CORTIS has achieved a remarkable and historic milestone in its rising artistic career, after its first song surpassed 100 million streams on the Spotify platform , cementing its position as one of the most promising K-pop groups for 2025.
This achievement comes at a time when the South Korean music scene is experiencing tremendous international expansion, with digital streaming platforms like Spotify becoming the primary benchmark for measuring artists' reach beyond national borders. For any up-and-coming group to reach this milestone in their first year is a testament to the strength of their fan base and their ability to penetrate Western markets, something CORTIS has accomplished with distinction.
Record-breaking numbers for the song "GO"
The song "GO" achieved this record on the 2nd of this month, just four months after its official release. This short timeframe marks the fastest time a Korean boy group has reached this milestone since last year, surpassing many competing releases.
The success wasn't limited to the single; the band's debut album, "GO!," surpassed 100 million cumulative streams on Spotify. This double achievement reflects the band's strong presence and the cohesion of their artistic project. Cortis is the only rookie group to debut in 2025 to break this record with a single, positioning them as a frontrunner for the upcoming awards season.
A complete artistic identity and multiple talents
This success gains special significance and added artistic value with the full participation of all band members in the creative process. They contributed to writing the lyrics, composing the music, choreographing its complex choreography, and participating in the production of the music video.
This model of “producer idols” has become a global trend that is highly appreciated by critics and audiences alike, as it enhances the artist’s credibility and creates a deeper emotional bond with the audience, who see in the musical works a sincere expression of the members’ personalities and experiences, which has undoubtedly contributed to achieving this widespread and rapid dissemination.
Dominance on global and local lists
The success of "GO!" extended far beyond Spotify, securing a place on the most influential global music charts. It held a prominent position on the prestigious Billboard Global 200 chart for two consecutive weeks, a list based on streaming and digital sales data from over 200 countries and territories worldwide, confirming that the band's popularity transcends geographical boundaries.
On the local level in South Korea, the song topped the daily, weekly and monthly Melon charts, an exceptional achievement for a rising boy band, given the difficulty for new groups to break into the top spots on this platform, which relies heavily on the general public and not just fan groups.
Global critical acclaim
The song received widespread international media and critical attention, ranking second on Billboard’s list of the 25 best K-pop songs of 2025, as chosen by the editorial team, thus achieving the highest ranking for male artists on the list, which is an explicit acknowledgment of the quality of the band’s musical production.
Praise also poured in from major magazines and music platforms, with NME UK, Dazed, Apple Music, and Spotify all selecting "GO!" for their lists of the best K-pop songs of 2025, promising a bright future for CORTIS as one of the leaders of the new generation in Korean pop music.
