Christopher Polk/PMC
TWICE was in the spotlight for their performance of “Moonlight Sunrise” at BillboardThe Women in Music 2023 event was held at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 1.
As the performance began, images of each of the members flashed on giant screens amid beautiful sunrises. As the screens rose to reveal the K-pop group in matching black outfits, TWICE dazzled the audience – which was filled with screams ONCE – with perfect choreography throughout the set.
The Song – from the upcoming mini album ready to be – is the K-pop group’s second English-language single; the first was “The Feels,” which arrived in October 2021. “Moonlight Sunrise,” released in January, debuted and peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 84 on the chart dated February 4. Predecessor “The Feels” arrived and overtook a better spot – at No. 83 on the October 16, 2021 count – it was also the group’s first song to crack the Hot 100.
Earlier in the evening, TWICE – consisting of Chaeyoung, Nayeon, Tzuyu, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun and Jeongyeon – received the Billboard 2023 Women in Music Breakthrough Award, which Sabrina Carpenter presented to the stars of K- pop.
“I was especially thrilled to have them recognized because I’m a really big stan,” the “Nonsense” singer admitted to the audience. “They are so talented, and now I consider myself an ONCE, it’s half of this room! I really hope this award exposes them to a wider American audience.
After the group took the stage to accept the honor, Chaeyoung held the award and was the first to speak. “Having a breakthrough artist on Billboard Women in Music is the most magical way to start our year,” she began. “Ever since we became TWICE, we have believed in each other to always be together as we step into our future. This moment is especially meaningful as all nine of us are here together in front of our fans who realized our dreams. This Breakthrough Artist title proves that if you pursue your dream with confidence, the people who support you will always be your team, you will break through.
Tzuyu added, “This achievement will forever motivate us to challenge ourselves to break down more barriers.”
In an interview with Billboard Ahead of the event, TWICE shared their thoughts on their growing global success despite language differences. “I think it’s our songs that carry the color of TWICE rather than the language the song is sung in,” Jihyo said at the time. “I don’t think the language is so relevant in the making of TWICE [identity].”
Chaeyoung added that their songwriters are familiar with the personality and strengths of each of the women, and are therefore able to better create songs for the group. “They express our personalities really well, so I think that really establishes our style,” she shared. “That’s why it’s about different languages.”
And though they’ve now been named Billboard’s Breakthrough Artists and have begun to work their way up the Hot 100, TWICE is aiming high for the future. Chaeyoung told Billboard earlier, ““My personal goal in the future is to dominate the [Hot 100].”