With Sophia Stepping Back From KATSEYE, Will the Global Girl Group Remain a Quartet?

On Friday, it was announced that Sophia would be taking a step back from KATSEYE to prioritize her “mental health and wellness,” following a similar announcement from her groupmate Manon back in February. Now the six-person global girl group is down to a quartet — and it’s unclear when either member might return to the fold, especially after a six-month absence for Manon.

Related

Sophia to Take Hiatus From KATSEYE to Focus on ‘Mental Health,’ 6 Months After Manon Did the Same

A Timeline of KATSEYE’s Lineup, From Forming on ‘Dream Academy’ to Hiatuses

‘Love Island USA’ Stars Aniya and Melanie Pitch Themselves As Potential New KATSEYE Members

The news comes at a particularly busy time for KATSEYE, with their Wild album arriving on Friday and their Wildworld Tour — the group’s first global trek — kicking off in October. On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are discussing the announcement and what it means for the group’s future. Will both women return, or might they remain a quartet? Listen to our full conversation below:

Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how Ariana Grande’s new album petal debuts atop the Billboard 200 chart, while the set’s title track debuts in the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. Plus, Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” continues to hold firm atop the list for a 17th week, fending off a challenge by Grande’s former No. 1 “hate that I made you love me.”

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)