Global girl group KATSEYE have made Billboard history with their latest project WILD, scoring the biggest U.S. album debut by a girl group in nearly two decades.
The group’s third EP debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, earning 170,000 equivalent album units in the United States during its first tracking week. The result gives KATSEYE their first-ever Billboard 200 No. 1.
More significantly, WILD delivered the biggest weekly debut by a girl group in 18 years, dating back to Danity Kane’s Welcome to the Dollhouse, which opened with 236,000 copies in 2008. It is also the largest week for an all-female group since Billboard adopted its current album-equivalent methodology in 2015.
The achievement is a major leap for KATSEYE. Their previous EP, Beautiful Chaos, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 with 44,000 units, meaning WILD more than tripled the group’s previous first-week performance.
Released on August 14, 2026, WILD includes the Billboard Hot 100 singles “Pinky Up” and “Animal,” building on the momentum KATSEYE have generated since their 2024 debut.
The group formed through the HYBE and Geffen Records partnership following the Netflix competition series The Debut: Dream Academy has rapidly developed a global fanbase by combining the intensive performance model associated with K-pop with Western pop songwriting and production.
The success of WILD also extends beyond the music charts. KATSEYE: WILD HEARTS, a concert documentary released in cinemas during the album campaign, generated nearly $8 million worldwide in its opening weekend, including more than $4 million in North America.
The group are now preparing to take the momentum on the road with their WILDWORLD Tour, which begins in Dublin on September 1. The tour sold out in less than 48 hours and includes multiple two-night performances at major venues including London’s The O2 and Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena.
For KATSEYE, WILD represents a major breakthrough: a No. 1 Billboard 200 album, 170,000 first-week units and the biggest girl-group debut in the U.S. in 18 years.
The rise of KATSEYE is officially entering a new level.
