An idol group is nothing without their actual music, and that music doesn’t come to life on its own. K-pop producers and composers shape a year’s sound more than anybody else, and in 2016 there were five that stood out as being particularly energizing.

+ Make sure to check out the rest of the year-end countdowns here!

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5. WOOZI (Seventeen)

  

At this point, he may only compose for his own group, but Seventeen had such a quality year thanks to his brilliant ear for an addictive and unique melody. Alongside frequent collaborator Bumzu, he crafted many of 2016’s standout pop tracks.

2016 Highlights:
Seventeen – Very Nice, Pretty You, Boom Boom, Healing, Simple, Chuck, Still Lonely, Beautiful

4. BLACK EYED PILSEUNG

Though they tend to focus almost exclusively on title tracks rather than filling entire albums with their material, there’s no denying that Black Eyed Pilseung’s presence was felt in 2016 through their ubiquitous work with Twice and other girl groups. It feels like they’re just getting started.

2016 Highlights:
Twice – Cheer Up, TT
Sistar – I Like That
Apink – Only One

3. JUNG JINYOUNG (B1A4)

Jinyoung has been producing amazing material for his group B1A4 for years, but in 2016 that potential was expanded to girl group tracks as well. His compositions were the best thing about I.O.I’s releases this year, but he also saved a handful of excellent songs for his own comeback.

2016 Highlights:
B1A4 – A Lie, Good Timing, Melancholy, Together, I Didn’t See It
Oh My Girl – One Step, Two Steps
I.O.I (Produce 101) – In The Same Place, When The Cherry Blossoms Fade, Hold Up

2. SWEETUNE

Rather than a commercial resurgence (I’m still waiting for that), 2016 seemed like the year that Sweetune decided to start making music again on a more regular basis. Though they primarily worked with up-and-coming groups, their trademark sound was alive and well. They’ve found a great partner in rookie group Snuper, and their work for returning boy group 100% was absolutely stellar.

2016 Highlights:
Snuper – Platonic Love, You=Heaven, It’s Raining, 4th Dimension of Angels, Yes Or No, Carry, So Much In Love, Lucky, Please Don’t
100% – Better Day, Because It’s You, A Day Like Today
BOYS24 – Time Leap
A.DE – Good Time, Rainy Day
Nicole – Happy, Lunar
Infinite – That Summer (Second Story)

1. SEO YOUNG-BAE & IGGY/OREO

If you’re a fan of the “pop” part of k-pop, there’s a production team that utterly dominated 2016. Whether working as a unit or separately, Young-Bae and Iggy (who also goes by the moniker Oreo), gave us many of the year’s best tracks. Their melodically-driven, anthemic pop sound cemented GFriend’s place in k-pop, as well as launching Astro as a top rookie group. Oreo also gave UP10TION two of their most addictive songs yet and provided Infinite with a stellar b-side.

2016 Highlights:
GFriend – Rough, Navillera, Water Flower, Say My Name, Fall For You
Astro – Hide & Seek, Breathless, Confession, Fireworks, Growing Pains, Lonely, Innocent Love
Infinite – Zero
UP10TION – Tonight, White Night, Go
Halo – Mariya, Popcorn, Shoot Away
Cosmic Girls – MoMoMo
Melody Day – Color