Disclaimer: As with my write-ups on Ok-Pop’s greatest companies, that is written from an outsider’s perspective. I’m not aware of any business-related monetary data past what some other fan would know. The aim of those articles is to look at how properly these companies are serving their artists and the final Ok-pop fan-base.

If you happen to’re curious to learn my ideas on these companies from final 12 months, click on right here for half one and right here for half two!

MLD Leisure

MLD have prolonged to the Filipino market with the debut of boy teams HORI7ON and New:ID, they usually’re in all probability sensible to department out globally. Since shedding flagship woman group Momoland, Korea has been a troublesome nut to crack. Rookies TFN and Lapillus are nonetheless fairly unknown by most, with music that isn’t usually very robust.

D+

P Nation

P Nation went from being the premiere boutique company to a sinking ship when a lot of their hottest artists departed final 12 months. Fortunately, they have been capable of scoop up the ever-popular HwasA and nonetheless boast a few cool tastemakers (Heize, Crush, Penomeco) as a part of their roster. Boy group The New Six had a strong 12 months musically however merely aren’t promoted properly sufficient to make a splash. I hope P Nation has large plans for them in 2024.

C-

RBW (Rainbow Bridge World)

RBW has change into a conglomerate that encapsulates different companies like WM and DSP, however for the needs of this characteristic I’m going to concentrate on their foremost secure of artists. With that in thoughts, we’re primarily taking a look at Mamamoo, ONEUS and Purple Kiss. Different acts both weren’t energetic in 2023 (Kara, Vromance) or didn’t have a lot to launch (ONEWE – although they did ship an early-2023 album and a few solo stuff).

Mamamoo continued their solo and sub-unit period. I discovered most of this music fairly bland, however the group has a big, loyal fanbase. Every member feels profitable in her personal means. ONEUS additionally has a large fanbase, although their {industry} presence appeared to dip only a bit this 12 months. Purple Kiss are nonetheless on the rise, however gross sales have hit a little bit of a hunch. Perhaps member Yuki’s involvement in Queendom Puzzle group Elz7 Up will buoy their fortunes…

B-

Wake One Leisure

WakeOne is mainly the “survival present” company, with teams Kep1er, ZEROBASEONE and TO1 on their roster. As such, they’ve a built-in infrastructure for his or her music and content material distribution. Kep1er had frequent, profitable releases (although gross sales have decreased) and really feel extra like a everlasting group than a competition-winning act. ZEROBASEONE have confirmed to be an immediate smash, and I’m heartened by their constant sound. Their 2024 needs to be enormous.

Poor TO1 appear to be forgotten. There was no new album this 12 months and one among their newer members has already left the group. Nevertheless, the company gained soloist Kim Jaehwan and proceed to advertise Jo Yuri fairly properly.

B+

WM Leisure

WM Leisure have made some good selections and a few dangerous ones. It looks like they’ve bungled the chance for Oh My Lady to change into an industry-leading woman group, with steadily reducing gross sales since their 2021 peak. But, the choice to have all eligible members of ONF serve their navy responsibility concurrently has paid off with a shorter-than-normal hiatus between albums. As a fan, I’m grateful for this planning. Soloist Lee Chaeyeon scored a pleasant viral hit this spring whereas veteran act B1A4 proceed to stay inactive as a gaggle. It’s a blended bag at WM, for certain.

C

Yuehua Leisure

It doesn’t appear to be Yuehua is aware of what it needs to do. They’ll’t nail down a constant sound for rookies Tempest, although their robust gross sales numbers proceed to coast on goodwill. Lady group Everglow lastly made a return in 2023, however neither the track nor promotions felt like large moments. Fortunately, they’ve bought just a few well-liked members of ZEROBASEONE ready within the wings, although it’ll be years earlier than they’ll promote solely underneath Yuehua.

D+

Be sure that to take a look at half one, with Model New, Dice, DSP, FNC, IST, Jellyfish and KQ.