In sports or any competitive league, official or unofficial power rankings are often used to compare teams or groups within the league. Power rankings differ from regular rankings because they focus more on current momentum rather than long-term legacy or fanbase size. With that said, here is how my current power rankings would look for active GGs in the industry (excluding NJ, since they are currently inactive and their future is unknown). I'm personally basing mine off of these criteria with somewhat equal weighting (may not be completely accurate since I'm not actually calculating it meticulously): - Digital performance (Melon, Spotify, YouTube) - Physical Album Sales - Media coverage (like endorsements, TV/YouTube appearances) - Touring activity - Fanbase growth/decline Mine would look something like this (take it with a grain of salt): 1. aespa - This group continues to ride the momentum from their incredible 2024. Supernova to Whiplash was a crazy back to back and they swept the EOY charts/awards. They have another global tour scheduled for later this year and they maintain a strong, large fanbase. There's also high anticipation for their upcoming comeback later this month. 2. Blackpink - Been inactive as a group for a long time but the members have been very active with successful solo ventures. Their first group comeback in nearly three years is happening soon, along with a grand world tour. They are a legacy group, but they still make noise like no other. They could very well take the top spot in the near future. 3. IVE - One of the top GGs in the industry holding a death grip on the younger demographic. Wonyoung and Yujin are two of the biggest superstars in the industry and they own the domestic media coverage with endorsements. Musically, many fans believe their recent outputs aren't as appealing as their earlier sound. Despite that, they are still charting very well, and I think they will remain among the top groups for the foreseeable future. 4. Le Sserafim - This group's career trajectory has been a wild roller coaster ride, but they are currently on a major upswing. Their domestic influence isn't as strong as some of the groups on this list. But they are gaining more international popularity. They are also running a successful tour atm with a focus on the Japanese market. I can see them remaining in the top 5 for some time. 5. TWICE - Another legacy group on the list with a major following. Their touring numbers are insane and no one can compete with them in the Japanese market. Influence-wise, they are definitely on a decline by multiple metrics. However, their core fanbase is so large to begin with that it doesn't seem like they'll be experiencing a major fall off anytime soon. 6. IDLE - I would have put IDLE in the top 5 just a year ago. They are still massive, but their digital performance and fanbase hasn't really been growing since their Tomboy/Queencard/Nude run. Their most recent comeback is the biggest indicator of their decline, but they still sold over a million physical albums in their first week. Their ranking might see a huge drop if their next comeback isn't a major success. 7. NMIXX - A live performance-oriented group with insane vocals across the board. Their recent albums have been praised by both international/domestic music critics and their fanbase is growing year after year. Their most recent comeback also saw very impressive album sales. They seem to be focusing heavily on the Latin America market more than other groups on the list based on their recent touring activity. I could see them jump up a few spots in the rankings if they score a major hit. 8. BABYMONSTER - A group of high energy performers with a strong hip-hop sound. Despite being barely over a year old, they've already went on a tour. YG is clearly focusing more on the international market with this group, as opposed to the domestic market. They are the top 5th gen group on this list and they will only go up from here as long as YG doesn't shift their focus onto the upcoming new GG. 9. ITZY - They had a meteoric rise after their debut followed by a major fall since. With the emergence of other successful 4th gen groups, they've been dropping in the rankings year after year. Their tours are still successful and their core fanbase still remains large. However, they've been on a downward trajectory for a long time and it doesn't seem like the trend will be reversed anytime soon. They are in midst of a contract negotiation and it will be intriguing to what will happen to the group. 10. tripleS - A mega-sized group that K-pop has never seen before. They are quietly building a sizable fandom, especially domestically, and their recent album sales have seen a major boost. Their variety contents have been making a lot of noise, and they have become much more visible on YouTube lately. They seem to be on a healthy upswing in terms of momentum. Honorable Mentions: Illit - A 5th gen group that had a mega debut hit. Their subsequent releases were nowhere near successful as Magnetic but honestly, surpassing that would have been unrealistic. They are gaining more recognition in the Japanese market, and they will certainly rise in the rankings in the future. KISS OF LIFE - This group was experiencing a healthy growth in popularity with each comeback since debut. They were projected to break into the top 10 if it weren't for their recent controversy. All metrics are indicating that the controversy inflicted a visible damage, and it will be intriguing to see how their career pans out from here on out. Do you agree? Disagree? I'm curious to see what your rankings would look like! submitted by /u/Organic-Cranberry955 [link] [comments]
