Yonhap News reported that NewJeans and KATSEYE have been named by Billboard in the "21 Under 21" list in 2025, a list that honors the most influential artists under the age of 21.
Billboard's list of artists is based on a variety of criteria, including album and song sales, streaming figures, and overall impact in the music industry.
NewJeans has been on Billboard's "21 Under 21" list for 2 consecutive years. Despite the group's recent legal conflicts with management company ADOR, as well as parent company HYBE, Billboard still emphasizes NewJeans' dominance of the chart.
The magazine explained, "Although NewJeans has been a hit in recent months due to legal tensions with HYBE, their dominance of their charts last year shows the unwavering passion of fans."
According to Billboard, NewJeans' mini album Get Up, which topped the Billboard 200 in 2023, earned an additional 227,000 equivalent album units last year (according to Luminate), and reached No. 3 on the World Album Chart at the end of 2024, as well as No. 50 on the Top Album Sales Chart.
NewJeans' two 2024 released singles, "How Sweet" and "Supernatural," earned 51.6 million and 41.2 million streams as Official Requirements in the US during the year, respectively.
The first to make the list is KATSEYE, a global girl group formed by HYBE and Geffen Records in June 2023.
Billboard has noted the group's growth momentum, citing hit single "Touch" and upcoming mini album "Beautiful Chaos," scheduled to be released next month, as indicators of their growing influence.
NewJeans' honoring by Billboard has attracted attention, especially in the context of the tense legal battle between the group and ADOR company.
Last November, the girl group unilaterally announced the termination of their co- exclusive license with ADOR due to the company's breach of trust. After that, they created a new social media account and started operating independently under the name NJZ.
However, NewJeans lost the first hearing on the temporary ban filed by ADOR. The court approved the request to maintain the status of the management company ADOR and banned NewJeans from signing an advertising contract without going through ADOR.
NewJeans filed an appeal but failed. The group had to change the NJZ account name to another name, and announced a temporary hiatus.
Currently, NewJeans continues to pursue the main lawsuit, aiming to "confirm the validity of the exclusive contract" between ADOR and NewJeans that took place from April 3.
According to the Korea Times, legal experts said that NewJeans will find it difficult to turn the situation around against ADOR. The legal battle between NewJeans and ADOR could last 3 years, which would be even more disadvantageous for the group.
In particular, the five female idols could face a fine of 400 billion won to 600 billion won if they lose the lawsuit.
