IVE’s “XOXZ” Named Billboard’s “Best K-Pop Song of 2025,” Further Solidifying Their Status as Global Superstars

The K-pop powerhouse group IVE — consisting of Yujin, Gaeul, Lay, Wonyoung, Hyunji, Hana, Mijoo, Fei, Nine, Jinhwa, and Liz — continues to strengthen its dominance in the global music market. In the “25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2025: Staff’s Picks” list released by Billboard on the 18th (local time) via its official website, IVE’s “XOXZ” was selected as the best K-pop song, once again proving its worldwide popularity. “XOXZ” is the title track from IVE’s fourth mini-album, “IVE SECRET,” which was released in August. This song uses the term “XOXZ,” a new phrase coined by IVE inspired by the English expression “XOXO,” to convey a message like “I love you, good night. See you in my dreams.” It sensitively explores a complex mix of hidden attitudes and emotions rather than focusing on a single feeling. Amidst enthusiastic praise from listeners around the world, Billboard commented, “IVE’s mysterious song delivers deep emotional resonance without needing explicit explanation.” The magazine added, “The low-rap in the chorus paired with the smooth high-pitched melody creates intricate tension, while restrained vocals atop 808 beats amplify emotional shifts.” Billboard further praised IVE, stating, “IVE’s unique exploration of the ‘self’ has evolved even more fascinatingly, and their confident attitude of demanding everything with full assurance is unmistakable.” This highlights how IVE’s assertive storytelling and diverse musical experiments have captured both the hearts of the public and critics. Since their debut in 2021 with the track “ELEVEN,” which conveyed a message of self-confidence, IVE has expanded its musical scope even further this year. Earlier this year, they achieved an All-Kill on domestic music charts with the preview track “LEVEL HEART” from their third mini-album, “IVE EMPATHY.” Following that, their title track “ATTITUDE” sparked a massive challenge trend, and now “XOXZ” has added to their 2025 string of hits. Alone this year, they have won 20 music show trophies (“LEVEL HEART” earned 11 awards, “ATTITUDE” won 4, and “XOXZ” secured 5), bringing their total since debut to an impressive 74 awards and solidifying the “IVE phenomenon.” Their success in the album market is equally remarkable. Both “IVE EMPATHY” and “IVE SECRET” exceeded 1 million units sold in their initial sales this year, enabling IVE to achieve seven consecutive million-seller albums. On Billboard’s charts, they ranked first among “Emerging Artists,” made it onto the “Billboard Artist 100,” and appeared simultaneously on the “World Albums,” “Top Current Album Sales,” “Top Album Sales,” and “Global (Excluding U.S.)” charts. This year, they won a total of 22 trophies at major award shows, including grand prizes, demonstrating their strength as a fully developed artist group. Their activities on global stages are also active. Building on their performance at Lollapalooza Chicago last year, IVE performed in Berlin and Paris this year, setting a record as the first K-pop girl group to appear at Lollapalooza for two consecutive years. They also filled the stage with energy at “Rock In Japan Festival 2025,” one of Japan’s four major rock festivals, reaffirming their reputation as performance-oriented idols. After successfully concluding their second world tour, “SHOW WHAT I AM,” at the KSPO DOME in Seoul from October 31 to November 2, IVE has announced a performance at the Kyocera Dome Osaka in April 2026, with plans to get even closer to their global fans across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania.