Experts From 32 Entertainment Companies Voted For Best Rookie Of The Year: RIIZE Won, NewJeans Got Only 1 Vote
In 2023, rookie boy groups have showed remarkable performance
A big number of boy groups, such as SM Entertainment’s RIIZE, Mnet’s “Boyz Planet” final debut team ZB1, and HYBE’s label KOZ Entertainment’s BOYNEXTDOOR, debuted and competed fiercely for the best rookie category this year.
To mark the end of 2023, News1 recently conducted a survey on the “2023 Best Rookie” for pop music experts. Representatives from 32 K-pop agencies participated in the survey, and each expert could only select one artist.
According to the survey, RIIZE received a total of 15 votes out of 32 and was named the “Best Rookie of the Year.” ZB1 ranked second with nine votes.
RIIZE officially made its debut in September this year with the release of its debut album “Get A Guitar.” As the boy band that SM Entertainment introduced for the first time in seven years since the group NCT, RIIZE has established a strong fandom even before its debut. The group also gathered attention for consisting of already debuted Sungchan, Shotaro, and Anton, the son of popular singer Yoon Sang. As a result, its debut album sold more than 1.01 million copies during the first week of its release (based on Hanteo Chart) and became a-million seller. Its title track “Get a Guitar” also made it on Melon’s top 100 charts, daily, weekly and monthly charts.
An official from the music industry said, “It is a group that opens the era of SM 3.0 and has been prepared with skills, talent, and new media.” Another official explained, “As it stands out among rookies in terms of skills and visuals, the era of SM 3.0 will depend on RIIZE.”
ZB1, which won the second place for this year’s rookie of the year, is a group formed through the Mnet audition survival program “Boys Planet,” which aired from February to April this year. Through the program, Sung Han-bin, Kim Ji-woong, Jang Hao, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, Ricky, Kim Kyu-bin, Park Gun-wook, and Han Yu-jin were selected as the final debut lineup with the support of their fandom. As it was born through the audition program, it boasted the tremendous firepower of its fandom, selling more than 1.82 million copies during the week of its debut album “YOUUTH IN THE SHADE” in July. Its second mini album “MELTING POINT,” which was released in November, also recorded more than 2.13 million copies during the first week.
In addition, FIFTY FIFTY, which gained worldwide popularity with their hit song “Cupid” and CJ Studio’s rookie boy group WHIB earned two votes each.
△ Votes For Best rookie of the year
RIIZE (15 votes) / ZB1 (9 votes) / FIFTY FIFTY (2 votes) / WHIB (2 votes) / 82MAJOR, NewJeans, BOYNEXTDOOR, TripleS (one or more votes)
△ 32 experts in the Korean pop music industry who responded to the survey are CEO and representatives of companies such as CEO Bang Yoon-tae (Wake One), Director Bang Jae-hyuk (KQ Entertainment), Director Yang Moon-young (YG Entertainment)
Director Yang Hyun-ok (CJS Entertainment), CEO Lee Dong-hyung (Abyss Company), Director Lee Yong-hwan (The Black Label)
Director Lee In-gyu (Antenna), Representative of Jonghyun Lee (Super Bell Company), Director Lee Jihyun (Starship Entertainment), Director Jeong Jin-ho (HYBE), Tiger JK CEO (Feelgood Music), Director Hwang Sang-hoon (C9 Entertainment) and more.
Source: News1
