Although rookie teams outlined this 12 months in Ok-pop for me, that doesn’t imply there weren’t nice issues coming from the business’s established artists as effectively. As common, my standards for these artists is constructed round these three components:
- High quality of labor
- Amount of labor
- Affect of labor on the business
The primary standards far outweighs the following two, and is completely subjective. This isn’t a countdown of probably the most profitable or prolific acts in 2025. It is a celebration of the teams/artists that basically formed the 12 months for me. Rookies are ineligible, as they’ve their very own countdown.
This 12 months noticed a crystallization of my favorites, a welcome return for a number of acts who’ve been absent from the record and some enjoyable surprises!
2025 END-OF-YEAR MASTERPOST
10. ITZY
ITZY land on this 12 months’s record not a lot due to their title tracks however as a result of their albums have been constantly stable and even pushed ahead with some new sounds for the group. Of their sixth 12 months since debut, this sense of experimentation is essential and far appreciated.
Final Yr: n/a
2025 Singles: Ladies Will Be Ladies, Rock & Roll, Tunnel Imaginative and prescient
9. BOYNEXTDOOR
In comparison with the previous two years, I seen a dip within the high quality of BOYNEXTDOOR’s musical output. Nevertheless, this was additionally the 12 months the place their recognition completely exploded they usually launched what is perhaps their most iconic single but. They’re nonetheless a really thrilling group. They’re simply going by some rising pains.
Final Yr: 2
2025 Singles: If I Say, I Love You, I Really feel Good, Depend To Love, Hollywood Motion
8. ATEEZ
ATEEZ haven’t been a part of this countdown since 2019 after they took my primary spot. That’s fairly an odd trajectory, however I’ve struggled to embrace their post-Treasure work. Nevertheless, this 12 months noticed an increase of their fortunes as they started to discover new kinds and tones. For the primary time in awhile, I’m excited to see the place they go subsequent.
Final Yr: n/a
2025 Singles: Lemon Drop, In Your Fantasy, Ash
7. ZEROBASEONE
ZEROBASEONE kicked off the 12 months with tons of energy, releasing a superb Korean mini-album and stable Japanese single simply days aside from one another. The group’s members appeared to be in all places all of sudden. At one level, three of the business’s music reveals have been hosted by somebody from ZB1. Nevertheless, throughout the second half of the 12 months their first full album underwhelmed and you would actually really feel the gradual march to inevitable disbandment and/or reconfiguration. I hope they’ll at the least exit with a bang in 2026.
Final Yr: 4
2025 Singles: Now Or By no means, Physician! Physician!, Blue, Slam Dunk, Iconik
6. NOWZ
This time final 12 months, NOWZ didn’t even make my honorable mentions for rookie acts, but they’ve pulled an enormous reversal in 2025. Rebranding from These days to NOWZ doesn’t actually do a lot for me, however the music itself turned a lot stronger. Their one-two punch of Fly To The Youth and Everglow gave them a first-rate spot on my summer time playlist. The whole lot about them feels so recharged this 12 months.
Final Yr: n/a
2025 Singles: Fly To The Youth, Everglow, HomeRUN
5. NCT DREAM
Just like ATEEZ, it’s been awhile since NCT Dream featured on this countdown (2023 to be actual), however I loved every thing they launched this 12 months. Their full album Go Again To The Future was fairly robust and the recently-promoted Beat It Up grew on me immensely because the weeks went on. They continue to be NCT’s strongest unit and confidently carry the torch for SM Leisure’s coveted boy group sound.
Final Yr: n/a
2025 Singles: BTTF, Chiller, Beat It Up
4. RIIZE
RIIZE could not have had the singles to compete with their killer 2024 output, however they did launch the most effective albums of the 12 months and continued to show their capacity to make nearly any style work. For me, their 2025 was all about proving what robust vocalists they are often, which is commonly an neglected space of Ok-pop efficiency. They continue to be considered one of my favourite presently lively teams regardless of not loving every thing they launch.
Final Yr: 1
2025 Singles: Bag Unhealthy Again, Fly Up, Fame
3. CRAVITY
Similar to NOWZ at quantity six, CRAVITY went by a artistic resurgence this 12 months. They’ve all the time been a brilliant robust group, however not each idol act releases their strongest materials in 12 months 5 of their profession. It appears like the fellows have discovered what they do greatest and are leaning into that sound. This supplies the inspiration for super-exciting and polished music. I’ve been a longtime informal fan, however this 12 months I formally turned invested within the group.
Final Yr: n/a
2025 Singles: Jelly Bean, SET NET G0?!, Lemonade Fever
2. NMIXX
Persistence pays off, and NMIXX discovered that firsthand as they scored the most important hit of their profession in 2025. The group bought off to a polarizing begin, however they’ve fine-tuned their stability of experimentalism and pure pop and launched their strongest album but. Like RIIZE, I really most well-liked a number of the b-sides to the title tracks this 12 months, however their output gave somewhat one thing for everybody. In a sea of sound-alike woman teams following the identical developments, NMIXX are confidently working in their very own lane.
Final Yr: 8
2025 Singles: Know About Me, MEXE, Spinnin’ On It, Blue Valentine
1. TWS
On the subject of their trajectories on this weblog, TWS and Golden Youngster share rather a lot in widespread. And from what I can bear in mind, they’re the one two acts to be named “rookie of the 12 months” after which “artist of the 12 months” successively. After changing into excited a couple of rookie group one 12 months, I all the time fear that they’ll let me down the following. That actually didn’t occur with TWS.
It’s no secret that, on the entire, I discovered this 12 months in Ok-pop a bit underwhelming. Nevertheless, having a bunch like TWS round made it really feel a lot stronger. Regardless of the identify of this weblog, I’m not a fan of blind bias. However, I’m an enormous fan of being a fan, and it’s so good to have a bunch I could be an unabashed fan of. Their 2025 actually ticked all of the packing containers for me. I really like their music (it’s virtually solely catered to my style). I discover the members so charming as individuals and selection characters. I feel they’re insanely gifted and extremely enjoyable to look at on stage. I really like how their profession has focused Asian markets somewhat than kowtow to Western expectations. And for as soon as in my life as a fan, TWS have the price range and success stage to always churn out content material. I’m positive ultimately there shall be a day after they launch a tune I don’t like, however that hasn’t occurred but and this 12 months showcased a gradual progress and maturation that feels very promising.
Final Yr: n/a
2025 Singles: Countdown!, Fortunate To Be Beloved, Hajimemashite, Head Shoulders Knees Toes, Overdrive
