The vast world of K-pop is influenced by, and influences, every conceivable genre of music across the world. While the most popular trends and biggest influences tend to fluctuate, there are several key aspects of K-pop that tie the term -- and those participating in its endless world of content --together: perfection and performance.
In 2020, an elite subset of K-pop girl groups embodied perfection and performance, outshining their peers with incredible music and mesmerizing music videos. This list identifies these top artists, ranked from the best at #1 (spoiler: BLACKPINK) all the way through #45.
Scroll down for a Spotify playlist, YouTube video playlist, and detailed write-up of all 45 artists!
List of The Top 45 Female K-Pop Artists of 2020
BLACKPINK
ITZY
TWICE
LOONA
DREAMCATCHER
EVERGLOW
IZ*ONE
YUKIKA
NiziU
PassCode
(G)I-DLE
Rocket Punch
DreamNote
K/DA
APRIL
Weeekly
Weki Meki
WJSN Cosmic Girls
MAMAMOO
3YE
BVNDIT
OH MY GIRL
cignature
BLACKSWAN
KARD
MOMOLAND
Apink
SECRET NUMBER
woo!ah!
AleXa
ELRIS
CHUNG HA
GFRIEND
Red Velvet - IRENE & SEULGI
GWSN Girls in the Park
fromis_9
EXID
FANATICS
NATURE
Ryu Su Jeong
Jessi
Hwa Sa
Moon Byul
PurpleBeck
Dia
Spotify Playlist of All Songs
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/480Z4IIkIMTnomXPfey0yp
YouTube Playlist of All Music Videos
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrgT746Ww5Pu5fXDuXsUjB4vdmGCMclaV
Read About the Top 45 Female K-Pop Artists of 2020
BLACKPINK
THE ALBUM is the culmination of a four year journey. While BLACKPINK has consistently demonstrated themselves to be among the best K-pop girl groups song-after-song, year-after-year, they had not yet released a larger, cohesive album that ties their explosive, stadium-ready sound together. All of that changed in 2020, with Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa packing more brand new, creative hits into one full-length record than most groups could dream to create in their entire career. With the appropriately titled THE ALBUM, BLACKPINK has unquestionably set the benchmark for international girl group K-pop in 2021 and beyond.
Best Songs This Year
How You Like That
Ice Cream
Lovesick Girls
ITZY
Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna took everything good about their 2019 rookie year songs and made them bigger, louder, heavier, prettier, faster, catchier, and ITZY-er to catapult themselves towards the becoming the best K-pop girl group of 2020. Despite falling short of the worldwide phenomenon that is BLACKPINK, the quintet exits 2020 with some of the freshest and most exciting songs of the year across their two absolutely stellar mini-albums, It'z Me and Not Shy.
Best Songs This Year
WANNABE
Not Shy
TING TING TING
TWICE
Packing more than two dozen brand new songs into 2020, TWICE never sacrifices quality for quantity. This year finds Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu once again reinventing themselves, expanding their already-amazing discography with songs that can unquestionably called career-highlights, no small feat for a group that manages to pull off this remarkable feat year after year.
Best Songs This Year
MORE & MORE
I CAN'T STOP ME
SAY SOMETHING
LOONA
The twelve girls in LOONA further extend the vast lore of the LOONAVERSE in 2020 with two fantastic mini-albums, [12:00] and [#]. Each features a high-powered intro that not only perfectly introduces the corresponding title tracks but also sets the tone for what to expect from the loud, in-your-face girl group. While they do step back for more relaxed, melodic songs, it's on the energetic songs where HeeJin, HyunJin, HaSeul, YeoJin, ViVi, Kim Lip, JinSoul, Choerry, Yves, Chuu, Go Won, and Olivia Hye truly shine like the moon.
Best Songs This Year
So What
Why Not?
Voice
DREAMCATCHER
2020 finds JiU, SuA, Siyeon, Handong, Yoohyeon, Dami, and Gahyeon on top of their craft, with with a focus on heavy guitar riffs and a dark, moody atmosphere that sets themselves apart from their peers. Combining these signature traits with dancey beats and instantly memorable hooks, DREAMCATCHER brings a distinctly fresh flavor to the K-pop table with their latest full-length album, Dystopia : The Tree of Language, as well as with the many other songs they issued this year.
Best Songs This Year
Scream
Red Sun
Jazz Bar
EVERGLOW
EVERGLOW stuff all the electronic dance, catchy choruses, and energetic rhythms you can handle into their two 2020 mini-albums, Reminiscence and -77.82X-78.29. Despite debuting just one year ago, E:U, Sihyeon, Mia, Onda, Aisha, and Yiren radiate the unity and confidence of a group with much more experience and time together, clearly contending for the title of one of the most exciting girl groups of the year.
Best Songs This Year
LA DI DA
DUN DUN
SALUTE
IZ*ONE
As time continues to creep towards the end of the supergroup's limited contract, IZ*ONE wasted not a single precious moment in 2020, releasing dozens of songs (including a full-length album, BLOOM*IZ) that make the most of their distinct talents. Jang Won-young, Sakura Miyawaki, Jo Yu-ri, Choi Ye-na, An Yu-jin, Nako Yabuki, Kwon Eun-bi, Kang Hye-won, Hitomi Honda, Kim Chae-won, Kim Min-ju, and Lee Chae-yeon are consistently upbeat, cheery, and infectiously catchy, making any time a perfect time to stream through their extensive 2020 output.
Best Songs This Year
Secret Story of the Swan
Panorama
FIESTA
YUKIKA
Yukika Teramoto channels the retro city-pop vibes of decades ago and infuses them with fantastic modern production and sounds to create, SOUL LADY. Her debut album masterfully delivers the soundtrack to a late-night drive or leisurely stroll through a nostalgic, pre-pandemic, bustling city.
Best Songs This Year
SOUL LADY
I FEEL LOVE
All flights are delayed
NiziU
Bright, cheery, and uplifting, NiziU are undeniably remarkable in 2020 on their pre-debut and debut releases. With overflowing positivity, Mako, Rio, Maya, Riku, Ayaka, Mayuka, Rima, Miihi, and Nina effortlessly invite you into their world of feel-good music.
Best Songs This Year
Step and a step
Make you happy
Beyond the Rainbow (虹の向こうへ)
PASSCODE
Mixing metalcore, punk, electronic dance, pop, hardcore, metal, and everything in between, PassCode demands, and captures, your attention with their trademark blend of heavily auto-tuned vocals from Nao, Kaede, and Hinako, and brutally intense screams and harsh vocals from Yuna. In 2020 the quartet (backed by a first-class rock band) impeccably executes their brand with STRIVE, their fifth full-length album since forming in 2013.
Best Songs This Year
STARRY SKY
Seize Approaching BRAND NEW ERA
SPARK IGNITION
(G)I-DLE
With a mini-album and handful of singles, (G)I-DLE continues their focus on quality over quantity in 2020. This year found Miyeon, Minnie, Soojin, Soyeon, Yuqi, and Shuhua delivering creative, precisely executed pop packed with immediately memorable choruses and dance-ready rhythms.
Best Songs This Year
Oh my god
i'M THE TREND
DUMDi DUMDi
Rocket Punch
At their best, Juri, Yeonhee, Suyun, Yunkyoung, Sohee, and Dahyun are a potent punch of limitless, youthful energy. Following their Pink Punch rookie debut in 2019, this year finds Rocket Punch bringing two more vibrant punches to the table: Red Punch and Blue Punch. Each mini-album is expertly sequenced with an introductory instrumental that defines the lead single and overall vibe, with Red Punch packing a fierce kick and Blue Punch soothing things out with summer-ready grooves.
Best Songs This Year
BOUNCY
JUICY
SUMMER PUNCH!
DreamNote
The fresh energy of Youi, Boni, Lara, Miso, Sumin, and Eunjo provides a breezy 2020 summer soundtrack. With just a small handful of songs to their credit this year, DreamNote makes every note count.
Best Songs This Year
WISH
La Isla Bonita
Love is so amazing
K/DA
Virtual supergroup K/DA explodes on their 2020 mini-album, ALL OUT. Formally a quartet, the group is actually voiced by (G)I-DLE's Miyeon and Soyeon; TWICE's Nayeon, Sana, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung; Bekuh BOOM; Annika Wells; Madison Beer; Bea Miller; Kim Petras; Jaira Burns; Wolftyla; and Aluna. These strong female singers provide high-powered, dance-ready anthems to for more than the just the League of Legends realm in which they officially exist.
Best Songs This Year
THE BADDEST
MORE
I'LL SHOW YOU
APRIL
Chaekyung, Chaewon, Naeun, Yena, Rachel, and Jinsol specialize in big, to-the-point choruses and lyrics on their two 2020 releases, Hello Summer and Da Capo. With a breezy sound and light musical landscape, their instantly memorable hooks are the soundtrack to drifting away to a warmer time and place.
Best Songs This Year
Now or Never
Oops I'm Sorry
LALALILALA
Weeekly
Soojin, Jiyoon, Monday, Soeun, Jaehee, Jihan, and Zoa stacked their rookie year with a dozen tracks across various mini-albums and soundtracks, layering in their brash, bratty sound every step of the way. Despite only just debuting, Weeekly are already releasing some of the genre's most exciting songs.
Best Songs This Year
Tag Me (@Me)
BOOM CHI KI
Universe
Weki Meki
Weki Meki thrived in 2020 with their cool, dazzling sound. The exciting combination of Suyeon, Elly, Yoojung, Doyeon, Sei, Lua, Rina, and Lucy is always an elegant treat, and their third and fourth mini-albums are no exception.
Best Songs This Year
COOL
OOPSY
DAZZLE DAZZLE
WJSN Cosmic Girls
EXY, Seola, Xuan Yi, Bona, Soobin, Luda, Dawon, Eunseo, Cheng Xiao, Mei Qi, Yeoreum, Dayoung, and Yeonjung are once again effortlessly elegant on their great mini-album, Neverland. 2020 marked another great year for the long-running, multinational Cosmic Girls.
Best Songs This Year
BUTTERFLY
HOLA
Pantomime
MAMAMOO
Veterans Solar, Moon Byul, Wheein, and Hwa leverage their extensive experiences to create unique, intricate music on TRAVEL, the latest MAMAMOO mini-album.
Best Songs This Year
AYA
Travel
Chuck
3YE
While officially debuting in 2019, 3YE's first mini-album is a 2020 release -- and a fantastic first effort. Repackaging two of their rookie year singles, TRIANGLE adds a handful of new songs and truly showcases the fierce, arena-ready sound Yuji, Yurim, and Haeun work so hard to create.
Best Songs This Year
OOMM (Out of My Mind)
DMT (Do Ma Thing)
QUEEN
BVNDIT
Yiyeon, Songhee, Jungwoo, Simyeong, and Seungeun add a mini-album's worth of powerful, rhythmic songs to the BVNDIT discographyy in 2020.
Best Songs This Year
OOMM (Out of My Mind)
DMT (Do Ma Thing)
QUEEN
OH MY GIRL
OH MY GIRL expands their already-massive discography with a dozen new songs in 2020, further refining their cute, energetic sound. Hyojung, Mimi, YooA, Seunghee, Jiho, Binnie, and Arin continue to successfully deliver the excitement that has driven their long career.
Best Songs This Year
Nonstop
NEON
Dolphin
cignature
Rookies Chaesol, Jeewon, Ye Ah, Sunn, Seline, Belle, and Semi start their career with the Listen and Speak mini-album, a collection of five slickly-produced songs that shine in 2020.
Best Songs This Year
ASSA
Nun Nu Nan Na
DALDALHAE
BLACKSWAN
The ever-complicated BLACKSWAN are no strangers to drama and difficulties, but through it all Youngheun, Leia, Fatou, and Judy (as well as former member Hyeme) managed to re-debut with a stacked full-length album in 2020, packed with brand new club-ready bangers and reinterpretations of work from their previous life as RANIA.
Best Songs This Year
Tonight
Over & Over
UP
KARD
The co-ed KARD let the speakers blow on their two action-packed 2020 releases with vocal assaults from both the boys (J.Seph and BM) and girls (Somin and Jiwoo). Drawing heavy on electronic dance, reggae, and other club-ready sounds, KARD is infectiously catchy and always a good time.
Best Songs This Year
Dumb Litty
GO BABY
ENEMY
MOMOLAND
In MOMOLAND's first full year as a six-piece group, Hyebin, Jane, Nayun, JooE, Ahin, and Nancy unleash a handful of fun, catchy songs across several single albums.
Best Songs This Year
Ready or Not
Starry Night
Pinky Love
Apink
Chorong, Bomi, Eunji, Naeun, Namjoo, and Hayoung have been going strong for nearly a decade, and, if their 2020 output is any indication, show no signs of slowing down. Apink unnies are stylish and classy on their ninth mini-album, LOOK.
Best Songs This Year
Dumhdurum
Yummy
Everybody Ready
SECRET NUMBER
With their 2020 debut, SECRET NUMBER waste no time cementing themselves as a rookie group with big potential. Jinny, Denise, Soodam, Dita, and Léa settle nicely into the latest trends while also adding their own intriguing personalities.
Best Songs This Year
Got That Boom
Who Dis?
PRIVACY
woo!ah!
Among the youngest rookies, woo!ah! eschews the hyper-cute, hyperactive sound more common among their peers on their debut single albums. 2020 finds Nana, Wooyeon, Sora, Lucy, and Minseo (and briefly, ex-member Songyee) sounding somewhat mature yet absolutely fresh and exciting.
Best Songs This Year
Bad Girl
Round & Round
woo!ah!
AleXa
Solo performer AleXa captures the energy and grandiose style of a multi-member girl group on her 2020 releases. With big concepts, big choruses, and a flair for electronic dance influences, her music is consistently engaging and exciting.
Best Songs This Year
Bomb
KITTY RUN
Do or Die
ELRIS
Bella, Hyesung, Yukyung, Sohee, Karin, EJ, and Chaejeong are playful and fun on JACKPOT, the latest ELRIS mini-album.
Best Songs This Year
JACKPOT
This is me
Like I do
CHUNG HA
CHUNG HA stacked singles, features, and soundtracks in 2020 to create a powerful resume of individually-standing, strong songs that dabble in elements of elegance and sultriness.
Best Songs This Year
Stay Tonight
Dream of You
PLAY
GFRIEND
To say Sowon, Yerin, Eunha, Yuju, SinB, and Umji were busy in 2020 is an understatement: the long-running girl group released two mini-albums and a full-length album this year. With a classy-yet-exciting sound, GFRIEND is continuously captivating at every turn.
Best Songs This Year
Apple
Crossroads
Labyrinth
Red Velvet - IRENE & SEULGI
Red Velvet’s first sub-unit finds the veteran girl group’s oldest members pairing up for the Monster mini-album, a sexy 2020 romp through passionate, rhythmic songs.
Best Songs This Year
Monster
Naughty
Diamond
GWSN Girls in the Park
Seoryoung, Seokyoung, Anne, Minju, SoSo, Miya, and Lena may only have four songs in 2020, but Girls in the Park do a great job of creating fun, catchy tracks on the Keys.
Best Songs This Year
BAZOOKA!
the Aerialist (Wonderboy)
Tweaks ~ Heavy cloud but no rain
fromis_9
Saerom, Hayoung, Gyuri, Jiwon, Jisun, Seoyeon, Chaeyoung, Nagyung, and Jiheon continue their fun brand of bouncy K-pop in 2020.
Best Songs This Year
Feel Good (SECRET CODE)
Weather
Mulgogi
EXID
EXID's 2020 may have been marked by controversey and member departures, but the group still added more smooth, easy-going songs to their extensive discography.
Best Songs This Year
B.L.E.S.S.E.D.
OFFICIAL
Bad Girl For You
FANATICS
FANATICS are fun and playful on PLUS TWO, their sophomore mini-album. The V(ariety-ready) A(dorable) V(ersatile) I(ndependent) Sika, Doah, Chiayi, Yoonhye, Chaelin, Rayeon, Doi, and Via continue to show a lot of potential in 2020.
Best Songs This Year
V.A.V.I. GIRL
All You
OUTRO (Let Me Fly)
NATURE
Saebom, Aurora, Lu, Chaebin, Sohee, Haru, Loha, Uchae, and Sunshine mix bright energy and a bit of darkness on their 2020 songs.
Best Songs This Year
Girls
DIVE
B.B.B. (Never Say Good-Bye)
Ryu Su Jeong
Lovelyz's Ryu Su Jeong crafts a dark-yet-exciting mini-album with TIGER EYES in 2020.
Best Songs This Year
Tiger Eyes
CALL BACK
NA, NI
Jessi
The American-born, self-proclaimed nuna goes hard on her 2020 mini-album, showing off both her rapping and singing abilities.
Best Songs This Year
NUNA, NANA
Drip
Numb
Hwa Sa
MAMAMOO maknae Hwa Sa explores her darker, more sultry side in 2020 on the eponymous Maria mini-album.
Best Songs This Year
Maria
Kidding
I'm bad too
Moon Byul
MAMAMOO's Moon Byul embraces her birth name with both light and dark sounds on Dark Side of the Moon, her debut mini-album as a solo artist.
Best Songs This Year
Eclipse
MOON MOVIE
ILJIDO
PurpleBeck
The relatively new PurpleBeck continue to slowly add to their discography. 2020 finds Yeowool, Yerim, Layeon, Mini, and Seyeon releasing cheery, bright tracks as part of the Starry Night mini-album.
Best Songs This Year
VALENTi
Mare
Tearful
DIA
Eunice, HuiHyeon, Yebin, Chaeyeon, Eunchae, JuEun, and Somyi are soft and pleasant on Flower 4 Seasons, the latest mini-album from the long-running girl group.
Best Songs This Year
Hug U
Daily
To you
Note that this list includes K-pop girl group adjacent/related artists, such as co-ed groups, Japanese artists, solo performers, etc.