K-pop has become one of the most visible contributors to pop music today. This genre is known for its polished aesthetic and high-quality performances. It is also known for its in-house studio production, which produces hits like an assembly line. This makes it one of the fastest growing genres of pop music.
Girl groups
Blackpink is one of the biggest Kpop girl groups. Formed by YG Entertainment, they debuted in 2016 and have continued to break records with every release. They are the first Kpop girl group to surpass 1 billion views on YouTube, and are currently the highest charting female Kpop group on the Billboard Hot 100 with their collaboration with Selena Gomez. The group has even been featured in their own Netflix documentary, Blackpink: Light up the Sky.
Boy bands
The Korean Business Research Institute has recently released a brand ranking of male Kpop groups. The ranking was based on media coverage, public awareness index, and how often many boy groups participated in concerts during the months of 5 August and 6 September.
Girl trainees
SG Entertainment is currently in the process of training a new group of Kpop girl trainees. The company has been releasing creative content on social media, including teaser videos featuring some of the trainees.
Cliques
Cliques in Kpop are not uncommon. Many idol groups have large fanbases and friction can often be found among the members. For example, some fans question the distribution of lines among the members of a certain group.
Exo
EXO is a nine member girl group from South Korea. The group has received numerous awards, including several rookie awards, and even won an MTV Video Music Award. The group reintroduced the concept of sub-groups with the debut of Exo-CBX and Exo-SC in 2016. The members put their best foot forward by introducing each other with pre-debut releases before their debut. Before their debut, the group was labeled a flop, but thankfully, they have been able to prove that the public has a high regard for their talent.
TWICE
Twice is a girl group from South Korea. They are a part of JYP Entertainment and consist of nine members. The group was formed on a television show, “Sixteen,” and debuted with the extended play “The Story Begins.” Their success has made them one of the most popular girl groups in the world.
Super Junior
Super Junior is one of the most successful groups in the world. They have released several successful albums and won numerous awards. In 2015, they became the first Asian group to win the International Artist award at the Teen Choice Awards. They’ve been nominated for over twenty Golden Disc Awards and have also won numerous awards in Korea.
Big Bang
Big Bang is one of the most successful groups in K-pop. They have been around for over a decade and have a wide fan base around the world. The group debuted on August 19, 2006, under the management of YG Entertainment. The group consists of five members, with the exception of Seungri who left the group in 2019. They are best known for their experimentation with music and styles.
Girls’ Generation
Girls’ Generation is one of the most iconic K-pop groups. Formed 15 years ago, the group continues to make music and is still extremely popular. Their nine members have been instrumental in paving the way for countless K-pop groups that followed them. They have also been influential in protest movements and have created some of the most memorable K-pop songs. Listen to the episode of The Kpop Show to learn about this legendary group.