K-Pop Agency CEOs and Directors Vote On The BEST Idol Groups, Rookies, and More

Did your bias make the TOP of K-Pop?

Sports Chosun is celebrating their 35th year as a company and as part of their celebrations, interviewed 50 entertainment agency CEO’s and Directors to get their thoughts on who the industry’s current power players are.

They voted on 8 categories, and each person was able vote for their top 3 choices. 1st place votes received 3 points, 2nd place 2 points, and 3rd place 1 point, meaning the most votes one could receive for a category is 150 points.

The “Power People” that move the whole industry

  1. BTS – 68
  2. Lee Soo Man – 58
  3. Bang Si Hyuk – 47
  4. Park Jin Young – 23
  5. IU – 18

The Best K-Pop Producer

  1. Bang Si Hyuk – 101
  2. Lee Soo Man – 65
  3. Park Jin Young – 37
  4. ZICO & Teddy (tie) – 11

The Best Male Idol Group

  1. BTS – 141
  2. EXO – 53
  3. SEVENTEEN – 25
  4. NCT – 17
  5. BIGBANG – 9
  6. MONSTA X – 7

The Best Female Idol Group

  1. TWICE – 111
  2. BLACKPINK – 69
  3. Red Velvet – 24
  4. Oh My Girl – 13
  5. IZ*ONE – 11
  6. (G)I-DLE – 10

The Best Male Soloist

  1. ZICO – 71
  2. Rain – 38
  3. Paul Kim – 23
  4. EXO’s Baekhyun & BIGBANG’s G-Dragon (tie) – 16
  5. Park Hyo Shin & Jang Beom June & Im Young Woong (tie) – 14

The Best Female Soloist

  1. IU – 115
  2. Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon – 52
  3. Chungha – 38
  4. Heize – 21
  5. Sunmi – 17
  6. Lee Hyori – 11

The Best Of K-Pop’s Future

  1. TXT – 60
  2. ITZY – 43
  3. SM Entertainment’s rookie girl group – 13
  4. CRAVITY & TREASURE & ATEEZ (tie) – 7

The Best K-Pop Agency

  1. SM Entertainment – 98
  2. Big Hit Entertainment – 83
  3. JYP Entertainment – 48
  4. YG Entertainment – 8

Check out the full infographic below:

Here are the 50 agencies and personalities that participated in the voting

  1. Music Critic Kang Tae Kyu
  2. Music K Entertainment
  3. DSP Media
  4. nhemg Entertainment
  5. rrr Entertainment
  6. JYP Entertainment
  7. Pledis Entertainment
  8. SM Entertainment
  9. Woollim Entertainment
  10. RBW Entertainment
  11. Label SJ
  12. 220 Entertainment
  13. Nexstar Entertainment
  14. Brand New Music
  15. Amoeba Culture
  16. MAKEUS Entertainment
  17. Pocket Dol Studio
  18. Polaris Entertainment
  19. Million Market
  20. KQ Entertainment
  21. Happy Robot Records
  22. Starship Entertainment
  23. Magic Strawberry Entertainment
  24. TOP Media
  25. Fantagio Music
  26. Creker Entertainment
  27. Higher Music
  28. Blockberry Creative
  29. MHN Entertainment
  30. Happy Face Entertainment
  31. Source Music
  32. WM Entertainment
  33. MLD Entertainment
  34. Cube Entertainment
  35. Star Crew ENT
  36. Big Hit Entertainment
  37. FNC Entertainment
  38. Mystic Story
  39. YG Entertainment
  40. Swing Entertainment
  41. Play M Entertainment
  42. RD Entertainment
  43. Feel Ghood Music
  44. Miles Entertainment
  45. C9 Entertainment
  46. Major Nine Entertainment
  47. Long Play Music
  48. HOW Entertainment
  49. THE BLACK LABEL
  50. Maroo Entertainment
Source: Sports Chosun