ILLIT’s ‘It’s Me’ Tops 100 Million Streams in Japan, Marking Third Major Milestone

Techno sound takes Japan by storm, fueling an unfading phenomenon

The global success of girl group ‘ILLIT’ shows no sign of slowing. The group’s hit song ‘It’s Me’ has comfortably surpassed 100 million streams in Japan, reaching another major milestone. According to the group’s agency, ‘BELIFT LAB’, on the 16th, the song has once again demonstrated ILLIT’s firm foothold in Japan’s popular music market.

A latest report from Oricon, Japan’s most authoritative music rankings outlet, offers numerical proof of ‘ILLIT’s’ overwhelming reach. ‘It’s Me’, the title track of the group’s fourth mini album, ‘MAMIHLAPINATAPAI’ (MAMIHLAPINATAPAI), recorded 103,803,825 cumulative plays in Japan as of the 13th. The figure suggests the song has moved beyond a passing trend and become deeply woven into the daily lives of local listeners.

What makes the achievement particularly notable is that it is not a one-off success. ‘ILLIT’ has now reached the 100 million-stream mark in Japan for the third time, following its debut song ‘Magnetic’ (Magnetic) and its subsequent megahit ‘Almond Chocolate’ (Almond Chocolate). Three consecutive home runs show that the group has firmly established itself among Japan’s top-tier artists.

The secret to ‘It’s Me’s’ sustained success lies in its combination of trendy musicality and distinctive performance. Built on an upbeat techno foundation, the song captures the public’s eyes and ears with an irresistibly catchy melody that stays with listeners after one play and energetic choreography. As a result, even four months after its release, it continues to hold firm in the upper reaches of major music charts in South Korea and Japan, cementing an unusually long run.