X1, ‘Produce X 101’ Project Group, Hits Billboard’s Social 50 and Emerging Artist Charts

Even before their official debut arrives, 11-member K-pop group X1 is already making ripples in the scene!

According to Billboard's weekly charts dated August 13, the project boy band -- with members coming from the Mnet survival show-cum-talent search Produce X 101 -- has taken the No. 6 spot on the music magazine's Social 50 chart.

As measured by the music analytics firm Next Big Sound, this chart is dedicated to ranking artists' popularity across the world's leading social media platforms. Billboard explains that the popularity is "determined by a formula blending their weekly additions of friends/fans/followers along with artist page views and weekly song plays."

Apart from the social chart, X1 also landed on the 11th spot on the Emerging Artists chart. This survey, which Billboard revamped back in 2017, includes "key metrics of music consumption" like radio airplay, album and track sales, and social media fan interaction."

Artists who make it to this chart are those who have not yet secured a Top 25 entry on Billboard's flagship charts like Hot 100 or Billboard 200, or two-time Top 10 entry on the song genre charts.

Composed of Han Seung Woo, Kim Yo Han, Kim Woo Seok, Song Hyeong Jun, Son Dong Pyo, Lee Han Gyul, Kang Min Hee, Cho Seung Youn, Nam Do Hyon, Cha Jun Ho, and Lee Eun Sang, X1 is set to debut on August 27 with the release of their mini-album called "Quantum Leap."

Once they debut, they will be the fourth group to form from "Produce X 101." Now on its fourth season, the show has produced the K-pop outfits Wanna One, I*ZONE, and I.O.I.

X1 is the maiden group to be offered by "Produce X 101" with a five-year-long contract.

In a press conference held last April, Mnet's Kim Yong Beom shared the reason behind this contract extension decision.

"With this change, two and a half years will be spent exclusively promoting with the group while the remaining two and a half years can be combined with the activities of each member's respective agencies," the executive added.