By Amanda Moses
South Korean K-pop band, ATEEZ, skyrocketed to No. 1 on Billboard 200 with their new album The World Ep. FIN: WILL, which saw a tremendous outpour of support during its opening weekend with 152,000 units sold by the end of the Dec. 7th week alone, according to US Charts.
All around the globe from December 1st to December 3rd, ATEEZ partnered with broadcast and media production company Hello82 to host pop-ups and cup sleeve events (limited cup sleeves and eatery locations) featuring signed albums, exclusive photocards, vinyl albums, limited edition items and more. The pop-ups took place across the United States in cities such as Los Angeles, Dallas, Minneapolis, New York, Atlanta, San Diego, Las Vegas, and Pasadena, as well as in the United Kingdom, Romania, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Italy, France, Portugal, Czech Republic, Finland and the Netherlands.
Millions of ATEEZ fans, affectionately known as ATINY, came out in droves to support the seven-member group consisting of Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho. Housed by KQ Entertainment, ATEEZ made their debut in 2018 and now five years later they have achieved numerous accolades including consecutively topping Billboard charts six times consecutively (four making it to the top 10). The group also won the 2023 Worldwide Fans’ Choice at the MAMA Awards (for the fifth consecutive year)—also known as the Mnet Asian Music Awards.
In New York City, ATINY were able to stop by KPOP NARA NYC in Midtown (as well as the KPOP NARA in the American Dream Mall in New Jersey) and a pop-up at 16 Orchard Street to purchase their exclusive items. For some, this was the perfect opportunity to trade photocards of their beloved ATEEZ members, plan for what has now been confirmed as a 2024 World tour with the group and even got a chance to purchase a signed album.
Rain or shine ATINY lined up for hours in the early morning hours, some wearing outfits inspired by the album’s artwork and costumes.
Michelle Salazar, 19 and Natalia Tapia, 19 from New Jersey made sure to arrive hours before K-POP NARA opened at 1263 Broadway to support ATEEZ.
“I love ATEEZ! ATEEZ are my babies,” Salazar exclaimed proudly while holding up her signed San and Wooyoung albums.
“We’ve come to every pop-up that ATEEZ has had in New York! We’ve been representing them since their 2018 debut, so they hold a very special place in my heart,” Tapia said.
Once ATINY bought their albums, they walked over to Bear Donut on 40 W 31st Street to eat delicious donuts and receive an ATEEZ inspired cup sleeve with their drink.
From Friday, December 1st through Sunday, December 3rd fans purchased their albums, traded their photocards, and cheered on ATEEZ for making another amazing comeback.
Photos by Amanda Moses
