BigBang’s G-Dragon, Jennie, and Wooz Dominate K-pop Charts as Solo Artist Era Arrives

Korean music charts are rapidly shifting from being dominated by idol groups to being led by solo artists. On Melon’s monthly chart for May, the largest streaming service in South Korea, aespa was the only group to make it into the top 10, with most entries filled by solo artists except for Ive at 9th place and BoyNextDoor at 10th place. This represents a stark contrast to May of the previous year, when seven idol groups—including Illit at 2nd place, Ive, I-dle, QWER, TWS, aespa, and Babymonster—occupied the top 10 of Melon’s chart. According to the rankings for the top 10 on Circle Chart’s digital chart in April released by the Korean Music Content Association, six soloists—G-Dragon, Jennie, Wooz, Zo Zazz, Hwang Garam, and Rosé—held the leading positions. During the same period, only three songs by idol groups appeared on the latest weekly chart: aespa’s “Supernova,” Ive’s “Heya,” and LE SSERAFIM’s “Hot.” As of now, only three groups—aespa, BoyNextDoor, and Riize—remain in the top 10. Music critic Im Hee-yoon analyzed the situation by stating, “K-pop groups are not performing well right now. Artists like IU remain consistently strong, and soloists such as Wooz, Hwang Garam, and Zo Zazz have made impressive comebacks or built gradual momentum with ballads, but there aren’t many new songs from idol groups that can truly capture the public’s attention.” Most of the solo artists dominating the charts are former or current members of mega-groups like BigBang and BLACKPINK. Their established brand recognition, existing fan bases, and individual musical talent serve as a solid foundation for their powerful performances. G-Dragon of BigBang ranked first on Circle Chart’s “Digital Top 400 Artist Index” in April, with 12 of his songs making it onto the chart, accounting for 5.5% of the overall chart. Music critics point out that this shift is based on differences in music formats. While idol music often features choreographed performances and rap-heavy compositions that are impressive on stage, solo songs fit better in today’s music consumption environment centered around streaming platforms. The year 2025 is becoming a turning point for veteran K-pop idols to pursue solo careers. Jay Park, a former member of 2PM, launched his six-year-long world tour “Serenades and Body Rolls,” with both performances in Seoul on May 24th and 25th selling out completely. ONEW, the leader and main vocalist of SHINee, has explored a completely different field compared to his group activities. These veteran soloists are attracting new audiences by combining their individual musical talent with creative freedom.