These 18 Korean Entertainment Companies Alone Have Contributed 90% Of All K-Pop Album Sales In 2021
Now that August is over, we’re nearly three-quarters of the way through 2021, and while it’s been a bit of an odd year for the K-Pop community due to the ongoing pandemic, there have still been record-breaking album sales for artists and companies alike! There are some companies that have sold more than others, of course, so here’s a look at the 18 Korean Entertainment companies that make up just under 90% of the total album sales in 2021 so far.
18. Play M Entertainment
Artists under this label: Apink, VICTON, Weeekly
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: Voice: The Future is Now by VICTON (111.9k sales); We Play by Weeekly (42.7k sales); Play Game: Holiday by Weeekly (40.3k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 0.9%
17. Konnect Entertainment
Artists under this label include: Kang Daniel
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: Yellow by Kang Daniel (320.1k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 1.2%
16. Edam Entertainment
Artists under this label include: IU
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: Lilac by IU (382.0k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 1.3%
15. WM Entertainment
Artists under this label include: OH MY GIRL, B1A4, ONF
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: Dear OhMyGirl by OH My Girl (97.7k sales); Popping by ONF (96.9k sales); City of ONF by ONF (86.7k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 1.4%
14. FNC Entertainment
Artists under this label include: SF9, Cherry Bullet, P1Harmony, CNBLUE, AOA, N.Flying, FTISLAND
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: Turn Over by SF9 (204.2k sales); Disharmony: Break Out by P1Harmony (67.2k sales); Man on the Moon by N.Flying (59.4k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 1.5%
13. Cube Entertainment
Artists under this label include: (G)I-DLE, BTOB, PENTAGON, CLC, LIGHTSUM
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: I Burn by (G)I-DLE (211.9k sales); Love or Take by PENTAGON (114.1k sales); 4U: Outside by BTOB (40.3k sales); Windy by Soyeon (38.7k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 1.5%
12. RBW
Artists under this label include: MAMAMOO, ONEUS, ONEWE, PURPLE KISS
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: WAW by MAMAMOO (130.7k sales); Devil by ONEUS (120.6k sales); Binary Code by ONEUS (103.2k sales); Redd by Wheein (76.8k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 1.5%
11. Woollim Entertainment
Artists under this label include: INFINITE, Lovelyz, Golden Child, Rocket Punch, DRIPPIN
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: Game Changer by Golden Child (136.5k sales); Yes. by Golden Child (114.0k sales); A Better Tomorrow by DRIPPIN (47.6k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 1.6%
10. KQ Entertainment
Artists under this label include: ATEEZ, Block B
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: ZERO: FEVER Part.2 by ATEEZ (506.4k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 1.8%
9. BELIFT Lab
Artists under this label include: ENHYPEN
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: Border: Carnival by ENHYPEN (664.8k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 2.0%
8. Cre.Ker Entertainment
Artists under this label include: THE BOYZ
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: Thrill-ing by THE BOYZ (586.1k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 2.5%
7. Starship Entertainment
Artists under this label include: MONSTA X, Cosmic Girls, CRAVITY, Wonho, K.Will, Soyou
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: One of a Kind by MONSTA X (351.3k sales); Season 3. Hideout: Be Our Voice by CRAVITY (176.5k sales); The Awakening: Written in the Stars by CRAVITY (114.1k sales); Love Synonym Pt.2: Right for Us by Wonho (105.1k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 2.8%
6. Fantagio
Artists under this label include: ASTRO, Weki Meki, Ong Seungwoo
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: All Yours by ASTRO (360.3k sales); Switch On by ASTRO (292.8k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 2.8%
5. YG Entertainment
Artists under this label include: BLACKPINK, BIGBANG, WINNER, iKON, TREASURE, Akdong Musician
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: R by Rosé (587.8k sales); The First Step: Treasure Effect by TREASURE (335.9k sales); Page by Yoon (123.8k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 3.9%
4. Pledis Entertainment
Artists under this label include: SEVENTEEN, NU’EST
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: Your Turn by SEVENTEEN (1.47 million sales); Romanticize by NU’EST (208.4k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 6.5%
3. JYP Entertainment
Artists under this label include: TWICE, Stray Kids, ITZY, DAY6, 2PM
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: NOEASY by Stray Kids (711.9k sales); Taste of Love by TWICE (537.0k sales); Guess Who? by ITZY (331.7.k sales); Must by 2PM (141.1k sales); The Book of Us: Negentropy by DAY6 (110.1k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 6.7%
2. BigHit Music
Artists under this label include: BTS, TXT
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: Butter by BTS (2.21 million sales); The Chaos Chapter: Freeze by TXT (784.4k sales); The Chaos Chapter: Fight or Escape by TXT (495.2k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 18.3%
1. SM Entertainment
Artists under this label include: EXO, NCT, Red Velvet, SHINee, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, aespa, TVXQ
Top-selling albums from this label in 2021: Hot Sauce by NCT Dream (2.05 million sales); Bambi by Baekhyun (1.03 million sales); Don’t Fight the Feeling by EXO (1.30 million sales); Hello Future by NCT DREAM (1.25 million sales); The Renaissance by Super Junior (480.2k sales); Don’t Call Me by SHINee (447.5k sales); Empathy by D.O. (343.5k sales); Queendom by Red Velvet (218.3k sales)
Amount contributed to all 2021 K-Pop album sales: 31.5%
