Girl Groups Are BACK!
Let’s check out the new generation of girl groups dominating the music scene.
When we think of Western girl groups, many Gen Zs listeners can easily name a few—from growing up with iconic 2000s girl groups like Spice Girls that defined the era of Y2K glamour, to 2010s girl groups like Little Mix and Fifth Harmony who brought female empowerment to a global stage.
Photo Credit: Spice Girls: Getty Images/Ray Burmiston, Little Mix: Getty Images/Stuart C. Wilson
Western girl groups have dominated the charts for decades, but they all face a familiar fate of disbandment, or what many call “the break-up curse”, pushing each member towards pursuing a solo career.
Over time, audiences grow weary of the commercial pop sound and shift their attention towards individual solo stars. Simultaneously, members within these groups may feel creatively constrained, as their star power is deliberately minimised by their labels to prevent overshadowing or competition with fellow members.
A prime example is Camila Cabello — a key member of Fifth Harmony who left the group in 2016 and went on to become a soloist. In an episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, she revealed that she left due to her passion for songwriting, and her distancing herself from the group due to their misalignment in creative vision.
With the continuous disbandment of groups, the Western music industry experienced a noticeable drought of girl groups. At the same time, K-Pop was rapidly gaining global attention for their catchy songs and synchronised choreography.
THE BIRTH OF A GLOBAL GIRL GROUP: KATSEYE
Photo Credit: HYBE Entertainment/Katseye
In 2023, HYBE Entertainment—a South Korean powerhouse label behind K-Pop acts such as BTS and SEVENTEEN, announced a collaboration with Geffen Records—a major US label, to form their first US Global Girl Group, Katseye.
With a goal of reforming pop music for a global audience while using K-Pop artist development methodologies, Katseye was formed.
Photo Credit: HYBE Entertainment/Katseye
Katseye instantly resonated with the global audience through their confident cultural representation and diverse lineup, with each member bringing a distinct racial and cultural background to the group.
The members include:
Sophia - Filipina
Manon - Swiss-Italian-Ghanaian
Daniela - American-Venezuelan-Cuban
Lara - American-Indian
Megan - Chinese-Singaporean-American
Yoonchae - Korean
The group made their official debut in June 2024 and it did not take long before they became a crowd favourite, their songs earning more than a hundred million streams on Spotify and sparking viral moments across the internet. They emerged as a breath of fresh air in the music industry, with the members’ diversity and confidence resonating strongly with the global audience.
A REBRAND AND A NEW ERA: GIRLSET
Photo Credit:/JYP Entertainment/GIRLSET
Shortly after the success of Katseye, a new global girl group entered the game, GIRLSET—a four member group managed by JYP Entertainment and Republic Records.
Initially named VCHA with six members, the group went through a massive rebrand and 180 aesthetic overturn, going from youthful bubblegum colours to sexy and hyper-feminine glamour.
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Dia Dipasupil, Billboard/Munachi Osegbu
With their strong individualism and distinct cultural identities that blend seamlessly as a group, GIRLSET stands out effortlessly.
Due to their similar concepts and style, many people struggle with distinguishing between the two global groups Katseye and GIRLSET.
When the members of GIRLSET were asked about their thoughts towards this in an interview with Billboard, the girls were nothing but supportive and encouraging towards Katseye. 0
“It’s amazing seeing so many beautiful, young, talented girls from different cultures coming together and making something so great. I think it’s more about appreciating both. I think we’re both special in our own ways… let’s just be girl’s girls.”
While both groups have similar concepts and style, it is clear Katseye and GIRLSET are determined to focus on carving out their own musical identities rather than competing with each other.
WHAT MAKES THE NEW GIRLS GROUPS DIFFERENT
Gone are the days of messy choreography and mismatched synchrony, because Katseye and GIRLSET are raising the standard for global girl groups through their flawless and consistently polished performances.
The secret behind this? K-Pop training methodologies.
We have seen how K-Pop dominated global charts and impressed international fans, and this has definitely not gone unnoticed by K-Pop entertainment companies as well. Finding a gap in the market for global girl groups, these companies moved to strategically expand beyond traditional K-Pop formations.
With K-Pop proving to be a highly successful framework for concept development and performance, these global girl groups are formed by powerful labels with the intention of adapting this framework and applying them to their training and marketing.
But does this mean that these girl groups are K-Pop? No.
These groups are still determined to make music for their global audience, but K-Pop plays a massive role in the influence of their branding and style.
OTHER GIRL GROUPS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
It’s interesting to see the rise of these global acts and how girl groups are evolving in this present music industry. We can’t wait to hear new music from them in 2026, and welcome new girl groups into the scene.
In the meantime, here are other global girl groups that are killing it!
FLO — British R&B girl group
Photo Credit: Edwig Henson
no na — Indonesian pop girl group under 88 rising
Photo Credit: Facebook/NoNa
Say Now — Y2K R&B Pop
Photo Credit: NME/Tallulah Ballard
