JO1 to release US debut EP 'ANIMAL' on October 2, with lead single 'WHATCHA DOIN' debuting July 24

Japanese boy band JO1 announced that its US‑original EP ‘ANIMAL’ will be released worldwide on 2 October 2026 (US midnight, Japan 13:00). The six‑track record, produced by Grammy‑winning songwriter Dem Jointz, will be available in digital and CD formats.

The EP’s first single, “WHATCHA DOIN”, will be issued as a digital pre‑release on 24 July 2026 (US midnight, Japan 13:00), followed by a music‑video debut on 31 July. A second pre‑release track is scheduled for 7 August. The release date aligns with the start of JO1’s North American tour, also titled “ANIMAL”, which kicks off on the same day in Toronto and will visit major US cities.

The timing is designed to maximise impact on Billboard’s Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts, which count sales, streams and radio play from Friday to Thursday. JO1’s team highlighted the need to meet US chart eligibility rules, including limits on physical copies per buyer and streaming‑only weighting.