JYP Entertainment's rookie girl group, VCHA, is already garnering immense global attention with their pre-debut single title track, 'Y O Universe'.
VCHA, consisting of Lexi, KG, Camila, Savana, Kailey, and Kendall, is a six-member rookie girl group formed through the global girl group launch project 'A2K' (America2Korea), a collaboration between JYP and Republic Records.
On September 22, the journey of 'A2K' concluded with its 22nd episode on JYP's official YouTube channel. To commemorate this, they released their pre-debut single 'SeVit (NEW LIGHT)' and the title track 'Y O Universe' simultaneously worldwide.
As of the morning of September 23, their 'Y O Universe' music video has entered the YouTube trending charts, ranking 1st worldwide, 5th in the US, 7th in Brazil, and 8th in Canada, among others. By 2 PM on the 25th, the video surpassed 3.3 million views and ranked 8th on the domestic YouTube trending music chart. Additionally, 'Y O Universe' ranked 2nd on the US Billboard 'Hot Trending Songs Powered by Twitter' chart, proving its widespread popularity even before the official debut.
Their official debut performances on KBS2's 'Music Bank' and MBC's 'Show! Music Core' also captivated audiences. The stage performances and fancam videos posted on official broadcasting channels like KBS Kpop and MBCkpop have collectively garnered over 3 million views as of 2 PM on the 25th.
VCHA, a rookie girl group formed with the goal of showcasing a global girl group based on North America's first K-pop training system, has also caught the attention of major international media outlets.
On September 20th (local time), Forbes released an article titled "Can a North American Girl Group Succeed in the K-pop Market?" highlighting the global phenomenon of K-pop and JYP's next move with 'A2K'.
The article stated, "The popularity of K-pop is no longer surprising, with new faces continuously emerging. According to a mid-year report by Luminate, 9 out of the top 10 physical albums sold in the US in 2023 were K-pop albums. Amidst this, JYP, which has produced groups like TWICE, Stray Kids, ITZY, and NMIXX, is partnering with Republic Records to prove that K-pop can succeed beyond its Korean roots with North American artists."
The article further highlighted that the 'A2K' series on YouTube showcased the process of creating a new girl group through the K-pop training system. What sets 'A2K' apart from similar survival programs is that all the contestants competing for a spot in the future K-pop girl group are North American girls. The resulting group, VCHA, has released a 'pre-debut single' and offers a preview of what's to come.
Other publications like Teen VOGUE, SWEETY HIGH, and TV Guide also extensively covered VCHA's journey. The members shared their experiences on 'A2K', their bond as a group, the meaning behind their group name, and their pre-debut single 'SeVit (NEW LIGHT)', further fueling anticipation for their future endeavors.
The members expressed, "Just five months ago, we couldn't even imagine being here. We've learned and grown so much throughout the 'A2K' journey. All the members worked hard to achieve our dream of debuting, and we want to continue to show even more growth. We're grateful to everyone who supported 'A2K' and want to shine a bright light on the world through this amazing journey."
VCHA is under JYP USA, the American subsidiary of JYP. They plan to expand their influence as a 'global K-pop artist' centered in the US through comprehensive collaboration with Republic Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music and the No. 1 label in the US as per Billboard.
Meanwhile, VCHA is currently preparing for their official debut and plans to engage fans with even more active promotions in the future.
