Pleased 2026! As we transition to a brand new 12 months, it’s Bias Record custom to unveil some needs I’ve for Ok-pop going ahead. I are likely to go for broke with my resolutions, which most of the time results in disappointment. However should you’re going to dream, why not dream large?
I normally cease at ten resolutions every year however this time I’m going so as to add a bonus one as a result of I̶’̶m̶ ̶s̶o̶ ̶p̶i̶s̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶d̶u̶s̶t̶r̶y̶ I really feel so passionate in regards to the {industry}. Plus, a couple of of those are holdovers from final 12 months.
Readers, be certain that to chime in within the feedback. What are your Ok-pop needs for 2026?
1. Much less speaking, extra singing
I’m most likely setting myself up for disappointment by wishing for one thing the {industry} is clearly not fascinated about, however my primary want is that nice melody will discover its place again in Ok-pop. For this to occur, songs should begin counting on nice singing once more. Really, the singing doesn’t even must be nice. I received’t be choosy!
What I’m most uninterested in in Ok-pop is spoken phrase hooks. I can’t even name this rapping as a result of it’s normally delivered in a monotone catchphrasey method that doesn’t capitalize on rhythm or stream. Too many current title tracks have been allowed to get away with this and it’s made topliners lazy. My favourite tracks of this 12 months tended to place melody and singing entrance and middle. I’d like extra of that in 2026, please. Actually, why doesn’t an company strive launching a brand new group the place “killer vocals” is their complete idea? And, I don’t imply some boring ballad group. I would like high-energy dance music with equally strong vocals. It may be finished, I swear!
And whereas we’re at it, what about concord? Vocal concord was once the bread and butter of boy bands and woman teams, however we hardly hear it anymore in Ok-pop. Let’s carry that again, too. It provides such depth to the sound of a music.
In brief, I would like the Ok-pop {industry} to do not forget that vocals and singing are each bit as necessary as dance, visible and rap. Proper now, they really feel like a distant fourth place for many teams.
2. Push previous that three minute mark (or supply prolonged variations)
That is one other holdover from previous resolutions, but it surely feels much more pertinent this 12 months.
I. Am. Sick. Of. Two. Minute. Songs.
Two minutes isn’t sufficient for a contemporary music to really feel full. Structural components like bridges, intros and outros contribute to singing really feel full and satisfying, and too many in any other case strong Ok-pop singles finish prematurely. I get why the {industry} is giving into this temptation, however hear me out. If you happen to should promote a “brief model” of a title observe, at the very least give us music lovers an “prolonged album model” the way in which the music {industry} used to do within the 90s. This might both be accessible as a bonus on streaming or be an unique to bodily copies of the album, but it surely must occur both method. I’m sick of cobbling collectively my very own prolonged variations for songs I like.
3. A profitable 12 months for my prime 2025 rookies
Aside from a few dependable favorites, 2025 was all about rookie teams for me. Specifically, rookie boy bands dominated the 12 months. AHOF, NouerA, Shut Your Eyes, KickFlip and IDID all made the 12 months far more colourful with their particular manufacturers of Ok-pop and I actually hope all of them thrive (and launch nice music) in 2026. The {industry} strikes so rapidly onto the following shiny factor, so none of those teams can relaxation on their laurels. I would like a number of comebacks with nice promotions and new milestones. And whereas we’re at it, Hearts2Hearts wants their first mega-hit that totally establishes their sound.
4. A lady group I can stan
I miss stanning a lady group, however I simply haven’t been capable of work with the fabric we’ve been getting over the previous few years. Woman group tropes appear to fall into simply a few musical classes these days and I discover myself largely disregarded of those sounds. I received’t be grasping. I simply need one group with a unique sound that rekindles the love I used to have for acts like GFriend, Lovelyz, SNSD, Kara, Oh My Woman, WJSN, and so on. Only one, please!! No present group suits inside this musical realm — at the very least for longer than a single comeback.
I would like subsequent 12 months’s “rookie of the 12 months” or “artist of the 12 months” to be a lady group, however the music needs to be there for me to rekindle pleasure. Proper now, NMIXX come closest to this transient, however time will inform how issues will develop.
5. Transfer on from Y2K (or at the very least choose extra attention-grabbing sounds from it)
We’ve been caught on this Y2K nostalgia for years now and it’s time to maneuver on. I don’t know what I’ll do if I’ve to listen to one other music that seems like Justin Timberlake’s Like I Love You.
The factor is, I can’t consider we’ve gone by this complete Y2K resurgence with out a single artist trying the slamming Cheiron Studios sound that was so emblematic of the period. The place’s my BSB/Nsync/Britney redux? As an alternative, we’ve gotten countless variations of the period’s extra subdued, “tasteful” sounds. I may go all of 2026 with out one other UK storage or Jersey membership beat. Give me the over-the-top cheese of the Y2K period or simply transfer on to totally different sonic touchstones (might I counsel early 2010s EDM?).
6. A resurgence for SM Leisure
This 12 months marks the primary “Prime 50 singles” countdown within the historical past of this weblog to not characteristic an SM artist within the prime ten. This isn’t for a scarcity of attempting, because the company continues to churn out content material. Nonetheless, their cultural dominance appears to have waned (together with the final music high quality). There have been some vivid spots this 12 months (RIIZE’s Odyssey), however general the songs simply weren’t hitting the way in which they used to. For me, SM Leisure is a towering presence in Ok-pop historical past. I’d like them to rise to the highest once more. They’ll begin with some good new Hearts2Hearts singles and a killer debut for his or her upcoming boy group. PLEASE don’t merely make be “NCT model 5.0.” Let’s get again to these dramatic dance bangers of the previous.
7. Extra deal with the Asian market
I’m American myself, however I’m not fascinated about listening to what Ok-pop companies assume American listeners may like. My favourite acts are typically ones targeted extra on the Asian market and I’d like this to develop into much more prevalent in 2026. Let Western audiences adapt to cultural touchstones they won’t be aware of. That’s what makes international music thrilling and enjoyable. Please don’t merely flatten your music to enchantment to the widest potential viewers. That strategy is why I had such a tough time with Ok-pop Demon Hunters whereas everybody else appeared to adore it.
8. Extra cross-industry interplay in selection content material
Dance challenges are actually enjoyable to look at, however I worry they’ve taken the place selection used to carry in Ok-pop. As somebody whose fandom casts far and extensive, I like to see totally different teams and artists work together with one another and I want there have been extra venues for them to take action. This additionally applies to inter-agency initiatives. I do know scheduling is hard, however I want companies would combine their artists extra typically for content material, particular levels and even promoted models. We may begin with that much-requested HYBE Recreation Caterers and go from there.
9. The return of legacy producers
I might moderately have an emergence of new producers with distinctive musical voices, however that doesn’t appear to be within the playing cards so I’ll want for the following smartest thing. The {industry} all the time needs to maneuver onto the following factor, however I’d like to see 2026 ship comebacks from the Ok-pop producers who formed my fandom within the first place. Let’s get new music from Sweetune, Courageous Brothers, Duble Sidekick, Yoo Younger-Jin and the like.
10. A greater option to showcase idols from small corporations
Now that The Present is caput, the {industry} wants a brand new option to highlight its nugu idols. The Ok-pop ecosystem can’t thrive on its large 4 companies alone. We want the variety these smaller teams carry they usually want an avenue to realize followers. This doesn’t even must be a music present. Again within the day, there have been enjoyable applications like Let’s Go Dream Staff that may typically invite under-the-radar acts. Fandom has develop into so siloed now, so I’d wish to see a preferred program or showcase that would introduce new voices to its viewers.
11. A brand new “idol group formation” sequence with a singular format
Again in 2016, the Produce 101 franchise launched and altered the way in which survival sequence work eternally. Ten years later, it’s seen numerous rip-offs and the components is feeling very stale. I’d wish to see a legitimately enjoyable and totally different sequence launch in 2026 that spawns a brand new idol group that may compete with MNET’s many initiatives. I’m unsure what this may seem like (perhaps much like the UK’s previous X-Issue format?) however I’m hungry for one thing new that breaks up the monotony these exhibits have develop into.