Do You Know This Viral Song? How TikTok Helped K-Pop Group "Fifty Fifty" Chart On Billboard Global 200
Fifty Fifty was the underdog in the K-pop music industry – until they landed top 50 on Billboard Hot 100, all thanks to the group's talent, TikTok, and...John Cena?
Do you know about the K-pop group Fifty Fifty? If not, you've at least probably heard their latest hit song, "Cupid." The original recording of the tune, a "Twin" mix, and an instrumental cut have successfully amassed a combined 377 million-plus streams on all platforms. Even if you're not into K-pop, you've gotta admit it's a cute and catchy song!
On February 24, 2023, the new girl group released a single with a physical format titled, The Beginning: Cupid. The four-member band includes Keena, Aena, Sio, and Aran. "Cupid" is available in Korean and English, but both versions have made a massive impact on TikTok. The sped-up English version is more well-known to users, originally uploaded by @c5won, with the sound being used in over 6 million videos!
The bop was also used in a viral video of John Cena dancing after he put on some headphones. The clip with the song eventually turned into a popular trend format, further propelling Fifty Fifty into stardom.
Those who don't know much about the group would probably assume they're established and have been around for a while since their song debuted at number 106 on Billboard Global 200, eventually landing the top 50 on Billboard Hot 100.
The truth is, though, the pop group was launched in late 2022 and formed by the record label Attrakt, a South Korean record label and entertainment agency founded by Jeon Hong-joon, Fifty Fifty is currently the only active group under this label. And, the CEO actually had to sell his car to cover production costs after the recording of the album, according to The Korea Economic Daily.
"I hadn't even thought of Billboard. We had no money for global marketing, so I went around visiting local label companies and asked them to listen to our music at least once," Jeon said. He also added that their goal is for Fifty Fifty to be the female version of BTS! Even non-K-pop fans understand the cutthroat nature of the South Korean music industry, so "Cupid's" virality is truly a miracle for the group, and it goes to show the immense power the internet has.
Maybe the idea of a "female BTS" isn't too farfetched after all. On April 25, Fifty Fifty and Warner Records' partnership was announced, adding that they're working on even more amazing content for their worldwide fans. “We are so honored to be working with Warner Records, and we are excited to see what the future holds for us,” reads their official statement. “We are looking forward to bringing more great music and content to our fans around the world. Thank you for your continued support and love.”
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