K-pop sensation Cortis has achieved a significant career milestone, entering the Billboard top three for the first time with their highly anticipated second EP, “Greengreen.” This marks a major breakthrough for the boy group on the prestigious US charts.
Billboard’s chart preview record, released on Monday, confirmed that “Greengreen” debuted impressively at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart for the week of May 23. The album garnered an impressive 87,000 album-equivalent units during its tracking week, a figure that includes 81,500 in traditional album sales and 5,500 streaming equivalent album units, showcasing strong fan engagement.
This achievement signifies Cortis’ first-ever entry into both the top three and top ten positions on the main US albums chart. The group previously made their debut on the Billboard 200 with their first EP, “Color Outside the Lines,” which peaked at No. 15 last year, demonstrating a consistent upward trajectory.
According to statements from Big Hit Music, Cortis now holds a remarkable record: they are the fastest K-pop group, excluding project acts, to reach the Billboard 200 top three, achieving this feat just nine months after their debut. The agency further highlighted Cortis’ unique position as the only boy group formed within the last five years to have secured a spot in the chart’s coveted top three.
Cortis has also maintained strong momentum with their lead track, “Redred.” The song successfully entered Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart dated May 16, indicating its proximity to the main Hot 100 chart. The Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart compiles up to 25 tracks that are just below the threshold for the main Hot 100, based on comprehensive data from streaming, radio airplay, and sales.
Furthermore, “Redred” has celebrated a “grand slam” across prominent Korean music shows, securing wins on “Show Champion,” “M Countdown,” “Music Bank,” “Show! Music Core,” and “Inkigayo.” In total, the track has earned seven music show trophies, including an impressive three consecutive wins on Mnet’s “M Countdown.”
The track’s performance on global streaming platforms has also been exceptional, with “Redred” climbing to No. 2 on Melon’s daily chart and consistently holding a top rank. On Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global chart for May 16, the track achieved No. 135, extending its successful chart run to 25 consecutive days, further solidifying Cortis’ international reach and popularity.
