Happy 2025! As we transition to a new year, it’s Bias List tradition to unveil some wishes I have for K-pop going forward. There’s a fair amount of overlap between this year’s and last year’s resolutions, even though I write these before looking back at 2024’s post.
Readers, make sure to chime in in the comments. What are your K-pop wishes for 2025?
1. Heighten the melody
Hmm… this resolution looks pretty familiar. It’s become my top wish for the past few years and I’m going to keep wishing for it until things begin to change. Yes, I will become that old man yelling at a cloud. But I will be yelling with the most melodious voice you can imagine.
Seriously, though… over the past few years melody in K-pop has become flat, muted and repetitive — if there’s melody at all! This isn’t a personal judgement, it’s just the way things are as the industry prioritizes elements like dance, visual and personality over virtuosic singing. Compared to 2023 and 2022, I actually think things are beginning to move in the right direction, but in 2025 I’d like songwriters (and specifically, topliners) to challenge themselves to craft melodies with range and drama. I promise there are idols who can handle this even with their demanding choreo.
2. In fact, heighten everything! (and maybe add orchestration)
I don’t want to have to write “beige pop” one more time in the new year. Let’s bring theatricality and drama back to the songs themselves… not just the concepts and imagery that often take precedence over the music. When choosing synths, don’t just go with the muted stuff everyone else is using. Pick something unique and exciting. If you’re going to throw electric guitar or brass on a track, go full-bore.
And honestly, can we get back to orchestral arrangements in K-pop? Year-end special stages often employ these elements (the orchestral mix of TWS’s hey! hey! has taken over my life these past few weeks), but lets put them on the main version of the tracks. A good strings section makes everything feel grand and thrilling and compliments the theatricality embedded in most K-pop performances.
3. Producers with preferences
I’ve given up on returning to an era of “super producers” with their own signature sounds, but I would love to hear some hitmakers who forge music that feels personalized. Too many songwriting teams in K-pop feel as if they’re answering a brief from the agencies: “Please write an Afrobeats track” of “Write something Sabrina Carpenter might sing.” In this day and age, it’s easy to switch between genres as a creator, but I’d like to hear some composers specialize in a sound that’s clearly dear to them — perfecting one style rather than copying and pasting whatever genres are popular or in-demand at the moment.
4. Push past 2:30 and flesh things out
You can certainly stuff tons of ideas into a narrow song frame, but most of my favorite music of the past year has gone beyond two and half minutes to flesh out its vision until it reaches a natural conclusion. A great bridge and climax goes a long way toward selling a song, and that’s hard to do if you’re constrained by time. And if you must stick to under three minutes, add variety to the song structure so it still feels like we’ve gone on a complete journey.
5. At least one girl group with a new (or old!) sound
I’m really putting a lot of faith in SM’s upcoming girl group because each year I seem to fall further away from the girl group side of K-pop. All I ask is for one new (or established) girl group to consistently release hyper-melodic, super-propulsive pop music. No one’s doing it at the moment, and this is the first generation of K-pop where I don’t feel like I have a horse in the race when it comes to this huge (and hugely popular) side of the industry. I’m looking for a new SNSD, Kara, T-ara, Sistar, Girl’s Day, AOA, Nine Muses, GFriend, Lovelyz, WJSN or Oh My Girl. That shouldn’t be too hard to find, right?
6. A fruitful year for my top three of 2024
On the opposite side of the spectrum, I’m very enthused by this new generation of boy groups. In particular, TWS, RIIZE and BOYNEXTDOOR have my attention and I’m really hoping their momentum will continue into the new year. All three had stellar 2024s and have the potential to go even higher in 2025. I hope we get lots of great music from each act.
7. Don’t forget the b-sides (aka: albums are important, too)
Apart from those three acts and a few others, I felt like 2024 was a much more singles-oriented year than usual. Great albums were difficult to find. On the plus side, I’m happy K-pop is back to promoting its best songs as title tracks, but I miss having killer b-sides I become equally obsessed with throughout the year.
8. Highlights from my old favorites
Infinite and GFriend have already announced comebacks and G-Dragon’s album seems to be ready as well. New releases from older acts can go either way, but I’m hoping that these returns are super solid and represent the artists doing what they do best rather than simply replicating current trends. And though they’re not as senior within the industry, I’m hoping my personal favs Golden Child find a way to stick together under a new agency. They’re too talented to simply fade away.
9. Space out your hits
2024 was extremely lopsided, with almost all of the best music coming out in the first half of the year. I’d like 2025 to be a bit more generous with its spacing, delivering consistently great hits all year round.
10. Idols on album covers
Physical versions of idol albums are as cool and creative as ever, but I’m sick of the digital covers (the ones we see on our phones and devices) becoming so boring. Often, they’re simply text and background. The idol industry is visual by nature. We need to put the artists back on their covers with cool, iconic photo shoots.
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
heavy on the 10th point. Cosmic by Red Velvet unfortunately had one of the worst album covers of last year but SM redeemed themselves with Irene’s solo album. we need more of that!
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Iirc, they changed the digital cover to a much better one— the one with their cartoon? caricature versions? the one where… idk how to describe it, but here, this is the one I’m talking about: https://open.spotify.com/album/5lHtH6O6mCnVx1MNuPPBQK?si=VlkFDur1QJ6pX_tRPb800w
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they did, after they added Sweet Dreams to the album. the initial cover was horrible
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Oh- didn’t know they even added Sweet Dreams 😭 I just thought they acquired taste outta nowhere and changed the cover, but yeah, the old cover gave nugu quality 😭😭
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The releases I’m looking forward to, and hoping each one is really great: Infinite’s new album, Sweetune’s new group; loads of new content from NewJeans and ablume (the 3 former members of Fifty Fifty). I’m really hoping NewJeans gets quickly free from Hybe, and that they work together again with Min Hee-jin.
I really miss the BTS of 2015-2019, I’m hoping they can get back to that sound, rather than trying to re-conquer the global pop world.
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Fuck Min Hee-jin, she’s a pedophile! NewJeans need to get away from her as soon as possible.
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Where do those accusations come from? I’ve heard others say it, but I can’t find any news piece or anything about it. Do you have any links?
What makes me highly skeptical about it is how supportive of her the members of NewJeans and their parents are.
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Never mind. I don’t want to cause any problems this year.
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Hahaha, I hear yah, same here.
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I personally have seen those allegations first on youtube and then on reddit a lot, Idk if I should name ktubers but if you want to you can look up the ones who talked about Illit’s plagiarism accusations because they are the ones who mainly talk about those things. The evidence they say they have to prove MHJ is whatever they call her are some photos from old movies on the wall in her office, you can probably find which photos there are. I personally could never really stand by those people and agree with them because those photos on the wall are pretty much all they have, and the woman could be having photos from old movies hanging there for whatever reason tbh. But I don’t want to dig into this much, all I want to say is that the sentiment on ktube and reddit especially regarding the MHJ case was 180° from what I saw in domestic spaces and they never call her such names. I don’t know how that is, but I will always believe that people back at home in SK should know and understand better first and foremost because of the language and then everything else. Some even say that for example currently reddit is heavily manipulated and that the general sentiment is shaped from the outside, but there is also no way to know that. Anyway I don’t want this to turn into any kind of argument on this blog.
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Ah, I see, thanks. I just looked up what you referenced, and now I understand. I also love Serge Gainsbourg’s music, and like most critics, consider Histoire de Melody Nelson to be one of the best-produced albums of the 70s (even if it’s not my #1 Gainsbourg/Birkin album; that would be the self-titled one from ’69; huge Gainsbourg fan here). I wasn’t initially crazy about Leon the Professional when it came out, but my wife loves it, and I’ve grown to appreciate it more. I even think Nabokov’s Lolita is one of the greatest English language novels of the 20th century. Oh no, does that make us pedophiles too!? (LOL)
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While I heard the self-titled album before, this is my first time hearing Histoire de Melody Nelson, and I didn’t know it had such a theme, and it’s such a unique work, just like Lolita is. If I say that I also think it’s a great novel, or if I say the same about any other novel that depicts a bad person, it’s because I think that the novel, or whatever form of art, depicted that person’s grim and horrible decisions in an interesting or incredibly moving way, not because I feel sympathy towards that character’s deeds.
These people are just throwing around such heavy, serious and horrible allegations around so lightly. A pedophile is such a heavy word and if I were to go to a police station trying to accuse any person for such a deed, and I went with those photos hanging on the wall as my “proof”, the police officers would most likely direct me to the nearest hospital and tell me to seek help, or throw me out and tell me to stop wasting their time. If I were any bigger news outlet, and wrote an article containing such allegations about anyone, I would end up being sued, criminally prosecuted, and punished for defamation, because I have no way to prove that what I’m saying happened.
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i really hate this argument about how bts needs to return to their older sound because it comes from people (kpop stans especially) who know zilch about how music works whatsoever, and who only have a surface level understanding of their sound in the first place
the best artists develop their sound and work to expand their fanbase beyond their confines, and bts is no exception. they’re super connected to what kind of music they make, whether as a group or solo, and they make their songs to whatever style that pleases them (musically and lyrically), even changing it up for each release.
also, what old sound? change has always been part of bts’s discography, from their school trilogy, to dark and wild, to hyyh, to wings, to love yourself, to mots. the musical and lyrical content reflects their personal struggles and growth throughout their whole careers, starting from when the youngest members were in high school to when they’ve become full grown adults. they evolve, just like the world’s greatest artists, and nobody should see them regress to appeal to non-fans. picking one song from their early discography as representative of the sound you miss is ignorant as hell
lastly, if they were to stay with their old sound forever, they would just be seen as a typical idol group and not the world conquering musicians they are. we army want to see our faves grow and express their musical artistry because thats what they have shown us for over 10 years. we grow all the time, and none of us will like the same things or have the same tastes forever, and its up to you to understand that
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Hey, your argument is with RM and Suga, not me. “BTS leader RM (born Kim Nam-joon) explained that he felt that the team lost direction, and he had lost ‘hold’ after their release of Dynamite in 2020, adding that he didn’t know what kind of group they were anymore.”
I suppose I didn’t articulate myself very well. I don’t mean BTS needs to recapture their old sound. (What is their old sound anyway? There’s a great range of differences between Fake Love, Black Swan, Singularity, DNA, House of Cards, Just One Day, Coffee, Run, BS&T, etc.) What I was trying to say is that I hope they get back on track, ’cause the band themselves even admit they lost their way.
From Billboard: But then the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down and the band focused on recording new singles, including their No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits “Dynamite,” “Butter,” “Permission to Dance” and “Life Goes On” and, he realized, “the group has definitely changed.”
“We have to accept that we’ve changed… For me, it was like the group BTS was within my grasp until ‘On’ and ‘Dynamite,’ but after ‘Butter’ and ‘Permission to Dance,’ I didn’t know what kind of group we were anymore.” He said that whenever he writes lyrics and songs, the story and message he wants to spread is very important, “but it was like that was gone now. I don’t know what kind of story I should tell now.”
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im just saying that i and most army want bts to keep putting out what music they’re passionate about and continue conquering new heights in their careers
if i sounded like i was getting mad at you that was not my intention and im sorry if i came off that way
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lmao the mental gymnastics armys perform to get outraged. there’s nothing offensive about preferring their earlier style of music. the previous commenter didn’t “argue” anything, idk why you had to write an essay condemning someone’s personal taste
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this fandom…
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“Idols on album covers” it’s all fun and games until we get something like Topp Dogg’s cover for Anniversary. But yeah, I’m still pissed that aespa’s team chose a plain green background for Armageddon’s digital cover (AND a much better cover for their LP version :’) )
Anyways, I hope we see a more versatile sound from girl groups, MORE SONGS ABOVE 3 MINUTES, DAMMIT, THIS ATTENTION-SPAN-OF-A-GOLDFISH GIRL CRAVES MORE, companies choosing better material for their groups to promote, 2025 having hits scattered throughout the year than just shoehorning them into specific months (*cough* Jan and June last year), and groups like TWS, Riize, Young Posse and BND solidifying their sound. And yes, bring that drama back, even ATEEZ (a group I could rely on for a dramatic sound) hasn’t done anything huge in 2024 :’) I just hope aespa continues their maximalist sound. And yes, more groups having great B-sides as well. I only enjoyed NMIXX’s Fe3o4: Break album last year :’)
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I wonder if Brat had something to do with the plain covers this year? There’s too much copying these days for sure.
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The aespa Armageddon remixes cover art was amazing, I wish they had used that one for the actual album
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To speak to your points above: When you named TWS’s hey hey as your song of the year, I was really confused because it was a song I couldn’t even remember. But then when you shared the orchestral version, I totally got it. The dramatic orchestra and electric guitars brought out what you must’ve heard from the beginning. In fact, I immediately converted the video to a 320kbps mp3, and that’s the version of the song I always listen to now. It would be awesome to have more songs like this! And I’m enjoying getting into their music belatedly now.
Regarding pushing past 2:30, I love how Nayeon released the extended 3:20 version of ABCD on Spotify. Again, that’s the only version I listen to. It’d be great if other artists and labels followed her lead and released two versions of their singles, the 2 minute version and the extended version.
Regarding girl groups: I absolutely adored NewJeans when they debuted, and it’s fair to say they’re easily my favorite group of this current crop of talent. But I hated that so many groups quickly began imitating them. (I love how Le Sserafim didn’t do this, and are sticking with their own unique sound.) There’s room for them to exist, along with groups following in the KARA, AOA, 9Muses, Sistar, Apink continuum; I so miss that era.
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2025 is going to be bts’s year and they’ve confirmed they’re going to release an album when they return so my only wish this year (by britney spears) is they release an epic album in their discography, their magnum opus, one that signals “WE’RE BACK ARMY AND WE’RE NEVER GOING ANYWHERE”
i also hope to see them on tour, it’ll be my first concert in years
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This year, I’m hoping to see a comeback from Joy (with original songs this time) and Yeri’s official solo debut.
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Adding on to this, Yeri’s going to debut solo under a different label.
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On point 5 it’s funny on how the groups you listed I enjoy all of them and have multiple songs playlisted of each and then we get to the last 4, and I have 1 song out of the 4 groups combined playlisted and it’s a Oh My Girl b-side. As someone that is also mostly struggling with the overall sound of Girl Groups at the moment it’s funny to see how much we can disagree even tho we dislike the same things.
I still don’t understand the obsession with Hey!Hey! tho I respect it, to me there was just stronger material on that kind of sound like AB6IX – Traveler or Waker – Spirit.
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I agree with every single one of your points. I yearn for K-pop to break free of its beige-pop era, which it will surely do. I’m proud of æspa for the success they had with “Supernova” and its gonzo bombast, and I hope it frees more girl groups to make music with more fire and passion vs. cool reserve. As an album fan first and foremost, I treasure the projects that feed us fully with a wealth of b-sides that flesh out a group’s artistry and personality. With running times that reward a listener’s investment. I know there’ll be idols who deliver for us and I can’t wait to find out who they’ll be this year!
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11. Innovations in dance accompanying the song.
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Agreed! I think songs like Imaginary Friend by Itzy just started to scrape the surface on what can be done. Having a shadow dancer be extra arms or complete individual movements was fun, but there is so much more that is possible!
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On the performance side, less dancing and more interaction with the crowd and more live singing even if its not perfect.
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For me, the 10 Things I’d Like to See Happen in Kpop, in 2025, are:
i want to see Rescene become one of the biggest and successful female kpop groups in Korea!…i really like this group….i have not been this excited about a female kpop group since Everglow debuted….all of Rescene’s songs they released i loved!….really looking for more from them and i am begging their agency to please pour everything they have into these beautiful and talented young ladies….treat them right and help them reach the top of the kpop charts and industry….you have a gem in this group, MUZE Entertainment….please do right by them!
less, less, and less of these fledgling, fly-by-night, upstart kpop management agencies that almost always seem to find great talent and then end up blowing it all…i am tired of these fricking agencies that obtain great talent and the group is hot coming out the gate, then they are put in the kpop dungeon and we never or rarely hear from them again….mismanagement through and through!….if these fledgling agencies are not able to properly manage, promote, market, produce, and care for a group or individual artist, they need to step away until they can….
better support and protection for kpop artists!….do away with the ‘slave’ contracts….i know some things are finally being put in place to protect these artists by the industry and Korean government, but much more needs to be done….stop upstart, fledging, inexperienced agencies from preying on and taking advantage of these young people who only want to realize their dream of being a kpop artist….
do away with kpop fans who are idiots, psychopathic, dangerous, feeling entitled, delusional, and think they own the kpop artists!
petition and lobby for a better management agency for Everglow!….these ladies are straight fire!….they are extremely beautiful and very talented, but are also, in my opinion, very mismanaged!….they have the talent to become one of the top female kpop groups and look at how Yuehua Entertainment are treating them….please, for the love of kpop, will a more established, reputable, experienced, well-funded and produced kpop management agency (SM, HYBE, YG, JYP, KQ….someone) please buy out these ladies’ contract from their incompetent agency and properly manage them so they can be where they belong….at the top of the kpop charts and industry….
Girls’ Generation, my all-time favorite female kpop group (probably my all-time favorite female group of any genre), can you please help stop the pain and agony you put your loyal Sones through, and either get back together on a consistent basis and release consistent music….regain your spot at the top of the kpop industry, or would you please just give us one last hoorah by releasing a full-length album with no less than 6 singles being released (sort of like Big Bang marked and promoted “Made”)….give us what made us love you so, so much: music show appearances, quality songs, unity, harmony, group fun, videos, and such….and a mega concert that stretches across the world, and then just break up, because our hearts can’t keep taking this inconsistency and years of waiting to see our Queens together….it was bad enough when Jessica quit (or got kicked out, depending on who is telling the story)….if you are still a group, then please act like it, or just put us out of our misery and disband….
Spica….my second-favorite all-time female kpop group….i would probably consider giving my left lung to see you super-beautiful and super-talented ladies together again!….i miss you Kim BoA, you sweet, beautiful, and sexy, lady, and i miss all of Spica….i love power vocals and these ladies were the ultimate vocal group for me….wishing on a star for you all to get back together….
Big Bang, Big Bang….many indicators hint that you will reunite….if this is true, millions and millions of kpop fans, including myself, will be greatly please and grateful….if so, i just wish T.O.P. will be with you all….i know that may be a pipedream, but the topic of the blog is: “K-Pop New Year’s Resolutions: 10 Things I Want To See Happen In 2025” so i put it on my wish list….
two-part: part 1. i would absolutely love and be ever-so-grateful if in 2025 some of my favorite 2nd and 3rd gen groups got back together for a solid full-length album with all the kpop trimmings, including videos, music show appearances, and concerts: AOA, Sistar, 9Muses, After School, Chocolat, Stellar, C-REAL, Tahiti, CLC / part 2. my current fav groups all release lots of music in 2025: Rescene, EXO, Everglow, Purple Kiss, Le Sserafim, GIDLE, Dreamcatcher, Mamamoo, Apink, Rocket Punch, WJSN, Roling Quartz, ITZY, BB Girls, Red Velvet, BTS, EXID, Got 7 and a few more….
marry my ultimate female kpop bias: Seunghee (CLC)!
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