SM Entertainment is gearing up to make its 30th anniversary in 2025 a year to remember, launching the first quarter with a stellar lineup of artists and preparing for an exciting second quarter.
SM will release its highly anticipated 30th anniversary album, 2025 SMTOWN: The Culture, The Future, this Friday. The album will feature 17 tracks, including the title song “Thank You” and remakes of iconic SM hits by veteran and up-and-coming artists. Among the standouts are RIIZE’s cover of TVXQ’s “Hug” and NCT WISH’s reinterpretation of Super Junior’s “Miracle,” both of which have already been pre-released and are gaining significant attention.
A particular spotlight is on SM’s rookie artists, who are poised to shape the company’s future. Following the success of aespa, the new girl group Hearts2Hearts will debut with its first single, “The Chase,” on February 24. The group will also release a second single in the second quarter, bringing its fresh sound to K-pop’s early 2025 scene. Meanwhile, the rapidly rising RIIZE, which has already secured a top-tier fanbase, is preparing for its first full-length album after an impressive debut. NCT WISH, the breakout act of 2024, is also gearing up for a mini-album release as the group aims for even more significant achievements in 2025.
Exciting comebacks are also lined up for the year. aespa, who achieved three consecutive mega-hits in 2024, will drop a new mini-album. Meanwhile, SHINee is returning with a new single after a long break, and WAYV is currently promoting its mini-album while on an active tour, which will capture fans’ attention.
Solo artists and units are also preparing to make waves to add even more fuel to the SM Rush. In March, Red Velvet’s Seulgi and NCT’s Ten will release mini-albums alongside a new single from Nayeon. Later, solo albums from NCT’s Doyoung and Mark and EXO’s Kai are expected to follow. Super Junior’s unit, Super Junior-L.S.S., will release a Japanese single to mark its 20th anniversary, while Red Velvet’s Irene & Seulgi, who caused a sensation with their 2020 unit debut, will return with a mini-album after nearly five years.
SM is continuing to expand its global presence with an ever-growing tour schedule. The SM Town LIVE event, which kicked off in Seoul this January, will soon embark on a world tour with stops in Mexico, the U.S., and the U.K. In addition to NCT 127 and aespa’s ongoing world tours, TVXQ is embarking on a nationwide tour in Japan, and WayV is preparing for its first solo concert tour. NCT WISH, Super Junior’s Yesung, and SHINee’s Minho are all actively touring in Asia, while Taeyeon’s upcoming March tour is expected to generate a strong fan response.