Top K-Pop industry professionals choose the best songs and groups from 2016

StarNews reached out to 22 industry professionals at the top of the Korean entertainment world -- agency presidents, executives, broadcasting studio producers, composers, music producers, and more -- to find out which songs and singers they think were the best in 2016!

Best Artist of 2016

TWICE was selected by 10 of the professionals as the 'most successful group of the year'! This year was their second year in the industry, but "Cheer Up" and "TT" were both huge hits. Their third mini-album also did great in sales and their songs ranked high on all music charts. The "Cheer Up" MV reached 1 million views on YouTube in the shortest time period in the history of K-Pop music videos. 

BTS placed second place with 8 votes from the industry insiders for the most successful group of 2016. Big Bang, EXO, and Zico earned 1 vote each. 

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Best Songs of 2016

"Cheer Up" was selected as 'The best song of the year' with 11 votes and "TT" was second place with 2 votes. BTS's "Blood Sweat & Tears," Han Dong Geun's "Making a new ending for this Story," and Lee Juk's "Don't Worry" also tied for second place with 2 votes each. Bolbbalgan4's "Galaxy," EXO's "Monster," and Urban Zakapa's "I Don't Love You" all tied for third with one vote each.

Best Rookies of the year

According to these panelists, the best new group of the year was IOI! IOI earned 7 votes and was selected as the best rookies of 2016. TWICE, who debuted in October of 2015, got 3 votes and placed second place. Bolppalgan4 was third place with 2 votes. Kim Se Jung, NCT 127, Black Pink, ASTRO, Jung Seung Hwan, Cosmic Girls, and Momoland each received 1 vote respectively. 

The 22 member Panelist: Kang Tae Kyu (Music Farm), Go Ki Ho (Santa Music), Kim Byun Sun (Jellyfish), Kim Si Dae (Starship), Kim Young Jin (PD from MBC), Kim Tae Song (TS Ent), Kim Tae Hoon (Wings Ent), Na Sung Hoon (Dream T Ent), Ryu Ho Won (Makeus Ent), Park Sung Hoon (PD from SBS), Shinsadong Tiger (Top Producer), Shin Ju Hak (Star Empire), Ahn Duk Geun (Eleven Nine Ent), Yang Min Suk (YG Ent), Lee Yong Gul (How Ent), Lee Joo Won (Happyface Ent), Im In Yong (RBW Ent), Jung Wook (JYP Ent), Jung Chang Hwan (SM C&C), Chae Jong Ju (JJ Holic Media), Choi Jin Ho (Plan A Ent), and Han Sung Ho (FNC Ent).