JO1 just made global J-pop history. Their English version of ‘BE CLASSIC’ has debuted at #34 on Mediabase’s Top 40 Radio Airplay Chart, making it the highest-charting U.S. Top 40 entry by a Japanese male idol group.
Originally released on their Best Of album celebrating their fifth anniversary, ‘BE CLASSIC’ samples Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and has already topped Billboard Japan’s Download Songs and Hot Shot Songs, as well as Japan’s Oricon daily sales chart. Its music video has racked up over 27 million views, with the English version released on 28 April.
JO1 also became the first Japanese idol group to headline the Dodgers’ Heritage Night, contributing US$50,000 through their WHENEVER WE ARE campaign. They followed it up by performing for GLOBAL SPIN LIVE at the Grammy Museum in L.A.
Formed in 2020 via PRODUCE 101 JAPAN, JO1’s 11 members were chosen through 65 million fan votes. With nine #1 singles on Oricon and multiple major awards under their belt, JO1 are fast becoming J-pop’s next global stars.