The Korean Business Research Institute has published its brand reputation rankings for rising singers this May, tracking media coverage, consumer participation, interaction, and community awareness across the industry.
The data was collected from April 27 to May 27 and covers a broad set of emerging and established acts, from freshly debuted groups to solo artists experiencing a surge in visibility.
Top 5 for May 2026
| Rank | Artist | Brand Index | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CORTIS | 6,065,405 | +328.60% |
| 2 | Kim Yong Bin | 3,917,846 | +34.10% |
| 3 | HANRORO | 3,300,462 | +9.65% |
| 4 | BIBI | 3,122,855 | +112.92% |
| 5 | ENHYPEN | 3,099,769 | +22.56% |
Notable movements this month
CORTIS shot to the top with a staggering 328.60 percent increase in their brand reputation index. The rookie group has been generating considerable buzz, and this ranking confirms that their visibility across media channels has accelerated sharply over the past month.
BIBI jumped to fourth place with a 112.92 percent increase — another standout surge. Her steady rise in brand reputation aligns with her growing presence across variety content, music releases, and brand collaborations.
Full top 30
The rest of the top 30 includes:
CORTIS, Kim Yong Bin, HANRORO, BIBI, ENHYPEN, Stray Kids, TWS, Park Ji Hyeon, Park Seo Jin, WOODZ (Cho Seung Youn), KiiiKiii, DAY6, RIIZE, Yena, Rowoon, Woody, BABYMONSTER, EXO's Doh Kyung Soo (D.O.), Ahn Sung Hoon, BTOB's Changsub, Kim Hee Jae, Jo Yuri, KATSEYE, QWER, Hearts2Hearts, Lee Mujin, Son Tae Jin, WJSN's Dayoung, Car, the garden, and OVAN.
What the rankings measure
The Korean Business Research Institute's brand reputation index is calculated by analyzing big data across four dimensions: media coverage (how often an artist appears in news articles), consumer participation (search and engagement behavior), interaction (social media mentions and comments), and community awareness (forum and community discussion volume).
While brand reputation rankings don't directly translate to album sales or streaming numbers, they're a useful temperature check on which artists are generating conversation and capturing public attention at any given moment. For emerging artists like CORTIS, a number one ranking with that kind of growth rate is a strong signal that the industry — and the public — is paying attention.
