Who are the best rookie K-pop groups of 2021?
Korean media outlet News1 held a survey among representatives of 31 entertainment agencies to choose the best rookie K-pop groups of 2021.
Aespa, composed of Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ningning, received 15 votes to emerge as the No. 1 best rookie K-pop group of 2021. They debuted in November 2020. Aespa made successive hit songs such as “Black Mamba,” “Next Level” and “Savage.” They won the “daesang,” or grand prize, for Record of the Year at the 2021 Melon Music Awards.
Some of the comments by the respondents include “The planning, marketing and music are all excellent," "The publicity of 'Next Level' stood out," ‘They quickly established themselves as a trending girl group” and “They are the most influential group this year.”
Placing second with 10 votes is Ive, composed of Yujin, Liz, Gaeul, Rei, Wonyoung and Leeseo, which debuted last Dec. 1. They released their single album “Eleven” last Dec. 1. According to News1, “Eleven sold 150,000 copies in the first week of release."
"At the same time as they appeared, they showed an overwhelming record in all areas such as first week sales, music broadcast, digital music and music video views," one respondent said of Ive.
Here are the best rookie K-pop groups of 2021 as voted by 31 representatives from entertainment agencies:
1. Aespa - 15 votes
2. Ive - 10 votes
3. STAYC and ENHYPEN - 2 votes each
4. Billlie, Mirae, Lightsum, Epex - 1 vote each
Representatives who participated in the survey were from entertainment agencies including DSP Media, RBW, JYP Entertainment, Jellyfish Entertainment, FNC Entertainment, SM Entertainment, Brand New Music, Woollim Entertainment, C9 Entertainment, Starship Entertainment, HYBE, YG Entertainment, Pledis Entertainment and Cube Entertainment.