“We had an unforgettable year on TikTok, and it was all because of the EYEKONS who showed up for us every single day… we are so grateful for this community.”
Quick recap: the headline
KATSEYE has been named TikTok’s Global Artist of the Year for 2025, according to the platform’s Year in Music report published on December 9. The K-pop-rooted, multinational rookie group amassed more than 30 billion views and around 12 million creations using their music on the app.
The win crowns a breakout run powered by two viral smashes, Gnarly and Gabriela, and daily participation from EYEKONS. If you’ve been seeing “KATSEYE TikTok Global Artist” everywhere, this is the moment that explains why.
What happened and how it’s measured
TikTok’s report singled out KATSEYE as the top global artist on the platform for 2025 — a social-first distinction driven by creations and views rather than traditional chart crowns. Coverage from Music Business Worldwide and Billboard Philippines highlighted how that short-form dominance converted into real-world milestones.
In their note to fans, KATSEYE thanked EYEKONS for turning their “songs, moments, and chaos” into something global. It was a nod to how participatory trends sustained the group’s visibility across feeds.
Receipts and timeline
- Dec 9, 2025 — TikTok’s Year in Music report names KATSEYE Global Artist of the Year (MBW; Billboard PH).
- Platform totals credited to the group: 30B+ views and ~12M creations using KATSEYE music.
- Gnarly — ~2.4M creations, ~13.5B views; the surge marked KATSEYE’s first Billboard Hot 100 entry.
- Gabriela — ~2.8M creations, ~9.9B views; peaked at No. 7 on Spotify’s Global Top 50 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
- Group milestones: formed in 2023 by HYBE and Geffen Records; sophomore EP BEAUTIFUL CHAOS debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200; the group tallied two Grammy nominations this cycle.
The two tracks that changed their year
Gnarly did the heavy lifting in sheer scale. Its hook and short, repeatable clip formats made it ideal for challenges, lip-syncs, and duet chains. Celebrity participation pushed the audio to more For You pages and, ultimately, onto the Billboard Hot 100.
- Notable joins on Gnarly trends: LE SSERAFIM, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, and Camila Cabello.
Gabriela, meanwhile, was a choreography-first moment. The dance trend stuck around for weeks, helping the track climb to No. 7 on Spotify’s Global Top 50. Its Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance showed how a short-form hit can convert into awards-season buzz.
That Gap moment everyone saw in their feeds
A supposed Gap collaboration circulated widely on TikTok and Instagram, feeding the group’s fashion-and-pop narrative this year. It became part of how people discussed KATSEYE’s reach beyond music.
Important note: current public reporting from Music Business Worldwide and Billboard Philippines does not confirm an official Gap campaign. Treat it as a viral cultural moment unless or until HYBE, Gap, or the group issues a formal announcement.
Reactions: fans, peers, and the business side
EYEKONS lit up X and TikTok with celebration edits, streaming parties, and side-by-side trend compilations. Hashtag spikes were easy to spot as fans replayed the biggest Gnarly and Gabriela clips.
Within the industry, KATSEYE’s run is being cited as a case study in short-form-first strategy. HYBE CEO Jason Jaesang Lee pointed to the group as proof that K-pop production methods can scale in the U.S. market — an echo of how HYBE’s 2024 groundwork set up this year’s push.
Why this matters right now
The result signals how TikTok-driven creations and views can lift a brand-new act to global awareness faster than old-school radio and TV cycles. KATSEYE’s 30 billion views are not just a vanity stat; they reflect sustained creator participation compounding into streams, chart entries, and awards recognition.
The group’s multinational lineup — with members from the U.S., South Korea, Switzerland, and the Philippines — also mirrors pop’s direction in 2025: borderless, creator-led, and built for cross-posting. Add two Grammy nominations and a Billboard 200 Top 5 EP, and you get a roadmap from viral spark to mainstream legitimacy.
What to watch next
- Clarification on the Gap chatter: keep an eye on official statements from Gap, HYBE, or KATSEYE.
- Grammy season outcomes, and whether KATSEYE performs or expands U.S. TV promo during the window.
- Tour news: potential U.S. festival and arena routing tied to BEAUTIFUL CHAOS momentum.
- TikTok case studies: the platform often releases deeper artist breakdowns early in the new year — expect more granular data on what fueled their spike.
Quick facts
- Formation: 2023 by HYBE + Geffen Records; multinational member lineup.
- TikTok 2025: 30B+ views, ~12M creations (Year in Music).
- Gnarly: ~13.5B views, ~2.4M creations; first Billboard Hot 100 entry — a major “KATSEYE Gnarly viral” moment.
- Gabriela: ~9.9B views, ~2.8M creations; No. 7 on Spotify Global Top 50; Grammy-nominated.
- BEAUTIFUL CHAOS: sophomore EP debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200; two KATSEYE Grammy nominations this cycle.