K-Pop has always been popular in Korea, but in the last decade, the K-Pop wave has taken over the world. The massive influence of "Gangnam Style" on the global stage has driven K-Pop to gain immense popularity worldwide. Since then, various K-Pop groups and soloists have emerged and changed the landscape of the music industry with their singing and performance styles. K-Pop music is not limited to a certain genre but comprises pop, hip-hop, folk, country, etc., hence getting more popular. In this article, you will read about the Top 10 K-Pop Groups Shaping the Global Music Industry.
1. BTS
K-Pop fan or not, you must have already heard about the Global sensation BTS. BTS stands for Bangtan sonyeondan, which in English translates to Bulletproof Boy Scouts. The group made its debut in the year 2013 with their album 2 Cool 4 Skool. The group comprises seven members- Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. The group has become the best-selling artist in South Korean history. Their discography has won numerous awards and topped innumerable charts. And they are undoubtedly the most influential K-pop group.
2. Blackpink
Blackpink is one of the most famous K-Pop girl groups. The group made its debut under YG Entertainment in the year 2016. The Group has four members- Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé, and Lisa. After breaking numerous records, such as the most-viewed music video within the first 24 hours of release and others. Blackpink became the most successful Korean girl group internationally. Some of their most famous singles are "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" (2018), "Pink Venom" (2022). The Group members are also actively participating in producing solo albums and singles.
3. Exo
Debuted in 2012 under SM Entertainment, Exo is a K-Pop boyband. Exo is known for producing music both in Korean and Mandarin. The group comprises nine members. These are Xiumin, Suho, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, and Sehun. In addition to being part of the band, each member pursues individual careers in music, film, and television. Exo is known for its incredible vocal talent, brilliant dance choreography, and diversity of music. The group has won two successive Artist of the Year awards at the Melon Music Awards and five successive Album of the Year honors at the Mnet Asian Music Awards.
4. Seventeen
Debuted in the year 2015 with the Extended play 17 Carat, Seventeen is a South-Korean boyband. Their debut album became the longest-charting K-pop album of the year in the US. The boy group comprises thirteen members: S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino. They have conquered a large audience since their debut. The group is known as a "self-producing" idol group since almost all the members are involved in songwriting, choreography, and music production.
5. Red Velvet
Red Velvet is a five-member girl group that debuted in the Year 2014. The five members are Joy, Yeri, Irene, Seulgi, and Wendy. The group is known for its versatility in genres, such as electronic and funk, R&B, Dance-Pop, Hip-hop, etc. The group has garnered immense popularity from all over the world and is the fifth most streamed K-pop artist worldwide on Spotify.
6. Twice
Twice is a nine-member girl group that made its debut in the year 2015. The group was formed under the television program Sixteen (2015). The nine members of the group are Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Jihyo, Mina, Sana, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu. The group rose to prominence in 2016 with their single "Cheer Up." Twice has gained worldwide recognition for its music and performance style. Their music is not limited to a certain genre but comprises many such as K-Pop, J-pop, dance-pop, and EDM.
7. Stray Kids
Formed by JYP Entertainment through the 2017 reality show, Stray Kids is a K-Pop boyband. The group consists of 8 members. These are Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. The group is known for its meaningful lyrics, powerful performances, and catchy music and has thus gained a global fanbase. Stray Kids has been recognized for their unique sound and energetic stage presence.
8. TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Formed under Bighit Entertainment, Tomorrow by Together or TXT is a South-Korean boyband. The group made its debut in the year 2019. TXT has five members: Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and HueningKai. Since its debut, the group has gained a significant fanbase and won several awards such as, Rookie of the Year at the 34th Golden Disc Awards and New Artist of the Year at the 2019 Melon Music Awards. TXT also became the First Korean act to perform at Lollapalooza.
9. ITZY
Formed under JYP Entertainment in the year 2019, ITZY is a K-Pop girl group comprising 5 members- Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna. Their Debut single, It'z Different, was very well received by the audiences and won them Rookie of the Year at the 34th Golden Disc Awards, and New Artist of the Year at the 2019 Melon Music Awards. Itzy has gained considerable attention for its bold and powerful performances and catchy music. The group has captivated fans with its unique style and dynamic presence on stage.
10. Enhypen
Formed through the 2020 reality competition show I-Land, Enhypen is a K-Pop boyband under Belift Lab. The group comprises seven members: Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, Jungwon, and Ni-ki. The group debuted with their mini-album "Border: Day One" and quickly garnered attention for their talent and captivating performances. Their music often explores a variety of genres, combining elements of pop, hip-hop, and EDM.
