Four artists have been chosen as the fourth-gen K-pop groups who are expected to do well in the future by music industry experts. In particular, two are female groups and two are male groups. Wanna know who was took No. 1 in each category? Then, keep on reading!
Top 4 Fourth Gen K-pop Groups Chosen by Experts- Who's #1 in Male & Female Categories?
In celebration of the 18th anniversary of Star News, the Korean media outlet conducted a survey among 18 music industry experts under the theme "The Fourth-Gen K-pop Groups Who Are Expected to Perform Well in the Future."
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After collecting the answers on Sept. 9, it was revealed that the 18 experts chose four teams, two each from male and female idol groups that debuted between 2020 and 2022.
aespa & NewJeans Selected as Top 2 Fourth Gen Female K-pop Groups- Who's #1?
During the survey, the fourth-gen K-pop group that secured No. 1 in the female category is NewJeans. They got 16 votes out of 18 people (88.9%).
NewJeans is the first girl group created by Min Hee Jin, a former SM Entertainment creative director, after moving to HYBE. After making their debut in July 2022, they swept first places not only on domestic music charts but also Korean music shows with their first title song "Attention" from their debut EP "New Jeans."
Additionally, NewJeans' first EP sold 262,815 copies on the Hanteo Chart on the first day of its release, setting a new record for highest first-day sales of any K-pop girl group debut album. It went on to break the first-week sales record of a girl group debut album.
Kim Jinwoo, CEO of RBW, commented, "Unlike other groups that have been active recently, who pursue strong and powerful music, they (NewJeans) pursue easy-to-listen songs. The tracks have a concept of innocence and trendiness, which make the girls stand out."
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aespa received the second most votes after New Jeans. They earned nine out of 18 votes (50%), making them the Top 2 fourth-gen female K-pop group for music industry experts.
aespa is a four-member girl group under SM Entertainment that debuted in November 2020. With a unique worldview where they coexist with avatars, they have established themselves as representatives of K-pop's fourth generation. They have been releasing hit songs such as "Black Mamba," "Next Level" and "Savage," to name a few.
Kwon Jaeyoung, CEO of A9 Media, said, "They have their own unique storytelling content called 'worldview' with the concept of AI idols, so I'm curious about the next story. We are looking forward to it."
The fourth-gen female K-pop group that earned the third-most votes is IVE. The sextet got eight out of 18 votes (44.4%).
Meanwhile, music industry experts also selected NMIXX, LE SSERAFIM, and H1-KEY.
TREASURE & ENHYPEN Chosen as Top 2 Fourth Gen Male K-pop Groups- Who's #1?
In the male category, the fourth-gen K-pop group who took the No. 1 spot is ENHYPEN, who received an overwhelming vote. They got 17 out of 18 votes (94.4%).
ENHYPEN is a seven-member boy group formed through Mnet's survival show "I-LAND." They debuted in November 2020 and achieved cumulative album sales of one million with their first mini-album "BORDER: DAY ONE" and "BORDER: CARNIVAL." In July this year, their third mini-album "MANIFESTO: DAY 1" sold over one million copies in just two days.
Lee Won Min, CEO of WM Entertainment, stated, "With a strong fandom, they are showing good results in the United States and Japan, and are recording high album sales, such as becoming a million-seller in the first week. They are also showing distinct colors with a unique worldview and concept."
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TREASURE took second place on the survey with nine out of 18 votes (50%), making them the Top 2 fourth-gen male K-pop group.
TREASURE, which debuted in August 2020, is a 12-member boy group formed by YG Entertainment four years after BLACKPINK. Although the boys didn't receive the same level of attention as their senior groups when they debuted, they are gradually expanding their fandom by showing off their strong musical capabilities and the members' diverse individuality.
Their mini-album "THE SECOND STEP: CHAPTER ONE," released in February, sold 800,000 copies. The group's cumulative album sales since their debut have exceeded two million copies.
Noh Hyun Tae, CEO of Think Entertainment, commented, "TREASURE not only differentiates itself from other groups by sticking to authentic hip-hop, but also by showcasing their skills and stage presence. Since 'JIKJIN' was released, the number of their fans has increased."
Meanwhile, other music industry experts voted for ATBO, Xdinary Heroes, TNX, UNITE, BAE173, and DRIPPIN.
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Written by Maria Scott
