Girl Group KATSEYE Dominates YouTube's 2025 U.S. Trending Topics List
YouTube named global pop group KATSEYE among the year's hottest trending topics in America, recognizing the six-member act's explosive cultural impact in its December 3 annual report.
The streaming platform's "Global Culture & Trend Report 2025" spotlighted KATSEYE as the sole musical artist on its U.S. trending topics list-a distinction placing them alongside Netflix's animated hit "KPop Demon Hunters" and viral toy phenomenon Labubu. The ranking measures video views, audience engagement, and social sharing across YouTube's ecosystem.
Billboard Breakthrough Drives Momentum
KATSEYE's commercial success paralleled their online dominance. "Beautiful Chaos," their sophomore EP released June 27, entered Billboard's album chart at No. 4 with 44,000 units sold-including 30,000 pure album purchases, making it the week's second-best seller.
Hit single "Gabriela" climbed to No. 31 on Billboard's Hot 100 by November, marking the group's career peak after sustained radio growth. Earlier single "Gnarly" broke the group into mainstream consciousness, debuting at No. 90 in June-their first Hot 100 appearance.
Viral Festival Performances Amplify Reach
Lollapalooza Chicago proved pivotal for KATSEYE's trajectory. Their August 3 daytime performance drew 85,000 attendees-reportedly the festival's largest early-set crowd ever. Performance footage spread rapidly online, converting festivalgoers into streaming fans.
The group also headlined Summer Sonic 2025 in Japan (August 16-17), where their precision choreography reinforced their reputation for high-energy live shows.
Gap Campaign Achieves Record Engagement
Fashion retailer Gap's "Better in Denim" campaign starring KATSEYE generated unprecedented viral success. The Robbie Blue-choreographed spot, soundtracked by Kelis' "Milkshake," accumulated 20 million views in 72 hours-tripling the company's previous record.
The campaign earned $1.7 million in media value and spawned countless TikTok recreations, demonstrating KATSEYE's influence with Gen Z consumers.
Grammy Nods Validate Rapid Rise
The Recording Academy nominated KATSEYE for two 2026 Grammy Awards: Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Gabriela." Voting concludes ahead of the February 1 ceremony in Los Angeles.
Reality TV Origins Meet K-Pop Methods
KATSEYE emerged from "The Debut: Dream Academy," HYBE and Geffen Records' 2023 competition that auditioned 120,000+ applicants globally. The selected members-Sophia Laforteza, Lara Rajagopalan, Daniela Avanzini, Megan Skiendiel, Manon Bannerman, and Yoonchae Jeung-trained under K-pop industry protocols before their June 2024 debut.
The project exemplifies HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk's strategy of adapting Korean entertainment production systems for Western markets, creating culturally diverse acts with global appeal.
KATSEYE's Beautiful Chaos Tour continues through December with stops across North America. The group will perform at Coachella 2026 in April.
