TXT, EXO, Stray Kids And Ateez: The K-Pop Boy Bands That Could Break In America In 2021

K-pop in America was pretty much a man’s game up until 2020, when a handful of female-only acts (fronted by Blackpink), began to finally earn the recognition and they’ve deserved for years now. The most successful South Korean act by a mile is BTS, but they aren’t the only boy band from that part of the world on the up-and-up. In fact, there are quite a few names who look like they’re about to shine bright in the U.S. very soon, perhaps in just the next few months.

Here are five South Korean boy bands who might break out in America in 2021.

TXT

In just two short years, Tomorrow X Together, or TXT for short, have shown that not only have they come to work hard, but that they may very well be the next major K-pop band to score hits and land massive albums in the U.S. In 2020, they sent at least nine tracks to the World Digital Song Sales chart, more than doubling their wins from the year prior.

Over on the Billboard 200, the group has now debuted titles in each of the past two years, and their upward trajectory is both clear and astounding. In the spring of 2019, The Dream Chapter: Star peaked at No. 140. This past November, their latest Minisode1: Blue Hour improved on that considerably, as it went all the way to No. 25.

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They are also one of only five South Korean groups to claim the bestselling album in the U.S. at least once, as Minisode1: Blue Hour sold well enough when it arrived to beat every other title that frame. They joined BTS, NCT 127, SuperM and Blackpink in that feat.

Exo

Exo itself is somewhat on hiatus, as several members are busy with their mandatory military enlistment (which is a must for all men in South Korea), but the name lives on. A handful of sub-units (separate, but related groups that feature some performers from the main band) have been identified, and at least two have already found success as standalone acts.

The original group has already sent four albums to the Billboard 200, and while only one sub-unit that is inactive has joined in that feat, 2021 could see others repeat that success. Exo-CBX has enjoyed some exciting placements, but it looks like the next spin-off from Exo that could break out would be Exo-SC…though there’s no telling which outfit will stand out most this year.

Stray Kids

In the few years they’ve been together, Stray Kids have released an astounding amount of music, with almost all of it performing extremely well on both the World Albums and World Digital Song Sales charts, where they have racked up nearly 10 top 10s on both lists.

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The band’s first full-length Go Live didn’t quite make the Billboard 200, but it did enter the top 40 on the Top Album Sales, hitting No. 26 and spending three frames on the tally. At the rate they churn out new collections, it’s only a matter of time before they rise higher and higher, eventually breaking on to the main roster.

Ateez

Most South Korean musicians and bands are lucky to reach any non-genre-specific Billboard chart at all, and only the biggest and most popular send titles to either the Billboard 200 or Top Album Sales lists. Ateez didn’t just place a title on the tally main albums ranking in 2020, they managed to do so twice, joining acts like BTS, Monsta X, TXT and few others in that showing. 

Verivery

Relatively new boy band Verivery just started making waves in America, but they are rushing to the top of the pack right out of the gate. So far, the group has only seen one song (and no collections) make it to the Billboard charts, but its immediate performance shows there is real interest in them and their music. Breakout hit “G.B.T.B.” (short for Go Beyond The Barrier) not only opened at No. 1 on the World Digital Song Sales list, it also landed on the all-style Digital Song Sales ranking, hitting No. 44. That’s something the other names on this list still haven’t accomplished. They are now primed and ready to do more amazing things in the U.S., hopefully in 2021.

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