8 Rookie K-Pop Groups To Watch In 2025, According To The Prestigious Recording Academy

Big praise coming from the Academy!
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The Recording Academy, known globally for representing the music industry’s best, has once again spotlighted rookie K-Pop groups that are poised for greatness in the coming year. This annual tradition offers music fans a glimpse into the future of K-Pop. Here are the eight groups they highlighted for 2025:

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Recording Academy

QWER

Emerging in late 2023, QWER quickly gained attention with their pop-rock style, infused with J-pop influences. The four members are not only vocalists but also skilled musicians, giving the group a unique edge. Their debut EP, Manito, featuring the hit track “T.B.H (Thinking About You),” cemented their place as a group to watch according to the Academy.

Vibrant and full of energy, their music found a peak with “T.B.H (고민중독),” the lead single from their debut EP, Manito. The song became a success on the South Korean music charts and remained consistent in the top spots throughout the year, sparking enthusiasm for what’s yet to come.

— Recording Academy

ARTMS

Born from former LOONA members’ reinvention, ARTMS consists of JinSoul, HaSeul, Kim Lip, HeeJin, and Choerry. Now under ModHaus, their first album, DALL, and its lead single, “Virtual Angel,” showcase their evolution and refreshed energy. The GRAMMYs organizers praised the members’ “overflowing talent” full of excitement for what comes next.

The members of ARTMS might not necessarily be rookies on paper, but their reinvention will allow the audience to see them anew through a fresh lens.

— The Recording Academy

NEXZ

This cross-national boy group debuted through the second season of the Nizi Project. With members hailing from Japan and Korea, NEXZ brings a global perspective. According to the Recording Academy its the group’s music catalog, which blends Korean and Japanese elements, that makes them a rising star in both markets.

NEXZ has been steadily finding its footing by bending frontiers, making them a group you don’t want to overlook.

— The Recording Academy

RESCENE

Debuting last spring, RESCENE is now known to create dreamy, lasting melodies. Tracks like “UhUh” and “Love Attack” from their EP Scenedrome highlight their knack for unforgettable choruses which the Academy seems enthralled by.

It was “Love Attack,” the main track from the group’s first EP Scenedrome, that sealed the deal with a memorable instrumental and breathtaking chorus.

RESCENE checks all the boxes to soar to new heights, so we’re still on time to join their journey before we get left behind.

— The Recording Academy

MEOVV

The first girl group from The Black Label, MEOVV debuted with their single “Meow” in September. Tracks like “BODY” and “Toxic” earned them recognition at the 2025 MAMA Awards, where they won Favorite Rising Artist — an achievement not overlooked by the Recording Academy.

Now that their talents are fully on display, all eyes are on what comes next, where expectations have relocated to them delivering a more expansive music project.

— The Recording Academy

SAY MY NAME

Known for their uplifting sound, SAY MY NAME — led by former IZ*ONE member Hitomi Honda — launched their debut EP featuring WaveWay. The Academy claims that the members’ survival show backgrounds can bring experience and charisma to their performances.

SAY MY NAME ) possesses a distinctive energy that translates into a glimmering sound, and watching them perform feels like a shot of pure serotonin.

— The Recording Academy

izna

Formed through I-LAND 2: N/a, izna debuted in late 2024 with their mini-album N/a. The Recording Academy highlighted songs like “IZNA” and “TIMEBOMB” which showcase their powerful performances and promise great things ahead.

B-side track “TIMEBOMB,” ends with a thrilling promise: “I’m ready to blow your mind/ The time I’ve been waiting for is now.” These lines could very well be taken as a premonition because izna are set for great things ahead.

— The Recording Academy

KickFlip

After years of anticipation, JYP Entertainment’s KickFlip is set to debut in early 2025. Formed from the survival show LOUD, the group has already built excitement with diary-style teasers. The GRAMMYs organizers seem excited to finally hear what the group’s sound will represent once their album comes out.

As of press time, the septet has yet to release music, but they’ve been publishing weekly diary entries where they share their thoughts about their forthcoming debut.

— The Recording Academy

Source: The Recording Academy
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