By Chase Karng
Five fearless women from China just rewrote the rules of American pop domination
LOS ANGELES — A2O MAY, a five-member girl group from China, has made history on American radio. Their latest single “BOSS” climbed to No. 35 on the Mediabase Top 40 chart, following the success of “Under My Skin”, which peaked at No. 39. This marks the first time an all-Chinese group has secured consecutive Top 40 hits on U.S. radio, which is a major breakthrough in the American pop landscape.
The Mediabase Top 40 reflects airplay data from more than 180 major radio stations across the U.S. and Canada. A2O MAY’s rise from curiosity to chart phenomenon signals shifting audience tastes and the growing influence of bilingual, bicultural acts in global pop music.
“BOSS” has also gained significant traction worldwide, amassing over 30 million views on YouTube and reaching No. 1 on China’s QQ Music streaming platform.
Produced by Soo Man Lee, a pioneer of K-pop’s global expansion, A2O MAY presents what Lee describes as “Zalpha Pop,” a genre-bending fusion that resonates with Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences who see cultural boundaries as irrelevant. The group, CHENYU, SHIJIE, QUCHANG, MICHE, and KAT, embodies this mindset, performing seamlessly in both Chinese and English.
Last month, the group shared the stage with Doja Cat, David Guetta, Meghan Trainor, and Gwen Stefani at KIIS FM’s Wango Tango Festival in Los Angeles, further cementing their presence in the U.S. pop scene.
A2O MAY’s success reflects a broader shift: today’s American pop charts are no longer defined by domestic acts alone. As one music analyst put it, “They’re not breaking into the U.S. market, but they’re expanding what the U.S. market can be.”
