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