After having a look at Ok-pop’s largest businesses, I’d like to show my consideration to the smaller (however nonetheless essential) gamers within the Ok-pop sport, three at a time.
Disclaimer: As with my write-ups on Ok-Pop’s largest businesses, that is written from an outsider’s perspective. I’m not aware of any business-related monetary data past what every other fan would know. The aim of those articles is to look at how properly these businesses are serving their artists and the final Ok-pop fan-base.
KQ ENTERTAINMENT
KQ proceed to maintain issues small, specializing in solely two teams. ATEEZ stay their marquee act and the blokes had a busy 12 months. They toured extensively, renewed their contracts and launched each Korean and Japanese music. And extra importantly for me, this music marked an upward flip in high quality. For the primary time in awhile, it felt like they have been stretching their sound a bit by taking part in with totally different genres. I loved their output greater than I’ve in years, although it appears as if gross sales slipped just a little in comparison with prior years.
In the meantime, xikers proceed to see average development, although it may not be occurring as rapidly as KQ would need. They’re promoted properly, even when I really feel that the company continues to choose the unsuitable tracks for promotion nearly each time. For me, their Japanese single Up All Night time was an enormous summer season spotlight and paints a promising highway ahead for them.
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MYSTIC STORY
Mystic Story continues to be primarily an actors’ company, however they’ve actually dipped their ft into the idol world over the previous few years. Aside from their established rock bands, Lucy is essentially the most senior idol (-esque?) group from the company. They operated as a trio this 12 months, which felt just a little unusual. For me, their sound is in want of some new concepts, however they proceed to achieve success inside their area of interest.
Woman group Billlie have been inactive this 12 months, although two of its members had a sub-unit launch through the first half of the 12 months. I don’t know what Mystic’s plans are for this group, however they sort of really feel deserted at this level. Lengthy hiatuses like this are harmful for mid-to-low-tier idol acts.
Most of Mystic’s promotion this 12 months went to new boy group ARrC. The blokes launched three comebacks in 2025. Their music boasts some distinctive components however they’re getting misplaced within the crowd of youthful boy teams and proceed to wrestle with gross sales. I’m unsure what the company can do to show this round, however they should do one thing.
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RBW (RAINBOW BRIDGE WORLD)
Ooh, this one’s irritating. Through the years, RBW has subsumed each WM Leisure and DSP Media and has not accomplished properly by both of them. Nonetheless, I’ll get to that later.
First, let’s have a look at the company’s personal artists. It was a tough 12 months, to place it mildly. Marquee group Mamamoo proceed to be inactive and the members who achieved essentially the most 2025 success (ie: Hwasa) aren’t even a part of RBW anymore. In the meantime, ONEUS launched a pair of albums that made little noise and noticed dwindling gross sales in comparison with their industrial peak. ONEWE proceed to churn out materials with steadily rising (but nonetheless modest) gross sales. Then we’ve obtained Purple Kiss, who disbanded earlier than their preliminary seven years had even handed. That occurs fairly hardly ever in Ok-pop and factors towards massive points inside RBW.
Worse but, RBW proceed to empty creativity (and possibly even assets?) from their subsidiary businesses. They messed round with ONF’s signature sound and producers, interrupting a promised two-part album collection with a stopgap launch. Basically mendacity to your followers will not be a great look. In the meantime, new woman group USPEER debuted within the spring and haven’t launched something since. They’ll be simply forgotten with out higher promotions. Veteran artists B1A4 and Oh My Woman have been just about inactive this 12 months minus one digital single.
Issues weren’t any higher over at RBW’s different subsidiary DSP Media. DSP has lengthy had a light presence within the trade since their heyday over a decade in the past, however they actually really feel like they’re working on fumes now. What little buzz KARD nonetheless had as a co-ed group feels prefer it has been usurped by ALLDAY PROJECT, whereas Younger Posse proceed to cater to their fanbase with out transferring a lot outdoors of that.
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