Katseye breaks 1 billion streams ahead of 2025 VMAs performance

During the summer of 2023, over 120,000 individuals from various parts of the world expressed interest in becoming part of an unprecedented global pop group. This ambitious project was a joint venture between South Korea’s HYBE and America’s Geffen Records, which generated tremendous excitement right off the bat.

From the massive candidate pool, merely 20 individuals were selected for the prestigious “Dream Academy,” a reality show emphasizing dance abilities, vocal prowess, and unyielding perseverance. These chosen ones honed their skills in Los Angeles, investing all their effort into preparation, and ultimately, only six could proceed to the grand finale.

As I reflect on my personal journey through the lens of Netflix’s Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, a gripping documentary series, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions. It didn’t just shine a glamorous light on pop stardom; it revealed the grueling reality behind it – the exhaustion, homesickness, and relentless competition that comes with chasing this dream. Watching it now, after witnessing the incredible strides these girls have made, gives me goosebumps.

Why you should be listening to Katseye

By November 2023, it was officially revealed who would be part of the group: Sophia, Manon, Daniela, Lara, Megan, and Yoonchae. Each individual offered something distinct, not just in terms of style but also in terms of cultural background.

Sophia (Group Lead) represents the Philippines, connecting to a massive and passionate fan base across Southeast Asia.
Manon (Visual Lead) hails from Switzerland, adding a European flair to the lineup.
Daniela Avanzini (Dance Lead), born in Atlanta, represents her Cuban and Venezuelan roots and brings serious dance experience, having once reached the top 10 on So You Think You Can Dance.
Lara (Vocal Lead) brings her Indian background into the spotlight, which feels especially meaningful in a global pop landscape that rarely highlights South Asian voices.
Megan (All-rounder), a Chinese American member, bridges Eastern and Western influences in a way that feels natural and powerful within the group’s dynamic.
Yoonchae (Maknae/youngest), born in Seoul, is the youngest of the group and already a force to be reckoned with.

What sets Katseye apart is its unique blend, which resonates with fans because it showcases these young women as individuals who embrace and highlight their diverse cultures instead of merging them into a single, common pop identity.

Debut and rise

On June 28, 2024, Katseye launched their first appearance, unveiling the single “Debut.” True to its name, it served as an assertive introduction, but it was their subsequent release, “Touch,” that garnered significant attention. This track exuded a Y2K ambiance and syncing it with dance moves on TikTok left fans eagerly trying to master the choreography.

Within mere months, the music video amassed an impressive 50 million views, transforming Katseye from a group that emerged from a competition into one that captivated the attention of everyone, becoming a must-watch act.

The band’s debut EP, titled “SIS (Soft Is Strong)“, established their unique blend of playful and resilient persona. In April 2025, they released “Gnarly”, a high-energy pop track that not only debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 but also signaled their transition from emerging to mainstream artists, demonstrating that their success was not merely a result of their initial popularity.

By June 2025, the group launched their second extended play, titled “Beautiful Chaos,” which entered the Billboard 200 at position 4 – a remarkable achievement rarely attained by new groups. This milestone is usually just a dream for fledgling acts. Critics had mixed opinions, some expressing that the EP should have ventured more daringly beyond its boundaries. However, there was almost unanimous agreement among them that “Gnarly” showcased Katseye’s untapped creative potential, hinting at even greater artistic flare waiting to be ignited.

Streaming success

Should their chart success not speak volumes enough, their Spotify streaming figures paint an even more compelling narrative. By early September 2025, Katseye had exceeded a mind-boggling 1.2 billion total streams on Spotify, a remarkable achievement for a band barely two years into their music journey.

Among their hits, “Touch” is the most streamed with more than 432 million plays, closely followed by “Gnarly” at 224 million and “Gabriela” with over 200 million streams. Their first single, aptly titled “Debut,” has also garnered over 143 million plays, while their fan-loved track “Gameboy” boasts more than 70 million.

This progression is reflected as consistent expansion, with the community boasting approximately 28.4 million monthly listeners and an average of 8.3 million daily streams. These figures underscore the immense level of involvement from their worldwide audience.

2025 has been an incredible year for me, with my game racking up a staggering 894 million streams by late August – that’s almost three times the total for all of 2024! I guess you could say my popularity is on a meteoric rise.

Fashion and influence

Absolutely, music is just one aspect of what Katseye has to offer. Beyond music, they’ve ventured into fashion and branding, securing collaborations with renowned brands like Fendi, Lush, and Coach. They even collaborated with Jollibee and subsequently partnered with Mattel’s Monster High, producing a remix of “Fright Song” and designing their own dolls. This collaboration was particularly fitting as it mirrored the shared values of both Katseye and Monster High, which celebrate individuality and community, resonating deeply with their respective fanbases.

Katseye’s latest partnership with Gap has evolved into a worldwide sensation, seamlessly merging fashion and music in a manner that appears effortless. The girls infused their unique styles into the collaboration, shifting the focus away from coordinated outfits towards championing individuality. People around the globe have wholeheartedly adopted this campaign, transforming it into a viral platform demonstrating the group’s impact extending beyond music.

The VMAs

On September 7, 2025, marks a significant event. That’s when Katseye will take the stage during the pre-show of the MTV Video Music Awards, beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. They’ll be performing two songs, “Gabriela” and “Gnarly”, which have been created within the past year since their debut, demonstrating their impressive growth in a short span. Moreover, Katseye isn’t merely performing; they are also nominated for two awards: Group of the Year and Push Performance of the Year for “Touch”.

For a band formed less than two years ago during a survival competition, this achievement is monumental. It’s not merely about gaining recognition, but also demonstrating the validity of their unique approach and validating the risk taken in assembling a world-class girl group.

Why their story hits different

Katseye’s journey carries significance as it goes beyond the common narrative of a pop group’s origin. They demonstrate what transpires when diversity isn’t merely a catchphrase but serves as the foundation. By merging the rigorous training methodology of K-pop with the individuality and character-centric storytelling typical of Western pop, they have crafted a unique blend that feels innovative yet comfortably recognizable.

Many fans, including myself, are strongly supporting them, given their journey from anxious trainees at Dream Academy to performing on a major music night. It’s not just impressive for the music industry, but also encouraging for anyone aspiring to pursue their dreams, even when they seem unattainable.

When Katseye steps onto the VMAs stage on Sunday, it signifies not only a performance, but also a celebratory lap acknowledging their achievements thus far, and a sneak peek into the even greater heights they are anticipated to reach in the future.

2025-09-07 20:00