NewJeans Named to Billboard’s ’21 Under 21′ for Second Year Despite Hiatus

South Korean girl group NewJeans (comprised of Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein) has once again secured a coveted spot on Billboard’s prestigious ‘21 Under 21’ list, an annual recognition of the most influential young artists in the music industry.

The list, published on the 16th (local time), highlights musical acts under the age of 21 based on extensive metrics including album and track sales, streaming numbers, social media visibility, and overall impact on the industry. NewJeans made the list for the second consecutive year—a testament to their continued global influence, despite currently being on hiatus.

Billboard praised the group’s sustained chart success, notably through their second EP Get Up, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. According to Luminate, the album sold an additional 227,000 units in 2023 alone, earning a year-end No. 3 position on the World Albums chart and No. 50 on Top Album Sales in 2024.

Further underlining their popularity, NewJeans’ double single How Sweet and Japanese debut single Supernatural both achieved million-seller status. The lead tracks from each release enjoyed multi-week runs on the Billboard Global 200—13 weeks for “How Sweet” and 10 weeks for “Supernatural.”

Beyond the charts, the group secured top honors at major Korean year-end award shows and won Excellence Awards at Japan’s Record of the Year for two consecutive years. Their impact has resonated not just with fans but also within the industry at large.

Despite these accomplishments, NewJeans is currently entangled in a legal dispute with their agency ADOR and its parent company Hybe. Former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin was dismissed from her position, prompting the group to file for contract termination with ADOR in November 2023, citing unfair treatment. They have since signaled autonomous activities under the new name NJZ, although ‘NewJeans’ continues to be widely recognized.

However, the legal tides have not favored the group. A court granted ADOR’s request for injunction to preserve its status as the managing agency and to prevent NewJeans from entering new promotional or advertising contracts independently. Following the ruling, NewJeans announced an official pause on all activities.

Even amid the controversy and standstill, NewJeans’ legacy continues to expand — a remarkable feat for a group navigating personal and professional transformation at one of the most critical junctures of their career.