Just one year into their official debut, A2O MAY is already doing what few global girl groups before them have accomplished: breaking records, crossing cultures, and carving out a lane entirely their own.
Backed by visionary producer Soo Man LEE and operating under A2O Entertainment, the five-member group — Chenyu, Shijie, Quchang, Miche, and Kat — has spent 2025 steadily building momentum in the U.S. while redefining what it means to be a next-generation pop act.
From landing multiple entries on the U.S. Top 40 Radio chart to releasing their debut project PAPARAZZI ARRIVE earlier this fall, A2O MAY’s rise has been fast, intentional, and rooted in authenticity. Their latest milestone came on December 12, when the group made their New York performance debut at Hammerstein Ballroom as part of Z100’s Jingle Ball All Access Lounge — a full-circle moment that capped off an already career-defining year.
A2O MAY’s impact in the U.S. market has been impossible to ignore. Their pre-debut single “Under My Skin” made history as the first song by a Chinese girl group to enter the U.S. Mediabase Top 40 chart, holding its spot for two consecutive weeks. They followed that with “BOSS,” which climbed even higher — peaking at #32 and setting a new record for the highest-charting Chinese girl group single in U.S. Top 40 history.
Beyond radio, the group has proven they can command major stages. Earlier this year, A2O MAY made their U.S. live debut at iHeartRadio’s Wango Tango in front of a sold-out crowd, followed by performances at Universal CityWalk Hollywood, FOX5’s Good Day New York, Strawberry Music Festival, and the Tencent Music Entertainment Awards in China. Their music videos and live clips have collectively surpassed 30 million views on YouTube, while their Spotify monthly listeners have surged to nearly 900,000.
The group also found themselves rubbing shoulders with K-pop royalty, attending the Los Angeles premiere of Amazon Studios’ Lee Soo Man: King of K-Pop, where they joined Girls’ Generation members, Taemin of SHINee, and Siwon Choi of SUPER JUNIOR on the red carpet — a symbolic moment for a group poised to help shape pop’s future.
Photo Credit: Ben Esakof for iHeartRadio
Released in October, PAPARAZZI ARRIVE marked a major creative statement for A2O MAY. Within weeks, the EP charted at #8 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart and later landed at #40 on Top Album Sales — an impressive feat for a group still in its first year.
For the members, finally sharing the album with fans was deeply rewarding. Kat told Celeb Secrets backstage at Jingle Ball that the project had been a long time coming.
“We worked on this album for a really long time,” she shared. “Being able to finally put out what we’ve been creating — and seeing how much our fans love it — means everything to us. Their support motivates us to keep going and work even harder.”
The EP also allowed the group to spotlight their individuality through solo tracks, which was a deliberate choice that reflects A2O MAY’s commitment to self-expression. Shijie and Quchang explained that those moments were designed to highlight each member’s unique color, while Miche revealed one of the album’s most special behind-the-scenes stories.
“One of the songs I worked on with my sister is a Latin-inspired track,” Miche said. “It was actually added at the last minute, but I think it really completed the album.”
That balance — polished group unity paired with individual creativity — sits at the heart of A2O MAY’s sound, which they describe not as C-pop or K-pop, but as Zalpha Pop: a futuristic blend of Gen Z emotion and Gen Alpha imagination created for a global audience.
Just four months after first arriving in New York to introduce PAPARAZZI ARRIVE to U.S. audiences, A2O MAY returned to the city with a major achievement under their belt — their New York performance debut at Z100’s Jingle Ball All Access Lounge.
The iHeartRadio event, known for spotlighting the season’s most buzzed-about artists, welcomed A2O MAY mere months after their debut album dropped. During the pre-show, the group performed tracks from PAPARAZZI ARRIVE live for New York fans for the very first time.
“Performing these songs here was a first for us,” Shijie said backstage. “Especially in New York — it made the moment even more special.”
Offstage, the group’s chemistry was just as evident. When asked about their holiday traditions, Miche laughed as she revealed that the members typically bond over horror movies — though Christmas calls for a slightly cozier watchlist. The playful dynamic continued when the topic of Santa’s naughty list came up, proving that despite their fast rise, A2O MAY hasn’t lost their sense of humor.
With their first anniversary officially behind them, A2O MAY is already looking toward what’s next. After wrapping their U.S. promotions and holiday festivities, the group plans to head back into the studio to write, create, and prepare new music all while dreaming even bigger stages like 88rising’s Head In The Clouds and Coachella.
As they closed out their monumental year by giving it their all on Z100’s All Access stage, A2O MAY brought a rare and telling nod to their growing influence. With chart success, a confident debut album, and an undeniable onstage presence, the group is poised to take their Zalpha Pop vision even further — and their ever-growing fanbase, lovingly known as MAYnia, is ready to follow them every step of the way.
For more on A2O May’s new music, make sure to watch our full interview below, and don’t forget to let us know what you think of the girls by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecrets.
For more coverage from the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour, click here.
