Despite the fatigue from meaningless chart battles driven by excessive viral marketing, some songs resonated with listeners. In that sense, this year offered quite a surprising number of songs worth listening to. Industry experts felt the same way. Naturally, the singer behind the most popular song of the year was chosen as the 'Best Artist of the Year.'

Entertainment and business magazine 'JoyNews24' conducted various polls with industry experts from September 30 to October 8, asking about the best dramas, variety shows, movies, actors, singers, and more of 2024.

For this category, 200 industry personnel including entertainment company employees, broadcast company staff, content creators, and entertainment reporters were asked to choose 'The Best Artist of the Year' for 2024. So here are the artists mentioned this year.

DAY6 finally gains attention after 10 years - Proudly ranks at No. 1

The band DAY6 has risen to the top, chosen as the "Best Artist of 2024" with 59 out of 200 votes from industry insiders. Since announcing their return to full-group activities following all members’ military discharges last year, DAY6 released two albums, 'FOUREVER' in April and 'Band Aid' in September, marking the start of their long-awaited rise nearly nine years after debut. The band's steady climb in popularity over recent years, with older songs like "You Were Beautiful," "Congratulations," "Happy," and "Time of Our Life" gaining renewed interest, has cemented their place in the public’s mind.

In a 2022 JoyNews24 survey, DAY6 ranked No. 1 in the “artists I want to gatekeep” category, earning the affection of insiders but lacking widespread recognition. At the time, Sungjin, then the only member who had completed military service, expressed gratitude, adding, “I wonder if we could be picked as ‘an artist you know’ next time.” Now, they have become a group everyone knows.

Since reuniting as a complete group late last year, DAY6’s popularity has grown exponentially. They’ve become a team that perfectly embodies the timeless truth that “good music will resonate eventually.” Now, DAY6 stands as a powerhouse both in concert and streaming, with an upcoming year-end performance at the Gocheok Sky Dome. As they pursue their vision of being “a band that sings every moment,” DAY6 has finally found their time to shine—prepared for that light to last.

aespa hooks listeners with their addictive tracks

aespa, with 59 votes, tied for first place with DAY6 as the "Best Artist of 2024." With hits like "Supernova," "Armageddon," and "Whiplash," the group captivated listeners all year with their unique "metallic" and "earthy" sounds, making their No. 1 spot feel like a natural outcome. Although an unexpected issue arose before the release of their first full-length album in May, it ultimately worked in their favor, drawing more attention to Aespa’s music and sparking enthusiastic support from the public.

Since debuting in 2020, aespa has carved out a niche, focusing deeply on futuristic electronic dance-pop. Their sharp sounds, cool visuals, and trendsetting yet refreshing musical style have steadily won over audiences for the past four years. This dedication has culminated in Supernova’s record-breaking, extended chart reign. When people think of "metallic music," no other group comes to mind besides aespa, as their distinct team color is now firmly established.

In 2021, aespa dominated categories like "Rookie of the Year," "Most Anticipated Artist of Next Year," and "Most Refreshing Song" in a similar survey. Now, as “masters of metallic music,” their consistency has earned them the title of "Best Artist of the Year." It didn’t take long for aespa, despite facing both major and minor challenges since their debut, to become a widely recognized and respected group in the industry.

NewJeans continue to make a strong impact in the music industry

After sweeping the “Artist of the Year” and “Song of the Year” categories last year, NewJeans’ influence remains strong. Despite the ongoing power struggle between former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin and HYBE, NewJeans successfully topped the charts with tracks like "How Sweet," "Bubble Gum," and "Supernatural." In this year’s survey, they secured third place with 40 votes from the 200 people surveyed.

Seventeen, IU, and Lim Young Woong, all firmly established in the music scene, followed closely, each with 13 votes respectively, all tying for fourth place. All three artists drew large crowds this year with concerts at Seoul’s World Cup Stadium, making the shared vote count an interesting result. The fact that these three have consistently garnered such substantial support hints at their enduring popularity, far beyond fleeting fame.

Next in 5th place were RIIZE and ZEROBASEONE, each with 4 votes. Others receiving votes included J.Y. Park, who celebrated his 30th debut anniversary, BTS, who remains prominent even during their military hiatus, as well as (G)I-DLE, The Boyz, Xdinary Heroes, Plave, ATEEZ, KISS OF LIFE, and IVE.

SEE ALSO: aespa's 'Whiplash' reaches 100 million Spotify streams