It’s that point of 12 months once more! Whereas December is crammed with year-end countdowns, I like to have a look again at a few of Ok-pop’s largest businesses throughout November. Earlier than studying (particularly in case you’re new to the weblog), it’s useful to know that my grading focuses most closely on music releases and the way comebacks are managed and delivered to followers. Scandals and non-musical elements can definitely influence an company’s grade, however the largest standards will at all times be the music itself. Following SM Leisure and HYBE‘s evaluation, it’s time to dive into YG Leisure.
As normal, the ideas under are my very own and aren’t aware of any insider data. There shall be loads of subjective critique.
The Good
Although BLACKPINK’s solo efforts didn’t truly fall beneath YG Leisure (extra on that later), the excitement they created cycled proper again to the group themselves. BLACKPINK solely launched one track this 12 months however it was a biggie, charting effectively and persevering with their streak of unimaginable international success. It was additionally… fairly good! Add to that a large tour that’s nonetheless occurring and you’ve got one of many trade’s undisputed heavyweights.
Absent a brand new BLACKPINK album, YG Leisure threw a lot of their assist behind rookie group BABYMONSTER. Promotion for his or her first full album spilled over to this 12 months together with a number of comebacks. They’ve but to match the success of their company seniors, however a worldwide tour and loads of buzz definitely level towards potential.
Boy group Treasure proceed to carry out higher than most individuals appear to suppose. It’s loopy that in the intervening time they’re the company’s solely energetic boy group, however their funding in international markets (significantly Japan) appears to be paying off within the type of sturdy gross sales. They turned million-sellers for the second time with their most up-to-date mini album. Each their and BABYMONSTER’s excursions resulted in a worthwhile 12 months for the company.
Elsewhere, YG targeted primarily on solos. Albums from AKMU’s Lee Chanhyuk and Winner’s Kang Seungyoon got here and went with out a lot fanfare however did what they needed to do by focused their respective fan bases.
The Unhealthy
About that BLACKPINK solo success…
The women have seen lots of it this 12 months, however none of those releases got here beneath YG Leisure. So whereas the company may be benefiting secondhand from the excitement, most of BLACKPINK’s most profitable 2025 moments can’t be attributed to YG itself.
YG continues to launch far much less materials than their “huge 4” friends, making their inclusion in that membership much less and fewer convincing annually. The overwhelming majority of their hottest legacy acts have left the company and once they do come again (2NE1), it’s often only for a tour or another particular celebration.
Although Treasure proceed to carry out effectively, YG is missing in male teams in the intervening time. Winner is on hiatus, iKON and BIGBANG left years in the past and there doesn’t appear to be anybody else ready within the wings. BABYMONSTER exhibits lots of promise, however aside from that it’s onerous to foretell the way forward for YG. BLACKPINK can solely preserve their enormous recognition for thus lengthy and the prospect for Treasure to breakout past their (admittedly massive) fan base appears to have handed. The company must be asking themselves when and the way their subsequent BIGBANG will materialize. It doesn’t really feel like they’re doing a lot to hurry that course of alongside.
To be sincere, former YG subsidiary The Black Label garnered extra cultural buzz this 12 months with acts like Allday Undertaking, however given their function as an “affiliate firm,” I’m now not together with them as a part of YG’s grading so all that nice 2025 exercise can’t be counted right here.
What I’d wish to see in 2026:
- A brand new boy group with a public-friendly sound
- An iconic, chart-conquering hit from BABYMONSTER
- Extra albums/singles normally
Earlier years: 2024 // 2023 // 2022 // 2021 // 2020 // 2019 // 2018 // 2017 // 2016