NCT Is First K-Pop Act to Hit No. 1 on Emerging Artists Chart

Eighteen-piece K-pop group NCT rises 2-1 on Billboard‘s Emerging Artists chart (dated May 5), to become the top emerging musical act in the U.S. The coronation marks the first time that a K-Pop act has led the list.

The move is powered by the act’s social reach, driven mostly by Twitter reactions. NCT ranks at No. 4 on the Social 50 chart, with an 11 percent increase in overall activity. Plus, its first LP, NCT 2018 Empathy, places at No. 15 on World Albums (after reaching No. 5 in March).

NCT currently includes 18 members. Its brand extends to sub-units NCT 127 (with nine members) and NCT Dream (featuring only teenagers), while more NCT offshoots are expected.

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Three albums have hit the World Albums chart under the NCT 127 billing (including Limitless: The 2nd Mini Album EP, which spent a week at No. 1 in January 2017), while one has charted credited to NCT Dream (EP We Young: The 1st Mini Album; No. 3, March 2017).

Elsewhere on the Emerging Artists chart, British singer-songwriter Bishop Briggs re-enters at a new No. 4 high, as her debut studio set Church of Scars arrives at No. 5 on Top Rock Albums and No. 29 on the Billboard 200 with 14,000 equivalent album units, according to Nielsen Music. Briggs’ latest single “White Flag” concurrently re-enters the Hot Rock Songs chart at No. 27 and rises 26-23 on Alternative Songs.

Rounding out the Artist 100’s top five, Bad Wolves bump 3-2, Jordan Davis dips 1-3 and Ella Mai ascends 7-5, entering the top five for the first time.

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Among other Emerging Artists moves, country singer-songwriter Morgan Wallen logs a new peak (15-9), as his breakout single “Up Down,” featuring Florida Georgia Line, hits the Radio Songs chart’s top 40 (44-39, up 10 percent to 24.5 million in audience). The track also lifts to No. 12 on Hot Country Songs, a new peak.

Check out this week’s full Emerging Artists chart here.