SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – APRIL 13: Sio, Saena, Aran and Keena of South Korean girl group Fifty Fifty … [+]
On this week’s edition of the Pop Airplay chart, Fifty Fifty debuts their single “Cupid,” a song that is quickly becoming a global smash and a crossover win for the brand new act. With their first placement on the ranking of the tunes that reach the largest audience at pop radio in the U.S., the band joins a very small club of foreign successful girl groups who have found success in America.
As “Cupid” arrives at No. 36 on the Pop Airplay chart, Fifty Fifty becomes the fifth South Korean girl group to make it to the ranking, which is known as one of the more competitive of the Billboard lists.
Blackpink, made history as the first South Korean girl group to land a hit on the Pop Airplay chart back in 2020. Their collaboration with Selena Gomez, “Ice Cream,” worked its way up to No. 21, becoming a momentous and major hit at the time.
Since then, Blackpink has doubled their total number of wins with their single “Pink Venom,” which also placed on the list in late 2022. They remain the only South Korean girl group to chart more than one song on the Pop Airplay list.
In early 2021, another South Korean girl group, Loona, joined Blackpink in this accomplishment. The all-female vocal act sent their tune “Star” to the radio-only list, and it remains their only hit so far. It was a major coup when it arrived and showcased the growing influence of South Korean bands at pop radio, proving that there was room for more than one big name.
Last year, two girl groups primarily known for creating K-pop also scored their first hits on the Pop Airplay chart. Twice started off 2022 with “The Feels,” reaching No. 40 on the 40-spot list. Shortly before 2023 rolled around, (G)I-dle’s “Nxde” made a quick debut, eventually spending two weeks on the Pop Airplay ranking.
Fifty Fifty’s “Cupid” marks the first new hit on the Pop Airplay chart by a South Korean act in 2023. While several tracks from prominent names in South Korea’s music industry have found success on other Billboard tallies, such as the Hot 100 and the Digital Song Sales lists, a new pop radio win has eluded many in the space.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2023/05/16/fifty-fifty-joins-gi-dle-loona-twice-and-blackpink-with-their-first-pop-radio-hit/