Has a group ever declined but still retained the top spot?

Twice, I believe. Their songs in 2020 didn't do as well as their past songs but they are still the most popular gg in Korea and Japan.

SNSD after their peak?

Quote from rainbowblink224

Twice, I believe. Their songs in 2020 didn't do as well as their past songs but they are still the most popular gg in Korea and Japan.

They are not the most popular in korea, japan yes

Sure. See also EXO. They still are very good don't get me wrong. But they aren't the top boygroup spot anymore, and I don't think many of their fans can discount it. EXO are a fantastic group. Fancams and other youtubes confirm.

SNSD I believe so

Quote from aristophenes

Sure. See also EXO. They still are very good don't get me wrong. But they aren't the top boygroup spot anymore, and I don't think many of their fans can discount it. EXO are a fantastic group. Fancams and other youtubes confirm.

Oops Sowwy

eveeybody already said it SNSD

Snsd 2013-15

EXO in 2015-16

Twice, I feel like they're declining Now but they're still legends

SNSD. 2014 - 2015 they weren't as strong as their full on dominanation of previous years but they were still right up there. 2015 especially so as they they were back as the undisputed biggest gg around as their sales, popularity, impact outside music and all that was still far beyond every other gg

Twice is still doing very well yes, but they arent at the top anymore. Altho I wouldnt say they necessarily are on the decline, they grew in many areas internationally, but nt doing as well as they used to digitally in korea.

They prob would still be at the top if not for Blackpink tho, so I guess it depends on competition in the era?

TVXQ in Japan. They are not as trendy as other groups but they are still the kings in Japan.

Quote from rainbowblink224

Twice, I believe. Their songs in 2020 didn't do as well as their past songs but they are still the most popular gg in Korea and Japan.

they were literally tanking digitally all last year and were surpassed how are they still top in Korea?

For SM idols, they decline in rankings but grow and perform better with every promotion.

Second generation groups like SuJu, Shinee and TVXQ all sell more now and get better tour numbers with every album release and tour.

Then individually, very few idols compare.

Which makes me wonder whether they really decline because after their peaks, they don't need to be on top to excel.

SNSD, for sure.

When they started to go to Japan more and more, and spend less time on comebacks and shows in SK (between The Boys in Fall 2011 and mid 2015, they only had 2 other comebacks), they started to slowly decline from their immense peak.

Yet even then, the gap with other groups was so large that:

- SNSD still had the largest sales per album by far for years

- SNSD had the best international recognition (eg. youtube, popularity) among girl groups

- they were still #1 most popular girl group in SK

- they still ruled in regards to CF's

- their music show wins were unmatched

At their peak, SNSD managed to have the song of the year, be the #1 (Korean) gg in Japan and SK, beat all boy groups in album sales (2009-2011 era).

But even in their decline from that peak, they still outclassed all other girl groups (and practically all boy groups) in most areas.

This didn't change in 2nd gen era, but only changed with the arrival of the 3rd gen groups.

As almost everyone has mentioned, Soshi

Even after Jessica left, they had Party and Lion Heart, which were hits and their album sold like 150k more than other ggroups. It was also the year when Taeyeon released her solo to amazing success.

They were never overtaken by a group from their gen which in retrospect is amazing considering that gen contained so many amazing ggroups

SM groups have a pretty established career.