KiiiKiii’s “404 (New Era)” is having its biggest domestic moment yet. The track jumped to No. 2 on Melon’s Top 100 as of February 9, 2026—an eye-catching peak that puts the Starship Entertainment rookies in real “public hit” territory, not just fandom buzz. And it’s not only Melon: the song also hit No. 1 on YouTube Music’s weekly chart, showing the momentum is traveling fast across platforms.
The fun part is the timing. “404 (New Era)” dropped on January 26 as the lead single from their second EP Delulu Pack, but the real takeoff didn’t happen overnight. It arrived weeks later, right as short-form clips started stacking up and the hook became hard to escape.
Date-by-date: the key milestones behind the spike
- Jan 26, 2026: “404 (New Era)” is released as the lead single from Delulu Pack.
- Feb 4: The group scores their first-ever music show trophy with “404 (New Era)” on MBC M’s Show Champion.
- Feb 7: KiiiKiii earns a follow-up win on MBC’s Show! Music Core, giving the song another big visibility bump with casual viewers.
- Feb 9: The track climbs to No. 2 on Melon, reflecting a delayed—but very real—public pickup.
Why this sound + concept is clicking now
Sonically, “404 (New Era)” leans into a punchy UK house/garage pulse and keeps the structure clean and club-ready. That shift has been tied to the track’s production lineup, including LDN Noise, and it shows in how crisp the beat hits even in a 10-second preview.
Visually, the Y2K styling is high-contrast and instantly readable. Still, it doesn’t feel like the concept is doing all the work. The “404 Not Found” reference is a smart bit of branding too—KiiiKiii flips a digital dead end into a “new era” slogan that’s easy to remember.
Viral engine: TikTok prerelease strategy and algorithm timing
A big part of the climb is how the song lived online after release week. As rollout coverage has noted, a TikTok-style short-form challenge pushed key parts of the track and point choreography early, which helped prime recommendations before the comeback cycle fully settled.
Now the familiar 2026 pattern is kicking in: one addictive audio snippet gets reused in dance covers, fan edits, and performance cuts until it circles back into streams. Not a one-week spike—more like a steady second wind.
Quick scan: the numbers and talking points
- “404 (New Era)” — Melon Top 100: No. 2 (Feb 9)
- YouTube Music weekly chart: No. 1
- First music show win: Show Champion (Feb 4)
- Additional win: Show! Music Core (Feb 7)
- Release context: Jan 26 single from Delulu Pack
Who is KiiiKiii? (fast primer for new readers)
KiiiKiii are a rookie girl group under Starship Entertainment, which means they’ve been on plenty of radars thanks to the label’s track record (and the inevitable comparisons that come with it). They debuted in 2025, and “404 (New Era)” feels like a confident step into bolder, club-leaning dance pop—one that’s starting to land beyond the core fanbase.
Reactions: what fans and netizens are saying
Most of the chatter has centered on the late-bloom climb. People keep calling the beat “addictive,” and the Y2K look is getting praise for feeling sharp rather than costume-y. And, honestly, the choreography is doing a lot here: it’s recognizable in a two-second scroll, but satisfying enough to replay.
“It’s finally getting noticed” has become the dominant sentiment, paired with: “this one’s built for clubs,” “Y2K done right,” and “the choreo seals it.”
What to watch next as the song keeps rising
Next up is the obvious question: can “404 (New Era)” push to a Melon No. 1 peak and hold stronger weekly placements? If the viral curve keeps its grip, more challenge clips, relay dances, and performance content could stretch the song’s lifespan—and give KiiiKiii an even bigger breakout moment this era.
