Four wins and counting — the monster rookies turned monster veterans just keep collecting. Stray Kids took their 4th win for “This That” on Mnet’s “M Countdown” on August 21, 2026! The JYP Entertainment powerhouse continues their dominant summer promotional run, adding another M Countdown trophy to a collection that’s already overflowing.
With “This That” proving to be one of the biggest songs of summer 2026 — charting strongly on both domestic and international platforms — Stray Kids isn’t just winning music shows. They’re winning the entire season. STAYs, your boys are on FIRE. 🏆🏆🏆🏆
Stray Kids Wins on M Countdown — August 21 Episode Recap
M Countdown is Mnet’s flagship weekly music show, airing every Thursday. The weekly winner is determined through a combination of digital music scores, album sales, music video views, global fan voting, and live voting — making it one of K-pop’s most competitive ranking systems.
This week’s top nominees and results:
| Rank | Artist | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 1st Place | Stray Kids | This That |
| Nominee | ILLIT | — |
| Nominee | OurBirthday | — |
| Nominee | — | — |
| Nominee | — | — |
This marks Stray Kids’ 4th win for “This That” — a commanding trophy haul that cements the track as one of 2026’s most successful comebacks.
“This That” Win Streak — All 4 Trophies
| Win # | Music Show | Date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 1st Win | — | Earlier in August | — |
| 🏆 2nd Win | — | Mid-August | — |
| 🏆 3rd Win | — | Late August | — |
| 🏆 4th Win | M Countdown | August 21, 2026 | Mnet |
Four wins across multiple music shows demonstrates comprehensive chart strength — not just fandom voting power, but genuine digital performance, physical sales, and broadcast metrics all aligning.
“This That” — The Stats Behind the Domination
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Song | This That |
| Artist | Stray Kids |
| Album | 2026 comeback release |
| Music Show Wins | 4 (and counting) |
| Produced By | 3RACHA (Bang Chan, Changbin, Han) |
| Chart Performance | Strong domestic + international charting |
| YouTube Views | Rapidly accumulating |
| iTunes | No. 1 in multiple regions |
Stray Kids’ self-producing identity — led by the 3RACHA production unit (Bang Chan, Changbin, Han) — means “This That” isn’t just a comeback single created by external producers. It’s a song the members themselves wrote, composed, and arranged — making every win a deeply personal creative validation.
This Week’s M Countdown Performances — The Full Lineup
The August 21 episode featured an exciting mix of established acts and rising stars:
Featured Performances
| Artist | Song | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Stray Kids | This That | 🏆 M Countdown Winner — 4th win |
| ILLIT | — | Continued strong promotions |
| OurBirthday | — | Rising group stage |
| Additional artists | — | Various comeback and promotional stages |
The inclusion of ILLIT — who has been one of 2026’s most dominant digital performers — as a nominee against Stray Kids underscores just how competitive the M Countdown race was this week.
Why “This That” Keeps Winning — The Formula
Stray Kids’ “This That” success across four music shows can be attributed to their unique competitive advantages:
| Advantage | How It Drives Wins |
|---|---|
| Self-production (3RACHA) | Authentic music → deeper fan connection → stronger support |
| Global STAY fandom | Organized voting + streaming across time zones |
| Physical sales power | Stray Kids consistently sell millions — heavy chart weight |
| Digital streaming growth | Expanding casual listener base beyond core fandom |
| MV views | YouTube views contribute to M Countdown’s scoring |
| Live performance quality | Encore stages go viral → drive MV/streaming traffic |
Stray Kids in 2026 — A Career at Full Speed
The “This That” wins come during one of Stray Kids’ busiest and most successful years:
| 2026 Achievement | Detail |
|---|---|
| “This That” comeback | 4 music show wins (and counting) |
| Billboard World Albums | Consistent charting throughout 2026 |
| Global touring | Concert activities across multiple continents |
| Self-production streak | 3RACHA continues producing all title tracks |
| Brand reputation | Top-tier boy group rankings |
| Stray Kids brand deals | Multiple luxury + lifestyle endorsements |
| M Countdown 4th Win | August 21, 2026 |
Who Is Stray Kids? — Group Profile
Stray Kids (Korean: 스트레이 키즈) is a South Korean boy group formed by JYP Entertainment through the 2017 reality show of the same name. The group consists of eight members: Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Group | Stray Kids (스트레이 키즈) |
| Agency | JYP Entertainment |
| Debut | March 25, 2018 |
| Fandom | STAY |
| Members | 8 (Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, I.N) |
| Sub-unit | 3RACHA (producing unit: Bang Chan, Changbin, Han) |
| Concept | Self-producing — all members contribute to music creation |
| Signature | “Stray Kids everywhere all around the world!” |
The Members
| Member | Position | Notable Trait |
|---|---|---|
| Bang Chan | Leader, Vocalist, Producer | 3RACHA leader — produces nearly all SKZ music |
| Lee Know | Main Dancer, Vocalist | Cat dad — viral dance precision |
| Changbin | Main Rapper, Producer | 3RACHA — explosive rap delivery |
| Hyunjin | Main Dancer, Vocalist, Visual | Performance artist — calligraphy + dance |
| Han | Main Rapper, Vocalist, Producer | 3RACHA — versatile vocalist-rapper hybrid |
| Felix | Dancer, Vocalist, Rapper | Deep voice contrast — Australian charm |
| Seungmin | Main Vocalist | Vocal stability — consistently praised live |
| I.N | Vocalist, Maknae | Growth arc — increasingly powerful vocalist |
Stray Kids’ Music Show Win History — An Ever-Growing Trophy Case
Stray Kids has accumulated an impressive number of music show wins throughout their career:
| Era | Song | Year | Notable Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| God’s Menu | 2020 | Breakthrough era — first major wins | |
| Back Door | 2020 | Continued momentum | |
| Thunderous (소리꾼) | 2021 | Multiple wins — became signature song | |
| MANIAC | 2022 | International breakthrough — stadium era begins | |
| S-Class | 2023 | Summer hit — massive wins | |
| Lose My Breath (ft. Charlie Puth) | 2024 | Cross-market collaboration | |
| Chk Chk Boom | 2024 | Continued dominance | |
| This That | 2026 | 4 wins — current era |
Every Stray Kids comeback since “God’s Menu” has earned multiple music show wins — a consistency that very few boy groups in K-pop can match. “This That” continuing this streak reinforces their position as one of the generation’s most commercially dominant acts.
How M Countdown Determines Winners
M Countdown’s ranking system is one of K-pop’s most comprehensive:
| Criteria | Weight | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Music Score | Major | Streaming + downloads across platforms |
| Physical Album Sales | Significant | Hanteo-tracked sales data |
| Music Video Views | Moderate | YouTube views during tracking period |
| Global Fan Voting (Mwave) | Moderate | International fan participation |
| Live Voting | Minor | Real-time viewer voting during broadcast |
| Expert/Broadcast Score | Minor | Professional panel evaluation |
Stray Kids’ ability to win across ALL these categories — not just one or two — demonstrates their well-rounded commercial strength. Their global STAY fandom contributes massive voting and streaming numbers, while their physical sales and MV views consistently rank among the highest in K-pop.
The Competition This Week — Still Fierce
Even at their 4th win, Stray Kids faced strong competition:
| Competitor | Why They’re Strong |
|---|---|
| ILLIT | “It’s Me” — one of 2026’s biggest digital hits, 3 previous wins |
| OurBirthday | Rising group with growing fandom |
| Additional nominees | Active promotional cycles competing for the same trophy |
For Stray Kids to continue winning against active, chart-performing competitors at their fourth trophy proves the sustained commercial power of “This That” — not just a one-week spike.
The Self-Production Advantage — Why It Matters
Stray Kids’ self-production model — led by the 3RACHA trio — gives them a unique advantage in K-pop:
| Self-Production Benefit | Impact |
|---|---|
| Authenticity | Fans know the members created the music — deeper emotional connection |
| Creative control | Music reflects genuine artistic vision, not label-imposed trends |
| Consistency | Same production team across all releases — cohesive discography |
| Speed | Can create and adjust music quickly — no external producer scheduling |
| Fan trust | STAYs invest more heavily because the music is “theirs” |
| Awards credibility | Self-produced wins feel more meaningful to industry observers |
“This That” — like every Stray Kids title track — was created by the members themselves. When 3RACHA writes a song that wins four music show trophies, it validates not just the group’s popularity but their artistry. Very few K-pop groups can claim this dual achievement.
Stray Kids’ Global Position — The 2026 Landscape
Stray Kids occupies a unique position in 2026’s K-pop landscape:
| Category | Stray Kids’ Standing |
|---|---|
| Physical Sales | Consistent multi-million seller — top tier globally |
| Billboard | Regular World Albums charter — August 2026 presence |
| Touring | Stadium-level act — global arena/stadium tours |
| Self-Production | Among the most prolific self-producing groups in K-pop history |
| Fandom Size | STAY is one of the largest and most organized K-pop fandoms |
| Music Show Wins | Accumulated dozens of trophies across career |
| Brand Deals | Major endorsements across luxury and lifestyle brands |
| Cultural Impact | Felix’s deep voice, Hyunjin’s art, Bang Chan’s VLIVE — viral cultural moments |
What’s Next for Stray Kids?
With four wins and promotions still active, several possibilities remain:
| Upcoming | Expected |
|---|---|
| Additional music show wins | Possible on Show Champion, Music Bank, Music Core, Inkigayo |
| Concert activities | Global tour dates likely |
| “This That” performance variations | Special stages, remix versions |
| Year-end awards | Strong contender for major awards shows (MAMA, MMA, GDA) |
| Next comeback | Late 2026 or early 2027 |
| JYP family collaborations | Potential stages with KickFlip, ITZY, TWICE |
The four-win milestone puts “This That” firmly in contention for Song of the Year nominations at year-end award shows — particularly if it continues accumulating trophies in the coming weeks.
Stray Kids vs. Other August 2026 Promotions
The August 2026 promotional landscape is packed with heavy-hitters:
| Artist | Song | Music Show Wins (August) | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stray Kids | This That | 4 wins | Self-produced + massive fandom |
| ILLIT | — | Previously won | Digital streaming dominance |
| ENHYPEN | Active promotions | — | Rebuilding as 6 members |
| Various rookies | Debut/comeback stages | Competing | Growing fanbases |
Stray Kids’ four wins in August put them at the top of the month’s music show trophy count — a dominant position that few acts can challenge during one of K-pop’s busiest promotional windows.
For a complete overview of Stray Kids’ career, discography, and achievements, visit the official Stray Kids Wikipedia page.
The Encore Stage — Where the Real Magic Happens
As with every M Countdown win, Stray Kids performed an emotional encore stage after the trophy announcement. Stray Kids’ encore stages have become legendary in K-pop — known for their genuine emotional reactions, live vocal demonstrations, and the infectious joy that radiates between the members and STAYs in the audience.
The encore for their 4th “This That” win carries special weight — it’s the moment where the accumulation of four trophies becomes tangible, and both the group and fans can celebrate the collective achievement of a successful era.
STAYs Around the World — The Global Fan Power
Stray Kids’ music show wins are powered by one of K-pop’s most globally distributed fandoms:
| Region | STAY Contribution |
|---|---|
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | Domestic streaming + real-time voting |
| 🇺🇸 Americas | Massive streaming numbers + digital sales |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | Physical sales powerhouse |
| 🌍 Europe | Growing fan concert attendance + streaming |
| 🌏 Southeast Asia | Voting participation + social media engagement |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | Felix’s homeland — strong dedicated fanbase |
The global distribution of STAYs means that Stray Kids’ chart metrics are supported around the clock — when Korean fans are sleeping, American STAYs are streaming, and vice versa. This 24/7 support cycle is one of the reasons Stray Kids can sustain winning streaks across multiple weeks.
The Bottom Line
Stray Kids took their 4th win for “This That” on M Countdown on August 21, 2026, continuing a dominant summer promotional run that has seen the self-producing group collect trophies across multiple music shows.
In a year where K-pop competition is fiercer than ever — with groups like ILLIT dominating digital charts, ENHYPEN rebuilding as six members, and rookies making noise at every turn — Stray Kids’ four-win streak proves that experience, self-production quality, and an organized global fandom remain an unbeatable combination.
From 3RACHA’s studio to M Countdown’s stage — “This That” isn’t just a song. It’s a statement. And four trophies later, the statement is crystal clear: Stray Kids everywhere, all around the world. 🏆🏆🏆🏆🔥
👑 Congratulations, Stray Kids! The summer is YOURS.
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