeniable momentum of the short-form content phenomenon has played a pivotal role in this global traction. ‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE’ has become the anthem for the popular ‘Hoodjabs Shot Challenge’, cementing its status across multiple key markets:

• 🇺🇸 U.S.: Top 10 on YouTube’s ‘Daily Shorts Popular Songs’ (#6)
• 🇦🇺 Australia: Top 10 on YouTube’s ‘Daily Shorts Popular Songs’ (#5)
• 🇬🇧 U.K.: Top 10 on YouTube’s ‘Daily Shorts Popular Songs’ (#7)
• 🇨🇦 Canada: Top 10 on YouTube’s ‘Daily Shorts Popular Songs’ (#7)
• 🇰🇷 South Korea: Has maintained the number 1 spot on the YouTube chart for over 30 days (as of January 11) 🥇

Meanwhile, ILLIT has strategically leveraged this global popularity back into their domestic market, igniting a chart resurgence. Following their final performance on SBS ‘Inkigayo’ on January 11, ‘NOT CUTE ANYMORE’ soared to number 17 on the Melon Daily Chart on the same day. Further demonstrating their expanding reach, their second Japanese digital single, ‘Sunday Morning’, released on January 13, immediately entered the AWA Music real-time trending chart at number 1, unequivocally proving their burgeoning local popularity in Japan.

The strategic synchronization of viral short-form content with calculated chart promotions showcases a potent blueprint for global market penetration. ILLIT‘s trajectory isn’t just about music; it’s a testament to effective, digitally-native brand building in the K-pop industry.

As ILLIT continues its impressive ascent, Hello Korea will be keenly observing their next moves on the global stage.

Editor: Daniel Park 📊