NewJeans Named to Billboard’s ’21 Under 21′ List for the Second Year

K-pop phenomenon NewJeans has once again been recognized by Billboard, earning a spot on its prestigious ‘21 Under 21‘ list for 2024. This marks the second consecutive year that the South Korean girl group has been honored as one of the most influential and innovative artists under the age of 21 worldwide.

Published on May 16 (local time), Billboard’s annual feature evaluates young global artists by their album sales, streaming statistics, social media impact, and presence across radio and TV. In this year’s article, Billboard highlighted NewJeans’ resilience and enduring popularity despite a halt in their activities since March amid a high-profile legal conflict between ADOR, their label, and its parent company, Hybe Corporation.

“Although the group has paused activities since March, the devotion of their fanbase has sustained their popularity and chart success,” Billboard stated. The recognition is notable given the group’s current legal turmoil surrounding contract termination initiated by the members against ADOR, which led to a court order banning independent promotions.

Billboard also spotlighted NewJeans’ musical achievements, citing their second EP, Get Up, which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2023. The group also charted at No. 50 on the Billboard World Albums Chart in 2024. Further emphasizing their impact, the article noted the commercial success of their 2023 singles How Sweet and Supernatural, which garnered 51.6 million and 41.2 million streams in the U.S., respectively. Their physical album sales surpassed 1 million copies globally.

Currently, all group activities remain suspended due to ongoing legal proceedings, which continue to attract significant media attention. Despite these challenges, NewJeans’ international influence and fan-driven momentum affirm their place as a force in the next generation of global music icons.