KATSEYE Makes History: ‘WILD’ Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200
KATSEYE has achieved their first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with their third EP, WILD. The album earned 170,000 equivalent album units in its first week, marking the biggest debut for an all-female group since 2008. The achievement also makes KATSEYE the fourth K-pop girl group to top the chart since 2020, following BLACKPINK, NewJeans, and TWICE.
Official Announcement
On August 23 local time, Billboard officially announced that KATSEYE’s new EP WILD had debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, dated August 29. The news was confirmed across multiple outlets including Yonhap News Agency, The Korea Times, and Billboard’s official website.
KATSEYE took to Instagram to thank their fans, known as EYEKONS, writing: “EYEKONS, we couldn’t have gotten here without you. Thank you so much for listening, sharing, and believing in us”. The members added that the achievement still felt surreal, sharing: “We’re still pinching ourselves, our first #1 on the Billboard 200??!!”
Table of Contents
Full Details
First-Week Performance
WILD earned a total of 170,000 equivalent album units in the United States during the week ending August 20, according to Luminate. The breakdown includes:
- 145,000 pure album sales — the group’s best-ever week
- 24,500 streaming equivalent album (SEA) units, translating to 26.95 million on-demand audio streams
- Approximately 500 track equivalent album (TEA) units
Chart Records and Milestones
- Largest week by units for an all-female group since the Billboard 200 began ranking by units in December 2015
- Biggest pure album sales week for an all-female group in over three years, since TWICE’s Ready To Be debuted with 146,000 units in March 2023
- First No. 1 album for KATSEYE, following their previous EP Beautiful Chaos which peaked at No. 4 in 2025
- Fourth No. 1 album by an all-woman group this decade, following TWICE’s With YOU-th (2025), NewJeans’ Get Up (2023), and BLACKPINK’s Born Pink (2022)
Album Details
Released on August 14 via HYBE x Geffen Records, WILD is KATSEYE’s third EP and contains five tracks: “Pinky Up,” “Animal,” “Hootie Frutti,” “Bel Air,” and “That Way”.
The album explores “accepting every facet of one’s inner self while pursuing instinct and freedom”. Notable contributors include HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, British pop star Ed Sheeran, and producers Omer Fedi and Blake Slatkin. The album’s sales were driven by over 30 CD and vinyl variants featuring collectible items, signed editions, and bonus tracks.
UK Chart Performance
Prior to its Billboard 200 success, WILD had already become KATSEYE’s highest-charting release in the United Kingdom, debuting at No. 2 on the Official Albums Chart.
Why It Matters
KATSEYE’s No. 1 debut represents a significant milestone for the group, which was formed through “The Debut: Dream Academy,” a survival program jointly launched by HYBE and Universal Music Group’s Geffen Records. The group made their U.S. debut in 2024 and has since released hit songs including “Gnarly” and “Gabriela,” earning a Best New Artist nomination at this year’s Grammy Awards.
The achievement places KATSEYE alongside some of the biggest names in K-pop. Before them, BLACKPINK, NewJeans, TWICE, BTS, SuperM, Stray Kids, Ateez, and Tomorrow X Together had all reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
The record-breaking first-week sales also demonstrate the growing global influence of K-pop girl groups. The last all-female group to achieve a No. 1 album before the 2020s was Danity Kane with Welcome to the Dollhouse in 2008.
What’s Next?
KATSEYE will embark on their sold-out arena tour, “THE WILDWORLD TOUR,” kicking off September 1 in Dublin, Ireland. The tour will visit major cities across Europe and North America.
The group also landed four songs on the Billboard Hot 100, further cementing their presence on the U.S. charts.
FAQ
1. When did KATSEYE’s ‘WILD’ debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200?
Billboard announced the debut on August 23, 2026, for the chart dated August 29.
2. How many copies did ‘WILD’ sell in its first week?
WILD earned 170,000 equivalent album units, including 145,000 pure album sales.
3. What records did KATSEYE break with this debut?
The group achieved the largest week by units for an all-female group since the Billboard 200 began ranking by units in 2015, and the biggest pure album sales week for a girl group in over three years.
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