The current landscape of K-pop has changed vastly compared to the previous years.

In the past, many successful K-pop idols were produced by large entertainment companies such as SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment. To have a better chance at success, many aspiring singers chose to become trainees from one of these large agencies.

However, this seems to have shifted this year with the top-selling K-pop girl groups in 2024 being from small-mid-sized companies.

Recently, a Korean netizen brought attention to the fact that the top two best-selling idol groups were not from the Big four agencies: SM, JYP, HYBE, or YG.

According to the latest data, (G)I-DLE sold the most album copies out of all girl groups so far in 2024 with their album '2' released on January 29, followed by IVE with their album 'IVE SWITCH' released on April 29. (G)I-DLE is from Cube Entertainment while IVE is from Starship Entertainment. The rest of the list includes aespa, TWICE, LE SSERAFIM, NewJeans, NMIXX, BABYMONSTER, ILLIT, and ITZY, which are all from the Big 4 companies in South Korea.

Korean netizens commented:
"(G)I-DLE is amazing."

"(G)I-DLE is really the silent but strong type. Well, they're not that silent but... lol."

"Cube and Starship should do well."

"Wow, (G)I-DLE has a large fandom."

"I wonder why (G)I-DLE wasn't mentioned so much."

"IVE isn't performing as well as last time though."

"TWICE is still going strong. That's amazing."

"(G)I-DLE does well in physical sales and their song 'FATE' is a contender for song of the year too."

"I wonder what the data is like for male idols."

"Cube should really treat (G)I-DLE well."

"These are the two teams I didn't expect to do well. That's so crazy."
"I think TWICE is really amazing to still be in the top 10."