A simple question like how many kpop bands are there may make you wonder about thousands of things! For instance, what is K-pop? When did it start?; who is part of it? Etc. However, learning about K-pop in a day may not be possible since the root of kpop goes back to the 90s. Since the 90s Korean Pop Music has created a distinct image among other countries’ music styles and genres. Therefore, K-pop having such a huge international base is not only the result of the last few years but also the decades of the kpop artists’ blood, sweat, and tears!
Every year, hundreds of new kpop groups and bands debut. Thousands of trainees dream of becoming part of a debut group, but only a few pass the intense idol training. After all, K-pop has become more than just singing and dancing. Therefore, there is no doubt that one needs to go through years of harsh training before entering the tough and competitive world of the Kpop Music Industry. Furthermore, with the global popular groups like BTS, EXO, BLACKPINK, GOT7, Twice, etc., entering and making your name in Kpop has become tougher! Despite the challenges, many idols don’t hesitate to spread their wings to fly high!
Also Read: What Is a ‘Maknae’ In K-Pop? The Top 4 Most Popular Maknaes
K-pop And K-Pop Generation
K-pop is a short term for Korean Popular Music originating in South Korea. It doesn’t only include pop or hip-hop genres but also other music styles and genres. The term ‘K-pop’ became very popular in the 2000s. Before Kpop, South Korean Pop Music was called Gayo. Furthermore, in recent years, K-pop has been associated with the country’s Korean Music entertainment and idol industry, regardless of genre.
When it comes to K-pop, many new fans want to know where their favorite kpop groups belong. After all, K-pop is a border term that includes various terminologies, categories, and branches. And one of them is Kpop Generation. Kpop Generation defines the year the bands debuted. Since it started in the 90s, we have 4 Kpop Generations so far.
- 1st Generation- the 1990s- from 1992 to 2002
- 2nd Generation- the 2000s- from 2003 to 2010
- 3rd Generation- the 2010s- from 2012 to 2020
- 4th Generation- the 2020s
Therefore, each year, in each generation, we meet hundreds of new Kpop bands! No doubt, some withstand the cutthroat competition. Meanwhile, the others crumble down and disband even before they fly high.
Also Read: When Did 3rd Generation Kpop Start? True Revolution of Kpop
How Many Kpop Bands Are There?
With the growing curiosity and hunger to learn more, many new kpop fans want to know how many kpop bands or groups are there. Since K-pop began in the 90s, we have almost 500 kpop bands or groups in the K-pop industry. However, at present, it may be less than 500 considering many bands have already disbanded or are on indefinite hiatus.
If we look at the debut data, the number of groups is increasing with each passing kpop generation. In the 1st Kpop Generation, there were around 30 kpop groups, while in the 2nd Generation were more than 50. Furthermore, the 3rd Generation has the highest numbers considering more than 300 kpop groups debuted. And currently, we are living in the 4th Generation, where we already have more than 50 groups debuted.
Therefore, with the rising popularity of Kpop and Kpop groups, there is no doubt there will be hundreds of new bands in the upcoming years. However, how many will be able to withstand the fierce competition will only time tell!
Popular Kpop Groups
The growing kpop industry has introduced hundreds of famous bands and soloists in the past few decades. Be it 1st Generation or 4th Generation, there are various kpop bands who have stolen millions of hearts from every corner of the world.
- The 1990s Popular Groups- Seo Taiji and Boys, Turbo, Deux, H.O.T., Sechs Kies, S.E.S., Fin.K.L., Shinhwa, g.o.d. etc.
- The 2000s Popular Groups- Chakra, 5tion, Epik High, Brown Eyed Soul, TVXQ, SS501, Super Junior, Big Bang, Brown Eyes Girls, F.T. Island, Girls’ Generation, KARA, 2AM, 2PM, 4Minute, CNBLUE, f(x), After School, MBLAQ, etc.
- The 2010s Popular Groups- Girl’s Day, Infinite, JYJ, Miss A, Orange Caramel, Sistar, ZE:A, Apink, B1A4, Brave Girls, AOA, BtoB, EXID, Exo, Fiestar, VIXX, BTS, GOT7, Hotshot, Mamamoo, Red Velvet, GFriend, Seventeen, Twice, Astro, Blackpink, I.O.I., Momoland, NCT, SF9, Wanna One, Ateez, (G)I-dle, Iz*One, Loona, Stray Kids, Tomorrow X Together, etc.
- The 2020s Popular Groups- Aespa, Cravity, Enhypen, STAYC, Weeekly, Le Sserafim, TNX, Got the Beat, etc.
