&TEAM Clinches 'Special International Music Award' at Japan Record Awards, Solidifying Global Presence

HYBE's global group &TEAM has achieved their first-ever award at the prestigious '67th Japan Record Awards,' receiving the 'Special International Music Award.'

This award is presented to artists who have demonstrated outstanding global achievements throughout the year, transcending specific regions. The recognition highlights &TEAM's remarkable success not only in Japan but also across the global music scene, including Korea.

Through their agency, the nine members expressed their honor: "We are truly honored to receive our first award at the 'Japan Record Awards.' We are deeply grateful to our fans for their unwavering support and to everyone who has been part of this journey. We will strive to grow into a beloved national artist in Japan and showcase a proud image on the world stage."

This year has been marked by significant milestones for &TEAM. Their third Japanese single, 'Go in Blind,' released in April, achieved million-seller status. They successfully concluded their first Asian tour, drawing approximately 160,000 fans across 10 cities. Furthermore, their recent Korean mini-album 'Back to Life' sold over 1.13 million copies on its release day, making them the first Japanese artist to achieve million-seller status in both Korea and Japan.

Their global growth trajectory is equally impressive. According to their agency, the title track 'Back to Life' saw a substantial increase in listeners, with Spotify peak listeners in the US growing by approximately 2.4 times and Apple Music by about 3.8 times compared to their previous release. Forbes has also spotlighted &TEAM as "one of the most talked-about groups right now," further cementing their international presence.

Having successfully established a foothold in the K-pop scene with their Korean mini-album 'Back to Life,' &TEAM is set to continue their dynamic activities through the end of the year. They are scheduled to appear at the 'Music Bank Global Festival in Japan' on December 14th, SBS's '2025 Gayo Daejeon with Bithumb' on December 25th, and NHK's 'Kohaku Uta Gassen' on December 31st, promising a spectacular finale to their year.

Korean netizens reacted enthusiastically, commenting things like, "&TEAM is truly amazing! Started in Japan and now going global," "It's so rewarding to see them succeed in Korea and win an award," and "I'm even more excited for their future activities."