What is the best kpop group size?
I’ll be up front and say, I don’t think there’s necessarily a right answer to this question, it’s ultimately a matter of opinion and taste, but I did want to discuss the pros and cons to different group sizes. The first thing we need to do is break sizes into categories, as well as even define what a group is. For me a music group consists of at least three members, as I consider two people to be a duo, and not a group. In terms of sizes, I think there are three general categories, people might have slightly different number ranges than me but it falls into: small groups which are 3-5 members, medium groups which are 6-8 members, and large groups which are 9 or more members. So let’s take a look at how these work well, as well as where they may fall short.
Small Groups (3-5 Members)
Small groups are the ones that look the most familiar to a Western audience, where group sizes rarely go bigger for pop and rock music. There are some pretty big advantages to this, each member gets more screen time and attention (theoretically at least), which also lets the fans feel extra connected to their favorite members. Also with how the kpop system works, it lets the team putting the group together really build towards specific goals. For an example of this, mamamoo is a really strong vocal group across the board, the more people you add to a group, the harder it is to find more trainees that can fit that image. I also think it’s easier to focus training and funds on a smaller group, where money may be spent more actively on a dozen members, with 4 members you can turn that money into better photo books, concerts and other such activities. Smaller groups are also less intimidating to get into for new fans, as there is less to learn and adapt to, making these smaller groups very approachable.
Medium Groups (6-8 Members)
Medium groups are going to be a little more chaotic and spread out than small groups, but the extra members can also allow some fun interesting dynamics that just aren’t possible with smaller groups. Basically, more personalities means more diversity, which allows for more experimentation and casting a wider net both musically and in terms of non-music content. There’s also more opportunity to cover each other’s weaknesses among members, a weaker dancer can be de-emphasized in more intense dance sections, weaker singers can be good in other fields and get less lines, quieter members have far less pressure to be entertaining than in small groups too. Basically, where small groups have a great opportunity to be focused in a certain way, medium groups have more room to cover each other and cover more ground with their content.
Large Groups (9+ Members)
Large groups are where things get pretty wild, you see members that really feel pushed to the side in these groups more than in medium groups, we aren’t just filling in gaps and covering weaknesses, we’re having multiple members that are good in each of the various fields that make up a kpop idol’s skillset. Look at Twice who are at the bottom end of large with just 9 members, they have: multiple talented vocalists, dancers, rappers, a number of strong variety idols. It is much harder for an individual to shine in this format. There is a massive upside though, new fans have so many avenues to get drawn into a group, just one member needs to click with them and suddenly that’s a new fan. These groups should be casting wide nets, not settling for being pigeonholed in any style or concept, let different members take the lead in different concepts, capitalize heavily on the sheer volume available to you.
If I had to put one of these forward as the optimal size, I would lean towards small or the lower end of medium personally. I think maximizing each member and specializing in concept and music a little is a good thing, you can be specialled without being pigeonholed and uninteresting. Interestingly though, despite that, the data says otherwise, among top selling groups in the modern era (post-Izone sale boom, it corresponds to a general sales boom that makes all earlier albums extremely difficult to measure in comparison) the only ones that fit in my small size group are Red Velvet, Aespa, Itzy, TXT, Mamamoo, and Blackpink. While that’s not nothing, on the other hand we can look at dozens of great sellers across the other two categories.
This ultimately leads to the real question, does group size matter at all? I actually think that while medium and bigger groups do seem to have a higher success rate, that group size is only a small factor in that. Other factors include, the company debuting the group, the money behind the group, and the marketing around the group, as well as general music quality and talents of the members. So if you’re looking for a new group, don’t look at group size too much, while big groups can be scary to learn at first, they can be just as fun, and while small groups may seem like there isn’t enough going on, they can be extremely dynamic and interesting, there’s no downside as long as they make you happy, so experiment and enjoy a variety, it’s the spice of life after all.
