Though rookie groups defined this year in K-pop for me, that doesn’t mean there weren’t great things coming from the industry’s established artists as well. As usual, my criteria for these artists is built around these three factors:
- Quality of work
- Quantity of work
- Influence of work on the industry
The first criteria far outweighs the next two, and is entirely subjective. This is not a countdown of the most successful or prolific acts in 2025. This is a celebration of the groups/artists that really shaped the year for me. Rookies are ineligible, as they have their own countdown.
This year saw a crystallization of my favorites, a welcome return for a few acts who have been absent from the list and a few fun surprises!
10. ITZY
ITZY land on this year’s list not so much because of their title tracks but because their albums were consistently solid and even pushed forward with some new sounds for the group. In their sixth year since debut, this sense of experimentation is very important and much appreciated.
Last Year: n/a
2025 Singles: Girls Will Be Girls, Rock & Roll, Tunnel Vision
9. BOYNEXTDOOR
Compared to the past two years, I noticed a dip in the quality of BOYNEXTDOOR’s musical output. However, this was also the year where their popularity absolutely exploded and they released what might be their most iconic single yet. They’re still a very exciting group. They’re just going through some growing pains.
Last Year: 2
2025 Singles: If I Say, I Love You, I Feel Good, Count To Love, Hollywood Action
8. ATEEZ
ATEEZ haven’t been part of this countdown since 2019 when they took my number one spot. That’s quite an odd trajectory, but I’ve struggled to embrace their post-Treasure work. However, this year saw a rise in their fortunes as they began to explore new styles and tones. For the first time in awhile, I’m excited to see where they go next.
Last Year: n/a
2025 Singles: Lemon Drop, In Your Fantasy, Ash
7. ZEROBASEONE
ZEROBASEONE kicked off the year with tons of strength, releasing an excellent Korean mini-album and solid Japanese single just days apart from each other. The group’s members seemed to be everywhere all at once. At one point, three of the industry’s music shows were hosted by someone from ZB1. However, during the second half of the year their first full album underwhelmed and you could really feel the slow march to inevitable disbandment and/or reconfiguration. I hope they can at least go out with a bang in 2026.
Last Year: 4
2025 Singles: Now Or Never, Doctor! Doctor!, Blue, Slam Dunk, Iconik
6. NOWZ
This time last year, NOWZ didn’t even make my honorable mentions for rookie acts, yet they’ve pulled a huge reversal in 2025. Rebranding from Nowadays to NOWZ doesn’t really do much for me, but the music itself became so much stronger. Their one-two punch of Fly To The Youth and Everglow gave them a prime spot on my summer playlist. Everything about them feels so recharged this year.
Last Year: n/a
2025 Singles: Fly To The Youth, Everglow, HomeRUN
5. NCT DREAM
Similar to ATEEZ, it’s been awhile since NCT Dream featured on this countdown (2023 to be exact), but I enjoyed everything they released this year. Their full album Go Back To The Future was quite strong and the recently-promoted Beat It Up grew on me immensely as the weeks went on. They remain NCT’s strongest unit and confidently carry the torch for SM Entertainment’s coveted boy group sound.
Last Year: n/a
2025 Singles: BTTF, Chiller, Beat It Up
4. RIIZE
RIIZE may not have had the singles to compete with their killer 2024 output, but they did release one of the best albums of the year and continued to prove their ability to make just about any genre work. For me, their 2025 was all about proving what strong vocalists they can be, which is often an overlooked area of K-pop performance. They remain one of my favorite currently active groups despite not loving everything they release.
Last Year: 1
2025 Singles: Bag Bad Back, Fly Up, Fame
3. CRAVITY
Just like NOWZ at number six, CRAVITY went through a creative resurgence this year. They’ve always been a super strong group, but not every idol act releases their strongest material in year five of their career. It feels like the guys have learned what they do best and are leaning into that sound. This provides the foundation for super-exciting and polished music. I’ve been a longtime casual fan, but this year I officially became invested in the group.
Last Year: n/a
2025 Singles: Jelly Bean, SET NET G0?!, Lemonade Fever
2. NMIXX
Patience pays off, and NMIXX learned that firsthand as they scored the biggest hit of their career in 2025. The group got off to a polarizing start, but they’ve fine-tuned their balance of experimentalism and pure pop and released their strongest album yet. Like RIIZE, I actually preferred some of the b-sides to the title tracks this year, but their output gave a little something for everyone. In a sea of sound-alike girl groups following the same trends, NMIXX are confidently working in their own lane.
Last Year: 8
2025 Singles: Know About Me, MEXE, Spinnin’ On It, Blue Valentine
1. TWS
When it comes to their trajectories on this blog, TWS and Golden Child share a lot in common. And from what I can remember, they’re the only two acts to be named “rookie of the year” and then “artist of the year” successively. After becoming excited about a rookie group one year, I always worry that they’ll let me down the next. That certainly didn’t happen with TWS.
It’s no secret that, on the whole, I found this year in K-pop a bit underwhelming. However, having a group like TWS around made it feel so much stronger. Despite the name of this blog, I’m not a fan of blind bias. But, I’m a huge fan of being a fan, and it’s so nice to have a group I can be an unabashed fan of. Their 2025 really ticked all the boxes for me. I love their music (it’s almost exclusively catered to my taste). I find the members so charming as people and variety characters. I think they’re insanely talented and incredibly fun to watch on stage. I love how their career has targeted Asian markets rather than kowtow to Western expectations. And for once in my life as a fan, TWS have the budget and success level to constantly churn out content. I’m sure eventually there will be a day when they release a song I don’t like, but that hasn’t happened yet and this year showcased a gradual growth and maturation that feels very promising.
Last Year: n/a
2025 Singles: Countdown!, Lucky To Be Loved, Hajimemashite, Head Shoulders Knees Toes, Overdrive
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I really gotta hand it to NOWZ, Cravity and NMIXX. NOWZ went from rookies that just blended in with their fellow bgs (although I did and still lowkey enjoy Let’s Get It lmao) to a rookie that really stood out to me. Everglow’s such a banger and HomeRUN’s stupidly addicting and I’m already considering putting that in the 9s given my initial rating’s an 8.75 lmfao
And even Cravity too, I didn’t pay much interest to them given last year, I only knew 3 of their songs (Break All The Rules, the ultra stupid My Turn and Now or Never), but I absolutely adored their singles this year. They had a huge glowup and I hope they continue this bright funky, lowkey experimental (like Set Net G0?!) sound
And NMIXX, I absolutely adored last year’s Fe3o4: Break album and See That?, they’ve been improving since 2023 and this year just shows how well they could do if given the right tracks. The girls are super talented and Blue Valentine’s a deserved hit (and another song I plan to put in the 9s) and I also enjoyed Reality Hurts. Hopefully after finals tomorrow, I’d get to listen to the album.
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Make it 4 Cravity songs pre-2025 lmao, I also heard of Gas Pedal and then 15-16 year old me had THAT on loop (I was too NCT-pilled back then 😭)
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Gas Pedal is still a guilty pleasure for me lol
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As the resident luvity here I must demand you to please listen to New Wave and Evershine by Cravity they are pretty good EPs you will not be dissapointed!
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TWS AND NMIXX ON TOP I KNOW THATS RIGHT!!! Definitely my top two artists of the year as well 🙌 such strong musical identities and so talented
Nick, I don’t know if you remember that I left a comment about a year ago that I was starting to get into TWS as a group beyond the music and you suggested some variety content for me to watch. Well I’ve been fully on the TWS train for the last year now, music and members alike 😅 haven’t felt this level of fandom ever! Your writeup for them is exactly how I feel, I’ve never connected this hard to a group on both a music level and everything else too.
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I can confidently say TWS have my favorite variety of any idol group… maybe ever?
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NCT Dreeeeam! The boys cooked this year!
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Go Back To The Future is probably my fave kpop lp this year. It’s the first time I loved an NCT Dream album since probably Hot Sauce. But I’m yet to hear Cravity’s & NMIXX’s albums so let’s see if that will change…
I think I have to start onboarding the TWS train as well. Four minis and all of them are outstanding! If they release a strong LP next year (cross fingers), I’ll definitely drive that train myself 😆
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I think Ateez, Cravity, Treasure, BoyNextDoor, LeSeraffim, Nowz, ZB1, and KickFlip had the best output in terms of quantity and quality. I also saw most of them (except Cravity, ZB1, and Nowz) perform live, so that gives them an extra point in my books.
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I forgot Close Your Eyes…excellent debut album and comebacks
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Lee Heemoon (OBSG), BOYNEXTDOOR, Ateez, and NCT Dream largely did it for me. Although that TXT Japanese album was beautiful.
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Itzy of all groups, but not LSF or IVE xD
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looking forward to a full album from TWS next year hopefully! I agree their musical direction is so locked in and im not even worried about quality dip.
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tws is definitely my top kpop artist this year, followed by cravity and maybe illit. it’s been a while since i’ve liked a kpop group with an established musical brand since debut (the last one was ive pre-baddie). i thought i was done with kpop, and then tws came in 😆. countdown was such a satisfying conclusion to the plot twist trilogy, and overdrive made me excited to see where they’ll go next. i still can’t believe i liked a song with a nursery rhyme chorus 😅. they’ve alrdy released thirty songs and there’s barely any filler, i hope we’ll get a full album soon. since they’ve been using a lot of rock sounds lately, maybe they’ll do something like their bang or amazing kiss covers 👀 (i rly hope they do)
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feel like just b should be an honorable mention on this list for 2 reasons: (a) bain making kpop history as the first active idol in a group to come out as gay and (b) them finally finding their signature sound like I CANNOT stress enough how incredible their pivot to a hyperpop sound has been. it could have been super gimmicky (cough gnarly) but they made it distinctly their own made it very cohesive albums wise and (to me at least) all the music was incredible (in fact im kinda shocked chest wasnt on ur year end songs list)
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I am also a fan of being a fan. It just gives me so much pure happiness seeing people unapologetically love something. In my opinion, this is what makes this blog special. Also, I cackled at the part where you said “And for once in my life as a fan, TWS have the budget and success level to constantly churn out content” 🙂 🙂 I relate to you.
My top artists this year were Boynextdoor (I loved their 2024 output more, but they are going strong), TWS, Zerobaseone, Enhypen, Illit and (surprisingly) Nmixx.
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