EXO

EXO is a South Korean–Chinese boyband based in Seoul with nine member: Suho,  Baekhyun,Chanyeol,D.O,Kai,Sehun,Xiumin,Lay and Chen. The band was formed by SM Entertainment in 2011 and debuted in 2012. Their music utilizes genres including pop,hip hop and R&B,alongside electronic dance music genres including house,trap and synth-pop. Exo releases and performs music in Korea,Mandarin and japanese. The band ranked as one of the top-five most influential celebrities on the Forbes Korea Power celebrity list from 2014 to 2018 and have been named ” THE BIGGEST BOY BAND IN THE WORLD” and the “KINGS OF K-POP” by the media.

The band initial debuted with twelve members separated into two subgroups; EXO-K (Suho,Baekhyun,Chanyeol,D.O,Kai and Sehun) and EXO-M(Xiumin,Lay,Chen,and former members Kris,Luhun and Tao), performing music in Korean and Mandarin repectively, which continued until 2014.EXO haas been active as a single group since then ,while conyinue to release and perform music in multiple languages After the departments of Kris, Luhan and Tao amid legal battles in 2014 and 2015, the band continue with the remaining nine members. Since 2016,Chen,Baekhyun and Xiumin,have also been active as a sub-unit named EXO-CBX ,incorporating the initials of each member’s stage name . All of the band’s members also maintain solo careers in music film and television.

Exo’s first ablum XOXO (2013), which contain the breakthrough hit “Growl”, was a critical and commercial success. It sold over million copies, making Exo the best-selling Korean artist in twelve years. Subsequent album and EPs also had strong sales; its second album Exodus(2015) and third album Ex’Act (2016) both sold over million copies each . From 2013 to 2017, these album ,along with Exo’s third EP Overdose (2014),won Exo  multiple awards including four consecutive wins  each of the Disc Daesang at the Golden Disc Awards, Album of the Year at the Mnet Asian Music Awards and the Daesang at the Seoul Music Awards. Their forth album The War (2017) became the band’s best-selling album to date ,selling over 1.6 millions copies i South Korean and winning Exo a second consecutive Artist of the year award at the 9th Melon Music Awards and records and record fifth consecutive Album of the year album at the 19th Mnet Asian Music Awards. The War also became their highest charting album on the US Billboard 200.

Since Exo’s first headlining tour in 2014, title Exo from Exoplanet #1-The Lost Planet, the band has performed over 100 concerts during  four tours and has participated in multiple joint tours . Exo is also known for its work outside music, which includes endorsement deals with brands such as Nature Republic and Samsung, and philanthropic efforts such as “Smile for U”,a joint SM Entertainment and UNICEF projects that began in 2015, which Exo continue to participate in.

 EXO MEMBER’S PROFILE.

1. SUHO

Birth Name : Kim Jun Myun

Stage Name : Suho

Birthday : May 22 , 1991

Position : Leader (EXO-K) , Lead Vocalist

Unit : EXO-K

2. XIUMIN

Birth Name : Kim Min Seok

Stage Name : Xiumin

Birthday : March 26, 1990

Position : Lead Vocalist , Lead Dancer

Unit : EXO-M

3. LAY

Birth Name : Zhang Yixing

Stage Name : Lay

Birthday : October 7 , 1991

Position : Main Dancer , Vocalist

Unit : EXO-M

4. BAEKHYUN 

Birth Name : Byun Baek Hyun

Stage Name : Baekhyun

Birthday : May 6 , 1992

Position : Main Vocalist

Unit : EXO-K

5. CHEN

Birth Name : Kim Jong Dae

Stage Name : Chen

Birthday : September 21, 1992

Position : Main Vocalist

Unit : EXO-M

6.PARK CHAN YEOL

Birth Name : Park Chan Yeol

Stage Name : Chanyeol

Birthday : November  27, 1992

Position : Main Rapper , Vocalist

Unit : EXO-K

7. D.O

Birth Name : Do Kyung Soo

Stage Name :  D.O

Birthday : January 12 , 1993

Position : Main Vocalist

Unit : EXO-K

8. KAI

Birth Name : Kim Jong In

Stage Name : Kai

Birthday : January 14 , 1994

Position : Main Dancer , Vocalist , Lead Rapper , Face of the Group

Unit : EXO-K

9. SEHUN 

Birth Name : Oh Sehun

Stage Name : Sehun

Birthday : April 12 , 1994

Position : Lead Dancer , Rapper , Sub- Vocalist , Maknae

Unit : EXO-K

FORMER MEMBER

10. KRIS 

Birth Name : Wu Fan

Stage Name : Kris

Birthday : November 6, 1990

Position : Leader (EXO-M), Main Rapper , Vocalist

Unit : EXO- M

11. LUHAN 

Birth Name : Lu Han

Stage Name : Luhan

Birthday : April 20 , 1990

Position : Lead Vocalist , Lead Dancer , Face of the Group

Unit : EXO – M

12.TAO

Birth Name :  Huang Zitao

Stage Name : Tao

Birthday : May 2 , 1993

Position : Lead Rapper , Vocalist

Unit : EXO-M

 ARTISTRY

Musicality 

Exo are considered by many to be a vocal powerhouse in the K-POP Industry ; its three main vocalists D.O, Chen, Baekhyun received high praise from key industry figures and the media .Starting in 2013, Exo has released special winter-themed EPs in December nearly every year. These EPs feature many classic, emotional ballads, diverging from the dramatic and upbeat singles usually featured on the band’s studio albums.Starting in 2013, Exo has released special winter-themed EPs in December nearly every year. These EPs feature many classic, emotional ballads, diverging from the dramatic and upbeat singles usually featured on the band’s studio albums.

The group has frequently worked with veteran hKorean, American and British producers, including Kenzie, Dean, LDN Noise , The Underdogs and MARZ Music.  Many of Exo’s songs—especially the singles, which feature genres like hip hop, disco and funk, with an electronic, pop twist—are produced with performance in mind. They can sing, they can dance, they have the energy… it’s like a painter having every color to paint with.”

Songwriting

Exo’s members faced criticism early in their careers because of their lack of involvement in the writing and producing of their songs. in 2015, however, their first song to credit lyrics to one of the group’s members was released on the repacked version of the second album Love Me Right. The song was “Promise (2014)”, written by Chanyeol, Chen and Lay, was a “special gift” to the fan with lyrics thanking fans for the support. 

Discography

Korean and Mandarin albums

• XOXO (2013)
• Exodus (2015)
• Ex’Act (2016)
• The War (2017).

Japanese Album

• Countdown(2018)

CBX-EXO

Japanese Album 

• Magic (2018)

Korean Album

• Hey Mama! (2016)
• Girls (2017)
• Blooming Days (2018)

Records and Achievements

In 2012

• “MAMA” first album depassed  1,00,000 copies in month.
• The Album Korean Version reached n~1 on Gaon Album Chart and n~8 on Billboard World Album Charts.
• “MAMA” MV Korean Version reached number 7 on You tube’s Global Chart.
• EXO-K Wins best New Artist at the 2012 MAMA Awards and EXO-M received the Most Popular Group Award at the 2013 Top Chinese Music Awards.
• The highest K-POP debut Album sales : EXO-M (188,624) EXO-K(295680)/ Overall (484,304). Total Awards=9 Awards.

In 2013

• “XOXO” reached number 1 on Billboard World Album Chart a week after its release.
• The Album make EXO the first Million seller after 12 years. Records for being the fastest-selling K-POP act.
• “GROWL” reached n~1 on all 4 Korean major Music Program
• The song placed n~3 on Billboard Korean K-pop Hot  100 and n~2 on Gaon Singles Chart and Charted for 49 weeks on Melon making it one of the longest charting songs.
• They broke the first week album sales record by selling more than 112,435 copies.
• “XOXO” was the best selling album in Korean for 2013.
• Broke the Weekly Idol rating with an average viewership rating  of 1.175% (July 10,2013).
• EXO won Album of the Year at MAMA 2013 making them the youngest  ever Boy Group to win this Award.
• Music Show Wins =26    Awards=20 awards + 3 Daesang

In 2014

• “Overdose ” broke the records for the most pre-ordered Album in K-pop history with 660,000 pre-orders.
• Korean version of “Overdose ” peaked at No.2 on Billboard’s World Album Chart.
• First Mini Album to top on yearly Chart Awards and to win Album of the Year at the MAMA Awards.
• EXO  became the highest charting K-pop male Group on the Billboard 200 peaking at 129.
• “Overdose” was the Best Selling Album in Korean for 2014.
• “Exoplanet 1- The Lost Planet”  broke the record for the fastest sold out Concert for a Korean Act by selling out in 1.47 seconds.
• The Best selling K-pop Artist in Japan for 2014. Music show Win : 11 ;  Awards :31 awards + 5 Daesang .

In 2015

• “Call Me Baby” was the most watched K-pop MV in the first half of 2015.
• The song wins 18 Music Show Awards becoming the second most awarded song in history and the most awarded songs of 2015.
• “Exodus” became the longest charting number 1 Album on the Album Chart                ( 4 weeks).
• Broke the US Billboard 200 record as the highest ranking  Korean Artist at number 90.
• “Double Million Seller” with “Exodus “ selling over 1 million copies.
• Record for the all time best selling debut single in Japan.
• “Love Me Right” Charts for 42 weeks on Melon and “Call Me Baby” for 45 weeks,becoming one of the longest charting idol group songs.
• “Sing For You “Album broke the first week sales record by selling 267,900 copies in first week
• Named the most Powerful Celebrity by Forbes Korea for 2014.
•  Record for the shortest amount of time since debut to hold a concert at the Tokyo Dome.
• The First Artist to hold a Korean Dome Concert (Gocheok Dome).
• “EXO Next Door” became watched web drama of 2015 and the OST  “Beautiful” becomes first web drama OST to top digital charts.
• Record for the most amount of fan attempting to buy a concert ticket ( 1.2 million) (EXO’luXion).
• The Concert made a world record by selling out all 5 days (67,040 tickets) in 0.4 seconds. Music Show Wins : 32 ; Awards : 19 awards + 4 daesang

In 2016

• The pre-order for “Ex’Act ” surpassed 660,000 copies broking EXO’s “Overdose” record for most pre-sold Album.
• It was the first Korean Album to sell over 100,000 copies in one day and broke the first week sales record by selling over than 500,000 copies in one week (522,372).
• “Monster” hit number 1 on Billboard World Digital Songs Chart, and “Lucky One ” number 3′
• The song becomes the highest scoring song on M! Countdown for 2016 and the 4th highest scoring song of all time and charted number 1 on Melon for 145 consecutive hours and 139 hours on Genie.
• “Ex’act breaks records for most album points in Music Bank history with a total of 8785 points and reached number 1 on World Album Chart.
• “Lotto” hit number 1 on Billboard World Digital Songs Chart and number 2 on Gaon Digital Chart.
• “Lotto ” the Repack Album Korean version reached number 1 on Gaon Album Chart and the Chinese version number 2.
• ” Dancing King ” hit number 2 on Gaon’ s Digital  chart and number 1 on Gaon’s download Chart and ranked number 3 on Billboard World Digital Songs Chart and ranked number 3 on Billboard World Digital Songs Chart.
• “For Life” ranks in 3 in first week Album Sales of all time with 316,300 copies.
• “Triple Million Seller “ with “Ex’Act ” becomes their 3rd Album to sell 1 million  copies after 2 month of release.
• First Group to win all 3 Daesangs at Melon Music Awards. Record of over 2.13 million Album sold n 2016.
• First International Group to sell over 100,000 copies in the 1st week in Japan with Coming Over (140, 000).
• 1st Boy Group and 1st Asian Group to appear on L’UOMO VOGUE cover.
• First K-pop Group to have the longest solo concert series in Seoul (6 days at Olympic Gymnastics Arena).
• Most powerful celebrity of 2015 by Forbes Korean for the 2nd year in a row. Music Show Wins: 18  Awards : 22 awards + 5 daesang

In 2017

• “The War” breaks ” Ex’Act “ pre- ordered record with over 800,000 pre-orders in under in under a week .
• It becomes the fastest Album to hit 1M+ copies sold without Repackage , in just 24 days and breaks records by topping  155 I tunes Charts.
• ” Ko Ko Bop “ chart number 1 on Melon for 5 days straight. Achieved All-Kill on Melon within 24 hours of releasing “The War “.
• The Album breaks Hanteo 1st day sales record by selling over 220,000 copies in 5 hours and Making the first Group to sell over 200,000 copies on the first day (227,231).
• The highest ranking K-pop Group on UK itunes Album Chart by peaking at N~2 and the first Group to debut N~1 on Melon after the system change.
• “The War ” is the 1st K-pop Album to rank 1 in over 30 difference countries at the same time and the fastest K-pop Album to reach the USA itunes Album Chart top 5 ranking .
• First Artist to reach 400,000 followers on Melon (Now they are over 500,000).
• The first Group to sell over 600,000 copies in 1 week with “The War”(602,094).
• EXO holds their encore concert EXO’rDIUM (dot) in Jamsil Olympic Stadium (max 72,000 people), becoming the youngest K-pop Act to ever perform there.
• The Concert sold out for both days within half an hour, become the 3rd Artist to ever done this after H.O.T (1999/2001) and G.O.D (2014).
• The ElyXiOn 1st 3 days sold out in 0.2 seconds (66,000 tickets) , beating Exo’s own previous record of 0.4 seconds of EXO’luXiOn .
• First Artist to perform on 3 consecutive days in “Gocheok Sky Dome ” recording the highest attendance since its opening .
• The “Guinness World Records “ for winning the most Daesangs at the Mnet Asia Music Asia Music Awards.
• “Quadruple Million Seller” with “The War Music Show Wins : 16 ; Awards: 19 awards + 6 daesang
• “Power “ is the 1st K-pop songs to be played at “The Dubai Fountain “, the world’s largest choreographed fountain.
• The Japaneses Album  “Countdown ” debuted at number 1 on the weekly Oricon Chart, sold over 100,000 copies and received a gold certification.
• This made Exo the 1st foreign Group whose debut single and complete Album both reached first place 10 days after its release.
• EXO and CL performed at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympic in Pyeongchang on February, 25 as representative of K-pop .
• EXO Won ‘Best Blockbuster” for “W Korea 13th Anniversary Award” Recorded Highest Sales in Fashion Magazine History.
• The 9 cover are the Magazine’s TOP 10 best seller of all time with EXO landing from 1st to its 9th place.
• The “Korean Mint Corporation ” announced that they will create an official  commemorative Medal for EXO ( be released in April).
• the medal will honor them as representative of K-pop who have been in the center of the Korea Wave as the  Idol Group.
• Music Show Wins : 3 (still counting) ; Awards : 9 awards + 1 daesang ( still counting)

FANCLUB

EXO Fan’s are recognized as EXO-L  . The ‘L’ in Exo-L stands for Love , is the 12th letter and links the letter K ( EXO-K) and M ( EXO-M) . EXO-L is considered a sub-unit of EXO , so that means EXO-K + EXO-L + EXO-M = ONE. As in the band’s slogan        “WE ARE ONE!” , Meaning the band member and the fan are ONE. EXO-L is in charge of promotion worldwide the LOVE for EXO-L & EXO-M.

S.M. Entertaiment description

” EXO is a music group conformed by three sub-unities : “EXO-K” promoting in Korean , “EXO-M ” promoting in China(Mandarin) and “EXO-L” promoting worldwide the Love for the above two. EXO-L is the Global Official Fanclub , short for EXO-LOVE. In alphabetical order , L is between K and M. EXO-L is ALL EXO Fans who support EXO between EXO-K & EXO-M and also EXO-L means the fanclub slogan ‘WE ARE ONE’ . EXO and Fan are One “.

EXO-L day is celebrate on 8 August, 2014.

The above picture show’s EXO-L  love for the band EXO.