It’s that point of yr once more! Whereas December is crammed with year-end countdowns, I like to have a look again at a few of Okay-pop’s largest businesses throughout November. Earlier than studying (particularly in the event you’re new to the weblog), it’s useful to know that my grading focuses most closely on music releases and the way comebacks are managed and delivered to followers. Scandals and non-musical elements can actually affect an company’s grade, however the largest standards will at all times be the music itself.
As common, the ideas under are my very own and aren’t aware about any insider data. There might be loads of subjective critique.
The Good
Although this yr was a comparatively unambitious one for SM Leisure, it did boast one excessive profile debut. New lady group Hearts2Hearts haven’t but discovered their enormous public-friendly hit (that often doesn’t occur instantly for SM teams), however their chart efficiency has been first rate and their output has been diversified sufficient that at the least one music is sure to enchantment to each listener. In a yr with few notable lady group debuts, Hearts2Hearts appear to be positioned comparatively properly.
Additionally debuting this yr was ex-RIIZE member Seunghan beneath the mission XngHan & Xoul. Whereas followers will rightfully not neglect his terrible remedy up to now, I’m glad SM stored their phrase and ultimately gave him his personal promotions.
SM Leisure has at all times achieved a pleasant job giving its artists frequent comebacks. But once more, 2025 was filled with new music from each older and newer acts. Nearly each present act obtained promotion of some type, even when that was within the type of solo or sub-unit comebacks. This was an particularly banner yr for the company’s legacy acts, with full albums from Tremendous Junior, BoA, Key and TVXQ’s U-Know.
So far as music high quality, there have been a number of vibrant spots. RIIZE’s first full-length album was improbable from begin to end. NCT Dream and Tremendous Junior additionally launched robust materials in the course of the summer season.
Commercially, aespa proceed to be a juggernaut even when their music isn’t as robust because it might be. They really feel well-established now and an apparent pillar of this technology of SM artists. NCT Want are additionally establishing a stable fan base, well-positioned for achievement in each Korea and Japan. And as group actions for NCT have stalled, SM is benefiting from the members’ numerous abilities with a string of profitable solo releases.
The Unhealthy
SM Leisure’s high quality management will not be what it was – at the least musically. In years and many years previous, the company reliably churned out legendary music after legendary music. This yr, only a few SM title tracks did a lot for me. And aside from operating on the fumes of established reputation, only a few made a lot noise in public discourse both. It simply doesn’t really feel like there’s any total inventive imaginative and prescient in the intervening time.
Once I have a look at my very own playlist, it consists of much less SM songs than ever earlier than. Too lots of their 2025 releases lacked ambition and/or a novel soundscape, making it really feel that the company is just following tendencies reasonably than establishing them. It is a sharp flip from the place they was, driving the musical tradition of Okay-pop. SM has at all times favored outdoors producers and music camps, however now they’ve only a few visionaries left of their orbit. This makes their music mix in with each different company who outsources their materials.
Even SM’s most profitable artists underwhelmed this yr. aespa proceed to dominate charts however their music hit an actual roadblock in 2025. A lot of the company’s solo efforts got here and went within the blink of a watch, promoting properly one week earlier than disappearing from public consciousness the following. For the primary time in what looks like ceaselessly, I don’t assume SM had a real, iconic hit this yr – the type of music that might be remembered in not solely followers’ minds however in most of the people’s as properly.
Although SM does a pleasant job honoring their legacy artists, these releases are both under-promoted or mismanaged. EXO’s long-awaited 2026 comeback is already mired in points as SM appears to be blocking some members from collaborating in any respect. As artists start to go away the company for his or her solo endeavors, it turns into tougher to cobble collectively group reunions, making these celebratory comebacks really feel choked by pointless controversy.
As Okay-pop’s buy begins to slip internationally, SM has been pressured to cancel or modify a number of high-profile excursions. This isn’t an issue distinctive to them, however the company appears to have overestimated their potential to promote tickets internationally. The excitement round their artists simply doesn’t really feel as robust because it might be, and that’s doubtless as a consequence of an absence of industry-defining hits and an growing want to take advantage of their followers for as a lot cash as attainable.
General, this feels just like the least thrilling period for SM Leisure in a while. And with different businesses stepping up their recreation, there’s lots that might be improved upon.
(Additionally, RIP to MYTRO and DearALICE, who appear to have been forgotten earlier than they even took off…)
What I’d prefer to see in 2026:
- A larger emphasis on daring songs that push the company’s sound ahead
- A giant public hit to completely set up Hearts2Hearts
- Much less music camps, extra particular and distinctive songwriting voices
- Sturdy comebacks from legacy artists we barely head from this yr (EXO, SHINee, SNSD, TVXQ)
Earlier years: 2024 // 2023 // 2022 // 2021 // 2020 // 2019 // 2018 // 2017 // 2016