IVE Takes Over Billboard: K-Pop Stars Crowned #1 Emerging Artists

In a move that cements their status as global superstars, K-pop powerhouse IVE has officially conquered the Billboard charts, landing at #1 on the Emerging Artists chart as of October 4th. This monumental achievement is a clear signal of their rapidly growing influence in the U.S. market and beyond.

The Billboard Emerging Artists chart isn’t just another ranking; it tracks the artists who are making the biggest waves and gaining the most traction. For IVE (An Yujin, Gaeul, Rei, Jang Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo), hitting the top spot proves that the ‘IVE Syndrome’ is not just a Korean phenomenon—it’s a global one.

Charting Success with ‘IVE SECRET’

The driving force behind this success is their fourth mini-album, ‘IVE SECRET,’ released in August. The album made an impressive debut across multiple Billboard charts:

#4 on World Albums
#14 on Top Current Album Sales
#16 on Top Album Sales

The album’s title track, ‘XOXZ,’ also made its mark on the Global (Excl. US) chart. The song’s title is a creative neologism coined by IVE themselves, meaning, “I love you, good night, and see you in my dreams.” This unique blend of heartfelt emotion and catchy hooks has clearly resonated with fans worldwide, propelling IVE onto a total of six different Billboard charts simultaneously, including the prestigious Artist 100.

The ‘IVE Syndrome’: A Domestic and Global Takeover

While their international profile is exploding, IVE’s foundation in South Korea remains unshakable. Their previous mini-album, ‘IVE EMPATHY,’ was a domestic mega-hit. Its pre-release single, ‘REBEL HEART,’ achieved a Perfect All-Kill (퍼펙트 올킬) on Korean music charts, and the album collectively earned them 15 music show wins.

This domestic dominance, combined with their recent captivating performance at Japan’s ‘ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2025’ and their ranking as the #1 idol group in brand reputation, showcases their universal appeal. The excitement is only set to grow as IVE prepares to launch their second world tour, ‘SHOW WHAT I AM,’ starting in Seoul on October 31st.

Korean Vocabulary for Global Fans

Dive deeper into the IVE phenomenon with these key Korean terms:

신드롬 (Sindeurom): Syndrome. In K-pop, this is used to describe a massive wave of popularity and cultural impact created by a group, like the ‘IVE Syndrome.’
퍼펙트 올킬 (Peopekteu Olkil): Perfect All-Kill (PAK). A huge achievement where a song hits #1 on all major Korean real-time, daily, and weekly music charts at the same time.
지상파 (Jisangpa): Terrestrial broadcast. Refers to the three main free-to-air TV networks in Korea (KBS, MBC, SBS). Winning on their weekly music shows is a major benchmark for success.
브랜드평판 (Beuraendeupyeongpan): Brand Reputation. A monthly ranking that measures a group’s public interest, media coverage, and community engagement, indicating their overall buzz and influence.
신조어 (Sinjo-eo): Neologism or newly coined word. A new term that has entered the language, like IVE’s unique and creative song title, ‘XOXZ.’