What makes someone a soloist?

as different from a solo artist or person who has released solo music?

and is there a difference at all? is it mere semantics?

I was having the discussion last night and a though came to my head

The issue was is yunjin a soloist?

she's released two songs that chart and have their own MVs, on spotify etc etc

but she obviously hasn't solo debuted yet...

it got me thinking what of the other kpop acts that have released solo music but have yet to solo debut ie. the mixtapes from BTS members and SKZ' last album - each member has solo tracks - are they soloists

what of people who have released OSTs do they count?

Quote from desdesdes

Now you got me thinking too...

Miyeon had several osts already but her solo debut counted only at 2022.

Does this means that as a soloist, you need to release an album (or mini or single album) first to be counted as one?

hence my question lol

Quote from senku

i always saw a soloist as a former member of a group that still continues to release their own music kinda like hyolyn. i don't know what you'd call someone like her or maybe nayeon

there's lots of kpop idols who have released solo songs but remain in their groups - are they soloists in your opinion?

solo debutist? lol

Quote from tetetete

Group members doing solos will always be a little different than soloists who started off as solo

Unless the group members go out of their way to announce they want to be seen more as a solo than a member of a grp, they will always been seen as Mr. X of Y group first

then what do you consider the artists who remain in a group but have debuted as a solo artist

like you like BTS so someone like Jin or RM?

are they soloists or solo artists or ??? (in addition to being a member of BTS obviously)

Quote from senku

if idolplus wasn't a copyrighted term, i'd probably just refer to idols that release their own music while still participating in their group activities as that

I'm sure there's a better term than that lol