ATEEZ has entered the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time with their song “Lemon Drop”, marking a historic moment for the group. The track debuted at No. 69 on the chart, making ATEEZ the third K-pop boy group after BTS and Stray Kids to achieve this feat. However, their success has been met with accusations of fraudulent charting, sparking debates online.
The song is the title track of their 12th mini-album, GOLDEN HOUR: Part.3, which also reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Despite the group’s strong physical sales, some netizens claim their streaming numbers are too low for a Hot 100 entry. Fans have quickly defended ATEEZ, explaining that high album sales contributed to their chart position.
“Lemon Drop” earned 1,220,112 streams on Spotify in its first week, while its music video surpassed 24 million views in 10 days. The song also topped Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart and ranked No. 9 on the Digital Song Sales chart. These numbers show a mix of strong sales and steady streaming, supporting their Hot 100 debut.
Some critics argue that ATEEZ’s presence on major streaming platforms like Apple Music and Amazon Music is weaker compared to other K-pop acts. An X-user accused the group of releasing “random physical CDs with members’ faces at Target to boost sales.” Others called the achievement “fraudulent,” questioning the legitimacy of their chart entry.
Fans countered these claims by highlighting ATEEZ’s consistent album success. Their latest mini-album sold over 105,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week, securing the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart. Physical sales have always been a strong point for ATEEZ, and Billboard’s Hot 100 formula includes sales, streams, and radio play.
ATEEZ’s agency, KQ Entertainment, has not responded to the accusations. However, supporters point out that the group’s global fanbase, ATINY, actively purchases albums and digital tracks, which directly impacts chart performance. Unlike streaming-heavy acts, ATEEZ’s sales-driven success follows Billboard’s rules.
The group has also dominated other charts. GOLDEN HOUR: Part.3 topped the iTunes Top Albums Chart in 26 regions and ranked high on Apple Music Top Album Charts in 82 countries. Additionally, ATEEZ re-entered the Billboard Artist 100 at No. 2, proving their growing influence.
Despite the controversy, ATEEZ continues to break records. They are the only K-pop group outside the ‘Big 4’ labels (HYBE, SM, JYP, YG) to enter the Hot 100. Their upcoming 2025 world tour, IN YOUR FANTASY, kicks off in Incheon on July 5-6, with stops in the U.S. and Mexico.
Billboard’s Hot 100 ranking considers sales (35%), streaming (55%), and radio airplay (10%). While ATEEZ’s streaming numbers are lower than some peers, their sales likely pushed them into the chart. This isn’t the first time a K-pop act has faced similar accusations—fans often debate chart legitimacy when groups with strong sales but moderate streams rank high.
ATEEZ’s achievement reflects the evolving ways artists can chart in the digital era. Physical sales remain a key factor, and their dedicated fanbase ensures strong performance in that area. The debate highlights differing opinions on what constitutes “legitimate” success in today’s music industry.
We use cookies to enhance your experience. By consenting, you allow us to process data like Browse behavior and unique IDs. Declining may affect some site features.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
