South Korean boy band B1A4, under WM Entertainment, earned the moniker "countryside-dols" from the Korean media, given that all its members hail from rural areas. Debuting on April 23, 2011 with the single "O.K" from the EP Let's Fly, the group performed for the first time on MBC's Show! Music Core. The EP reached number 6 on the Oricon charts. Their second EP, It B1A4, featuring the lead single "Beautiful Target," dropped on September 15, 2011, claiming the number 2 spot. This success continued with their debut studio album Ignition on March 14, 2012, also securing the number 2 position. On June 27, 2012, B1A4 released their first Japanese-language single, "Beautiful Target," selling over 32,000 copies in its first week. The debut Japanese-language studio album, 1, released on October 24, 2012, debuted at number five on the Oricon weekly albums chart. The third EP, In the Wind, claimed the top spot, earning them accolades like Best Male Newcomer at the Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards and New Artist of the Year at the 2013 Japan Gold Disc Awards. Continuing their success, B1A4 released studio albums in both Korea and Japan, including Number 1 albums Who Am I (2014) and Good Timing (2016), as well as EPs such as Solo Day (2014) and Rollin’ (2017), charting at number 8 and 7 on the US World Charts, respectively. In September 2020, the group returned with the Korean album Origine, reaching number 6 in their home country. Enjoying commercial and critical success in both Korean and Japanese markets, the group made a comeback in January 2024 after completing military service, releasing their 8th EP, Connect, with the lead single "Rewind," which reached number 12 on the charts. On April 21, 2026, B1A4 released the mini album SET to commemorate the 15th anniversary of their debut.
