Consequence’s Annual Report continues with a roundup of the most memorable live performances of 2024. As the year winds down, we’ve got tons of awards, lists, and interviews about the best music, film, and TV 2024 had to offer, including our list of the 200 Best Songs of the Year.
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In 2023, I absolutely loved launching the K-Pop Yearbook, celebrating a year in the genre with superlative-style accolades. Putting together these titles for soloists, bands, and music that moved us throughout the year was such a blast that I simply had to do it again. Think back on all the music you streamed over the course of 2024; did you, like me, make that money make purse? Were you mastering the “Supernova” choreography, or unable to stop replaying that P1Harmony TikTok?
It feels like an understatement to say that 2024 was an especially wild year for K-pop, but today, we’re focusing on the best and brightest. I feel so lucky to have spoken to and connected with so many of these artists throughout the year, both in my weekly column and elsewhere on the site, and was delighted that so many of them wanted to check in to reflect on the year. If you haven’t already, but sure to subscribe to my column here to get fun pieces like this delivered right to your inbox each week.
And, without further ado, enjoy the 2024 K-Pop Yearbook. Thanks so very much for reading.
2024 Hitmakers: aespa
aespa, photo courtesy of SM Entertainment
Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning have released some of the best music of their career this year. 2024 saw aespa drop two killer songs back-to-back with “Supernova” and “Armageddon,” and then followed it up a few months later with “Whiplash.” No skips, all hits is the name of the game for these girls, and their demanding choreography remains on par with their dependable vocals.
The four-member act out of SM Entertainment remains an example of forward-thinking energy; aespa were one of the first groups to full embrace themes and visuals around the metaverse, crafting their own cyber-toned narrative from the jump. The fact that the music has remained as engaging as the concept is a testament to their hard work.
Best Tour: ATEEZ
ATEEZ, photo courtesy of KQ Entertainment
Named one of the best all-genre live shows of 2024, ATEEZ’s “Towards the Light: Will to Power” tour feels like it marked a turning point in the band’s story. While the eight-member act has been steadily maintaining momentum for years, this year’s North American outing nudged Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung and Jongho into even more ambitious territory, and the result was one narrative, immersive, and incredibly impressive tour.
As I wrote in my review of their US stadium debut, there’s something particularly satisfying about witnessing an act like ATEEZ — who clawed their way to the big leagues from a small label through the combined powers of sheer will, teamwork, and engaging music — play to some of the biggest crowds of their career. Their swashbuckling story is far from over, but 2024 was an especially deserved chapter.
Listen to ATEEZ via Amazon Music