Many K-Pop fans today can probably list off some of the best-selling artists of the modern era, but how many know the history of best-selling artists in the industry?
Not only have the best-selling artists changed throughout the years, but the number of total physical album sales has increased tremendously, despite the world moving, in general, towards a more digital era.
These are the 5 best-selling K-Pop artists, in terms of physical album sales through Gaon, of each year from 2012 until 2020, along with the percentage of each of the top 5 to show how they compare to each other.
2012
5. G-Dragon: 281.9k
4. Girls’ Generation: 329.4k
3. INFINITE: 397.7k
2. SHINee: 510.4k
1. EXO: 1.44 million
2013
5. INFINITE: 286.3k
4. TVXQ!: 341.1k
3. EXO: 357.7k
2. Super Junior: 410.0k
1. EXO-K: 441.1k
2014
5. SHINee: 262.4k
4. Super Junior: 271.3k
3. BIGBANG: 424.1k
2. BTS: 562.3k
1. EXO: 1.75 million
2015
5. VIXX: 327.8k
4. GOT7: 418.6k
3. SEVENTEEN: 561.2k
2. BTS: 1.46 million
1. EXO: 1.65 million
2016
5. GOT7: 738.2k
4. SEVENTEEN: 777.5k
3. TWICE: 1.17 million
2. EXO: 2.16 million
1. BTS: 2.72 million
2017
5. GOT7: 858.7k
4. TWICE: 1.46 million
3. EXO: 2.07 million
2. Wanna One: 2.19 million
1. BTS: 5.14 million
2018
5. GOT7: 618.5k
4. EXO: 818.4k
3. TWICE: 1.19 million
2. SEVENTEEN: 1.44 million
1. BTS: 6.22 million
2019
5. TWICE: 1.00 million
4. NCT 127: 1.24 million
3. NCT: 2.20 million
2. SEVENTEEN: 2.50 million
1. BTS: 9.00 million
2020
5. NCT 127: 1.55 million
4. BLACKPINK: 1.72 million
3. NCT: 2.41 million
2. SEVENTEEN: 2.72 million
1. BTS: 9.33 million
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