KATSEYE Redefines K-Pop Stage Standards with “Perfect Sync” Between Music Video and Performances…Continuing Global Tour

The global girl group KATSEYE, jointly produced by HYBE and American Geffen Records, has set a new standard for K-Pop performances with their new song “Gnarly.” After releasing “Gnarly” on the 30th of last month, KATSEYE performed on four major music shows from May 1st to 4th, including Mnet’s “M Countdown,” KBS’s “Music Bank,” MBC’s “Show! Music Core,” and SBS’s “Inkigayo.” On stage, they received high praise from music show producers and fans for their vivid facial expressions, powerful twerking moves, and “hammer performance.” Notably, KATSEYE gained attention by achieving perfect synchronization between their music video and live performances. In the industry and among fans, this ultimate idol standard—where the music video and stage performance match exactly—is referred to as “music-video sync,” and KATSEYE is praised for perfectly executing it. The performance videos of “Gnarly” from each music show recorded explosive views, averaging nearly 2 million views on YouTube. The Mnet M2 Studio video alone surpassed 2.39 million views in just one day on May 2nd and has now crossed 4.01 million views. A large number of short-form videos created by fans were also produced, amounting to something comparable to the comeback output of top-tier idol groups. Netizens poured praise such as “The birth of a new stage master” and “A new standard and model for girl group live performances.” “Gnarly” also attracted attention for its “girl crush” sound, which stands in sharp contrast to KATSEYE’s debut songs “Debut” and “Touch.” Although there is a toned-down version for music shows, this song is also KATSEYE’s first adult-oriented track (19+). Featuring hyperpop influences, it entered the Spotify “Daily Top Songs Global” chart at position 91 on May 2nd and ranked among the top entries in 28 countries worldwide in YouTube’s Music Video Trending section. On Spotify, it made it to the “Highly Recommended” list in 26 countries and regions globally. KATSEYE is a localized group based on the K-Pop methodology that made its U.S. debut in June 2024. HYBE and Geffen Records selected the final six members from 120,000 applicants worldwide through the global audition project “The Debut: Dream Academy.” They operated a K-Pop system in the United States that focused on identifying aspiring artists, providing training to maximize musical skills and performance abilities, and even addressing psychological aspects. HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk stated that this project embodies the philosophy that for K-Pop to truly become a global mainstream genre, it must evolve into “pop itself” with the “K” element diluted. After completing their activities in Korea, KATSEYE will continue their global tour. They will perform at the large-scale music festival “Lollapalooza Chicago” in Chicago, U.S., on August 3rd (local time), and will appear at “Summer Sonic 2025” in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan, from the 16th to the 17th.