Rookie K-pop band Winner has stayed at the top of the local music charts for two weeks straight with its debut track as of Tuesday, outshining established idol stars such as Sistar, HyunA, Block B and Girls Day.
The quintet’s title track “Empty” from its debut EP “2014 S/S” held the No.1 spot for the second consecutive week on three major music charts -- Melon, Genie and Bugs Music -- as of Aug. 26, two weeks after its release on Aug. 12.
Their album also topped the Billboard World Albums chart and ranked No. 6 on its Heatseekers Albums chart on Aug. 22, showing that the group is gaining global attention.
The rookie group also came in first on three TV music shows -- Mnet’s “M Countdown,” KBS-2TV’s “Music Bank,” and SBS “Inkigayo” -- just a week after their official debut on TV.
The YG’s newest group was first introduced through the survival audition show “Who Is Next: WIN,” YG CEO Yang Hyun-suk’s latest project to pick members for his newest boy band.
During the program, Team A and Team B, all composed of trainees under the label, vied for a chance to debut in the winner-takes-all competition. The victory went to Team A, which is now the group Winner.
By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)