Exo (band)

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Exo
Exo monster 160618 suwon.png
Exo in June 2016
From left to right, standing: Baekhyun, Chen, Lay, Sehun, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai
From left to right, kneeling: Suho, Xiumin
Background information
Origin Seoul, South Korea
Genres
K-pop Electropop R&B Hip-hop EDM Dance-pop Mandopop J-pop
Years active 2012�present
Labels
SM Avex
Associated acts
Exo-CBX Exo-SC SM Town
Website exo.smtown.com
Members
Xiumin
Suho
Lay
Baekhyun
Chen
Chanyeol
D.O.
Kai
Sehun
Past members
Luhan
Kris
Tao
Exo (Korean: ??; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean�Chinese boy band based in
Seoul, with nine members: Xiumin, Suho, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai
and Sehun. The band was formed by SM Entertainment in 2011 and debuted in 2012.
Their music incorporates genres like pop, hip-hop, and R&B, alongside electronic
dance music genres like house, trap, and synth-pop. Exo releases and performs music
in Korean, Mandarin, and Japanese. The band ranked as one of the top five most
influential celebrities on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list each year from
2014 to 2018, and have been named "the biggest boy band in the world" and the
"kings of K-pop" by media outlets.

Since 2014, Exo has exclusively performed as one group, while continuing to release
and perform music in multiple languages. Previously, the band debuted with twelve
members separated into two sub-groups: Exo-K (Suho, Baekhyun, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai,
and Sehun) and Exo-M (Xiumin, Lay, Chen, and former members Kris, Luhan, and Tao).
Exo-K and Exo-M performed music in Korean and Mandarin, respectively, until the
release of their third EP Overdose in 2014. After the departures of Kris, Luhan,
and Tao amid legal battles in 2014 and 2015, the band continued with the remaining
nine members. Since 2016, Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin have also released music and
performed as a sub-unit named Exo-CBX. All of Exo's members also maintain solo
careers in fields including music, film, and television.

Exo's first album XOXO (2013), which contains the breakthrough hit "Growl", was a
critical and commercial success. It sold over one million copies, making Exo the
best-selling Korean artist in twelve years. Subsequent albums and EPs have also had
strong sales, with all Korean studio albums each selling more than one million
copies. Exo has won many awards for their albums, including five consecutive Album
of the Year wins at the Mnet Asian Music Awards and two consecutive Artist of the
Year wins at the Melon Music Awards. Exo's sixth album Don't Mess Up My Tempo
(2018) is their highest-charting album on the US Billboard 200, debuting at number
23. It is also their best selling album with over 1.9 million copies sold in South
Korea.

Since Exo's first headlining tour in 2014, the band has performed over 100 concerts
across four tours and has participated in multiple joint tours. Exo is also known
for its work beyond 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 project that began in 2015, and in which Exo continues
to participate.

Contents
1 Background
2 History
2.1 2006�2012: Formation and early years
2.2 2013�2014: Commercial success
2.3 2015: Critical acclaim
2.4 2016�2017: Worldwide success
2.5 2018�present: International recognition
3 Artistry
3.1 Musicality
3.2 Songwriting
3.3 Stage
4 Impact and influence
5 Other ventures
5.1 Endorsements
5.2 Philanthropy
6 Awards and nominations
7 Discography
7.1 Korean and Mandarin albums
7.2 Japanese albums
8 Tours
9 Filmography
10 Footnotes
11 References
12 External links
Background
In 2011, SM Entertainment CEO, Lee Soo-man, revealed plans to debut a new boy band
that would be divided into two sub-groups, promoting the same music simultaneously
in South Korea and China by performing songs in both Korean and Mandarin.[1][2]
After several member changes in December 2011, the group finalized its name as Exo,
taken from the word "exoplanet".[3] The news of an upcoming debut from SM
Entertainment attracted substantial media attention from within South Korea and
internationally, with many comparing Exo to fellow SM boy band TVXQ.[2][4] It was
also reported that Exo would compete with a new girl group from rival YG
Entertainment.[5]

History
2006�2012: Formation and early years

Exo at SM Town Live World Tour III in Singapore in November 2012

Exo-K's leader, Suho, was the first member to join SM Entertainment, after a
successful audition through the company's casting system in 2006. The following
year, Kai, with encouragement from his father, auditioned at the SM Youth Best
Contest; he won and received a contract.[6] Chanyeol, who took second place in a
Smart Model Contest, and Sehun, who went through four auditions in two years,[7]
were the next members to become trainees in 2008. In 2010, Exo-K's D.O. sang for
his audition and was eventually offered a contract.[8] The last member of Exo-K to
become a trainee was Baekhyun, who joined in 2011 through SM Entertainment's
casting system and trained for approximately one year before debut. In Exo-M, Kris
auditioned in 2008 at a global SM Entertainment audition in Canada, before moving
to South Korea for training. That same year, Lay auditioned in Changsha, China, and
subsequently moved to South Korea, while Xiumin attended an audition with his
friend and won second place.[9] In 2010, Luhan was scouted by an SM Entertainment
representative in Seoul and passed his audition, while Tao was scouted at a talent
show. The last member to join Exo-M was Chen, who took part in the casting system
in 2011. The band's first televised performance was at the annual SBS Gayo Daejeon
event on December 29, 2011.[10]

Exo-K and Exo-M debuted with the single "Mama" on April 8, 2012, followed by the EP
Mama on April 9.[11] The two sub-groups promoted the album separately; Exo-K
performed on South Korean music program The Music Trend while Exo-M performed on
the Top Chinese Music Awards in Shenzhen on the same day.[12] The Korean version of
the EP peaked at number one on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart[13] and at number
eight on the Billboard World Albums Chart,[14] while the Mandarin version reached
number two on China's Sina Album Chart and number one on various Chinese streaming
platforms. Prior its debut, Exo released two singles, titled "What Is Love" and
"History�, which peaked at number 88 on and number 68 respectively on the Gaon
Digital Chart and at number six on the Sina Music Chart.[15] Exo was awarded Best
New Asian Group at the 2012 Mnet Asian Music Awards and the Newcomer Award at the
Golden Disc Awards.

2013�2014: Commercial success

Exo with South Korean President, Park Geun-hye in China on June 28, 2013
The group's first studio album, XOXO, was released on June 3, 2013, in two
versions: one in Korean and one in Mandarin.[16] Unlike the EP Mama, for which Exo-
K and Exo-M had separate promotions, XOXO was jointly promoted, mainly in South
Korea.[17] Exo recorded the album's lead single "Wolf" together, but the rest of
the album tracks were recorded separately.[18] A repackaged version of the album,
titled Growl, was released on August 5, 2013, with three additional tracks. New
single "Growl" peaked at number three on the Billboard K-Pop Hot 100[19] and at
number two on the Gaon Digital Chart. All versions of XOXO collectively sold over
one million copies, making Exo the first South Korean artists to reach that
milestone in 12 years.[20] That December, Exo released a second EP, Miracles in
December, as a special winter album containing the single of the same name.[21]
Prior to the release, the group promoted the album through their first reality
show, Exo's Showtime, which premiered on November 28, 2013 on the cable channel MBC
Every 1.[22] Following their 2013 releases, Exo won Song of the Year at the Melon
Music Awards for "Growl",[23] Disc Daesang at the Golden Disc Awards[24] and Album
of the Year at the Mnet Asian Music Awards[25] for XOXO, and the Daesang at the
Seoul Music Awards.[26] In addition, Exo-M received the Most Popular Group Award at
the 2013 Top Chinese Music Awards.[27]

Exo's third EP, Overdose, was released on May 7, 2014.[28] Originally scheduled to
be released on April 21, the album was delayed due to the Sewol Ferry accident on
April 16. Overdose was promoted similarly to Mama, with Exo-K in South Korea and
Exo-M promoting primarily in China. The album had over 660,000 pre-orders, making
it the most pre-ordered Korean EP in history.[29] The Korean edition also peaked at
number two on Billboard's World Albums Chart, and at number 129 on the Billboard
200, making Exo the highest-ever charting male Korean group at that time.[30][31]
Overdose became the best selling release of 2014 in South Korea, and was the first
EP to top the yearly charts and win the Album of the Year Award at the Mnet Asian
Music Awards.[32] On December 22, Exo released their first live album, Exology
Chapter 1: The Lost Planet[33] The album's single, "December, 2014 (The Winter's
Tale)", peaked at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart, making it Exo's first
number one single.[34] By the end of 2014, Exo was Japan's best-selling K-pop
artist of the year.[35]

On May 15, 2014, Kris filed a lawsuit against Sm Entertainment to terminate his
contract and alleged that SM: disregarded his health; maintained unfair profit
distributions; restricted his freedom; and treated him like a product rather than a
person.[36] On May 24, the group began its first headlining tour, "Exo from
Exoplanet 1 � The Lost Planet", at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena.[37] Tickets for
the concert sold out in 1.47 seconds, breaking the record for the quickest concert
sell-out by a Korean artist.[37] On October 10, Luhan also filed a lawsuit against
SM Entertainment to terminate his contract.[38][39] He cited health problems and
alleged he was treated differently than the band's Korean members.[40]

2015: Critical acclaim

From left to right: D.O, Lay, and Kai at the 24th Seoul Music Awards in January
2015
On March 7, 2015, Exo began their second headlining world tour, "Exoplanet 2 � The
Exo'luxion", with 70,000 attendees across five nights at the Olympic Gymnastics
Arena in Seoul.[41] The group released its second studio album Exodus on March 30,
2015, in both Korean and Mandarin versions.[42] Domestic pre-orders for the album
surpassed 500,000 copies within 24 hours, setting a new record for pre-orders.[43]
Lead single "Call Me Baby" was released ahead of schedule, on March 27, because
versions of the song had been leaked online.[44] The music videos were released
four days later; the Korean version later became the most-watched K-pop music video
of the first half of 2015.[45] The album spent a record four consecutive weeks at
number one on the Gaon Album Chart[46] and sold over a million copies, making it
Exo's second album to do so, after XOXO.[47] Exodus won Album of the Year at the
2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards, giving Exo their third consecutive win. In April
2015, Exodus peaked at number 95 on the US Billboard 200, making the group the
highest charting Korean artist.[48][49] Exo also entered Billboard's Canadian Hot
100 chart at number 98, making them the first K-pop group and second Korean artist
to chart there.[50]

Tao was absent during promotions for Exodus due to injuries and, on August 24,
became the third member to file a lawsuit against SM Entertainment to terminate his
contract.[51][52] This followed social media posts earlier in the year from Tao's
father on Chinese social network Weibo, expressing his wish for his son to withdraw
from the group and return to China due to health issues and a lack of support for
individual career development.[51] SM responded to his legal action with a
statement: "Our company plans to use everything in our power including both Korean
and Chinese legal professionals and partners to respond legally both in Korea and
China in a multi-faceted manner. We also plan to take legal steps to respond to
Tao's illegal promotions and actions."[53] Exo released a repackaged version of
Exodus, titled Love Me Right, on June 3, 2015. This edition added four new songs,
including the single "Love Me Right".[54] Due to Tao's absence, the group promoted
the song as nine members. That October, Exo became the first artists to hold a dome
concert in South Korea; it was called "Exo � Love Concert in Dome", and took place
at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.[55]

On November 4, 2015, Exo released their Japanese debut single Love Me Right
~romantic universe~, which contains the Japanese version of "Love Me Right" and an
original Japanese song titled "Drop That". On the day of its release, the album
sold 147,000 copies and reached the top of the Oricon chart, becoming the all-time
best-selling debut single in Japan by a Korean artist.[56] Five days later, Exo
released a special single titled "Lightsaber" to promote the movie Star Wars: The
Force Awakens ahead of its release in South Korea, as part of a collaboration
between SM Entertainment and Walt Disney. On December 10, Exo released its second
winter special release and fourth EP, Sing for You, containing the singles "Sing
for You" and "Unfair". The album sold 267,900 copies in its first week, breaking
the record for the highest first-week sales by a Korean artist. "Unfair" also
became the first K-pop song to be featured in the "Best of the Week" playlist by
Apple Music, and Exo became the first Korean artists to appear on the platform's
homepage.[57] Part of the profits from the album were donated to UNICEF's Smile For
U campaign, to support the music education for children in Asia.[58] In December
2015, South Korean entertainment industry leaders ranked Exo at number seven in the
top ten pop culture leaders of 2015, the highest rank held by a K-pop artist.[59]

2016�2017: Worldwide success

Exo at Ex'act release press conference in June 2016

On January 5, 2016, SM Entertainment won one of its countersuits against Tao
following the ruling of the Intermediate People's Court in Qingdao, China. The
company sued Tao over his failure to repay the company after his departure; it
released an official statement that said: "SM has ongoing lawsuits against Exo
members Wu Yifan (Kris), Luhan, and Tao for violating their exclusive contracts and
partaking in illegal promotions in China. Among these lawsuits, SM filed a lawsuit
against Tao for failing to repay SM on October 13, 2015. An intermediate court in
Qingdao, China made the verdict that Tao is to repay SM Entertainment as well as
interest for the delayed payment."[60][61]

Exo's third studio album Ex'Act and its singles, "Lucky One" and "Monster", were
released on June 9, 2016, in both Korean and Mandarin versions.[62] Domestic pre-
orders for the album exceeded 660,000 copies, making it the most pre-ordered K-pop
album ever at that time.[63] The album broke the record for the highest first-week
sales of a Korean album, previously set by the band's own fourth EP Sing For You.
[64] "Monster" became Exo's first number one on the Billboard World Digital Songs
chart, and "Lucky One" debuted at number three.[65] On August 18, 2016, a
repackaged edition of the album, titled Lotto, was released; it added four new
songs, including the single of the same name.[66] "Lotto" became Exo's second
number one on the Billboard World Digital Songs Chart, and peaked at number two on
the Gaon Digital Chart.[67] The repackaged edition's Korean and Mandarin versions
reached number one and two on the Gaon Album Chart, respectively[68][69] Within two
months of its original release, Ex'Act had sold over 1.17 million copies, becoming
Exo's third album to sell over one million copies, earning them the title of
"triple million sellers" from the media.[70]

On July 21, contractual disputes between Kris and Luhan and SM Entertainment were
settled.[71][72] The two sides settled during their third court-mandated
arbitration; the previous two were held in September 2015 and June 2016, when the
court settled the case with a recommendation for reconciliation.[72][73] The
singers will maintain their contracts with SM until 2022.[72] SM would contract out
their work outside of Korea and Japan; i.e., Kris and Luhan's Chinese agencies will
"share related revenues" with SM for activities anywhere but Korea and Japan (where
SM has exclusive rights per their contract) because SM is technically
"contract[ing] out management" for its non-Korean/Japanese activities until 2022,
when their contracts with SM expire.[72]

On July 22, Exo embarked on its third headlining tour, "Exoplanet 3 � The
Exo'rdium", with a record six consecutive concerts at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena.
[74] On May 28, 2017, the tour ended with the second of two consecutive concerts at
the Seoul Olympic Stadium, the largest stadium in South Korea, with an estimated
maximum seating capacity of 100,000.[75] Tickets for the first date went on sale on
April 12 and were sold out within 20 minutes.[76] The tour brought the band's total
number of concerts to over 100.[77] In June, Lay announced he would not take part
in the band's next album, and would instead focus on his acting career. Since then,
he has been absent from Exo albums and public appearances.[78] On December 7, Exo
released their second Japanese single, "Coming Over".[79] Selling over 158,000
copies, it reached number two on the weekly Oricon Chart and became the band's
second Japanese single to receive a Platinum certification from the Recording
Industry Association of Japan.[80] Exo's third winter release and fifth EP For Life
was released on December 19.[81] The band did not publicly promote the album, which
sold over 442,000 copies in less than two weeks.[82]

Exo-CBX at their debut showcase in Seoul on October 31, 2016

Also in 2016, the group's members spent time advancing their solo careers. On
January 7, Baekhyun released "Dream", a collaboration with popular South Korean
singer Suzy. The single proved very popular, and won Best Collaboration at the 18th
Mnet Asian Music Awards among other awards.[83] On October 31, Chen, Baekhyun, and
Xiumin debuted as the group's first sub-unit, Exo-CBX,[84] which is a combination
of the first letter from each member's stage name. Exo-CBX released their debut EP
Hey Mama! and the music video for the single of the same name on October 31.[85]
The EP was a success, selling over 293,897 copies.[86] As of 2018, they have
released two EPs in Korean and two EPs in Japanese.[84] Lay's debuted as a solo
artist in May 2016 with the release of "Monodrama" through the project SM Station.
The song was a success in China, ranking number one on Billboard China V Chart for
four consecutive weeks.[87] On October 28, Lay released his debut EPs, Lose
Control. It was a commercial success, breaking several Guinness World Records[88]
and debuted at number one on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart.[89] In 2016 he also
acted in The Mystic Nine, a television show in China that drew over 12 billion
views online.[90] All of the other members also pursued solo activities in various
industries, including music, film, television, and theater. Exo-CBX debuted in
Japan on May 24, 2017, with the release of an EP titled Girls,[91] which followed
the release of a short version of the music video for the lead single "Ka-CHING!"
in late April.[92] The EP sold over 60,000 copies in Japan within a month of its
release.[93]

Exo at the Dream Concert in June 2017

Exo's fourth studio album The War was released on July 18, 2017.[94] The album had
received 807,235 pre-orders, surpassing the band's own record of 660,000 for
Ex'Act.[95] Lead single "Ko Ko Bop" debuted at number one on the Melon Digital
Chart, making Exo the first K-pop group to enter at number one after chart changes
were implemented on February 27, 2017.[96] Upon release, the album recorded the
highest first week sales of any K-pop album.[97] It debuted at number 87 on the
Billboard 200, number one on the Billboard World Albums Chart, and on many other
charts around the world � a first for Exo.[98][99][100] On August 29, the 2018
edition of the Guinness World Records named Exo as having won the "Most Daesang"
(grand prize) awards at the Mnet Asian Music Awards.[101] On September 5, the group
released a repackaged edition of The War, titled The War: The Power of Music. It
added three new songs to the tracklist, including the single "Power".[102] On
September 14, "Power" recorded the all-time highest score on M Countdown with
11,000 points, which made Exo the first artists to achieve a perfect score after
the show's calculation system changes were implemented in June 2015. The win also
marked the group's 100th win on a music show.[103]

Exo began their third world tour, "Exoplanet#4 � The ElyXiOn", with three
consecutive nights at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome, beginning on November 24.[104] As
of November 30, Korean sales of The War had reportedly reached nearly 1.6 million
copies, making it Exo's best selling album at the time and earning the group the
title of �quadruple million sellers� from the media.[105][106] In early December,
Exo announced its fourth special winter release and sixth EP, Universe. It was
originally due for release on December 21, but was delayed until December 26
because of the death of labelmate Jonghyun.[107]

2018�present: International recognition

Exo with the President of South Korea, Moon Jae-in, Ivanka Trump and CL at the 2018
Winter Olympics in February 2018
On January 16, 2018, "Power" became the first K-pop song to play at The Dubai
Fountain at Burj Khalifa Lake, Dubai. Seven members of the group traveled to Dubai
to view the first showing.[108] The song's initial run was extended from January to
March.[109] It was also brought back from September until November of the same
year.[110][111] On January 31, Exo released its first Japanese studio album
Countdown.[112] The album debuted at number one on the weekly Oricon chart, selling
approximately 89,000 copies. This achievement made Exo the first non-Japanese band
whose debut single and debut studio album both reached number one on the weekly
Oricon chart.[113] Ten days after its release, on February 9, Countdown was
certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.[114]

Exo performed at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang on
February 25, serving as representatives of K-pop along with CL.[115] Prior to the
performance, Baekhyun sang the national anthem at the opening ceremony of the
International Olympic Committee general assembly on February 5, and Exo performed
at the official D-100 Concert in late 2017, which marked 100 days until the start
of the Winter Olympics.[115][116] The band's performance drew widespread global
media attention and praise.[117] The Russian two time Olympic silver medalist and
figure skating world champion Evgenia Medvedeva also drew media attention for her
support of Exo.[118] In April 2018, the Korean Mint Corporation released official
commemorative medals for Exo, honoring the group for their contribution to the
global spread of Korean culture.[119] The nine medals, each commemorating one of
the group's members, were unveiled at a ceremony in Seoul.[120] In October 2018,
Lay debuted in the U.S. with his 3rd solo album Namanana. The album topped the
charts of Billboard's World Albums and Independent Albums, and placed 21st on
Billboard 200, making Lay the highest-ranked Mandopop artist on the chart.[121]

Exo's sixth studio album, Don't Mess Up My Tempo, was released on November 2, 2018.
[122] Don't Mess Up My Tempo featured all nine Exo members � the group's first
release to do so since Lotto in 2016.[122] The album received 1,104,617 pre-orders,
surpassing the group's own previous record.[123] The album was a commercial
success, selling 1,179,997 copies by November 30, making Exo "quintuple million
sellers" in the media.[124] With the release of Don't Mess Up My Tempo, Exo became
the first artist to surpass 10 million total album sales in South Korea.[124] The
album debuted at number 23 on the Billboard 200 with 23,000 equivalent album sales
and number one on the Independent Albums and World Albums Billboard charts.[125]
[126] The album is Exo's highest charting album on the Billboard 200 and fourth
number one album on the World Albums Chart.[125] Love Shot was released on December
13, as a repacked version of Don't Mess Up My Tempo.[127] The lead single, also
titled "Love Shot", became Exo's third number one single on the Billboard World
Digital Songs chart and held the position for three consecutive weeks.[128][129]
Don't Mess Up My Tempo sold 1,951,879 copes in South Korea in 2018 and is Exo's
best selling album.[130]

Chen became the second Exo member to debut as a soloist with his debut EP April,
and a Flower, which was released on April 1, 2019.[131][132] The album peaked at
number two on the Gaon Album chart and number three on the Billboard World Albums
Chart.[133][134] Xiumin enlisted for his mandatory military service as an active
duty soldier on May 7, 2019.[135][136] D.O. enlisted as an active duty soldier on
July 1.[137][138] Baekhyun debuted as the group's third soloist with the release of
his EP, City Lights, on July 10.[139][140] City Lights sold over 500,000 copies in
July 2019, breaking the Gaon Chart record for the highest monthly album sales by a
solo artist.[141] The album also peaked at number four on both Billboard's World
Albums and Heatseekers Albums charts.[142][143] Chanyeol and Sehun debuted as Exo's
second official sub-unit, Exo-SC, and released their first EP, What a Life, in July
22; the duo released "We Young" for SM Station X 0 in September 2018.[144][145]
What a Life debuted at number eight at the World Albums chart, and at number ten at
the Heatseekers Chart.[143] Chen released his second EP, Dear My Dear, on October
1;[146] the album peaked at number one at the Gaon Album Chart.[147] Exo is
currently embarking on its fifth headlining tour, Exo Planet 5 � The Exploration,
with six dates in Seoul from July 19�28.[148]

Exo's seventh studio album, Obsession, will be released on November 27, 2019.[149]

Artistry
Musicality
Exo are considered by many to be a vocal powerhouse in the K-pop industry; the
group's three main vocalists D.O., Chen, and Baekhyun have received praise from
industry figures and the media.[150][151][152][153]

Beginning 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 full-length albums.[154]
[155][156] Billboard applauded the band's single "Universe" from the 2017 EP of the
same name, saying, "With soaring, emotive vocals courtesy of the Exo members,
'Universe' is a power ballad that showcases the group's strengths."[157]

"Call Me Baby" (2015)

MENU0:00
"Call Me Baby" is a fusion of pop and R&B reminiscent of a "'90s/early '00s" boy
band sound.[158]
"Monster" (2016)
MENU0:00
"Monster" is a hip hop song representing a more mature and dark style of music for
Exo.[159]
"Ko Ko Bop" (2017)
MENU0:00
"Ko Ko Bop" is a new style of music for Exo, blending reggae and EDM.[160]
Problems playing these files? See media help.
The group has frequently worked with veteran Korean and international producers,
including Kenzie, Dean, LDN Noise, The Underdogs, and MARZ Music.[161][162] Many of
Exo's songs � especially the singles, which blend pop, hip-hop, and R&B with
electronic dance music genres like house, trap, and synth-pop� are produced with
onstage performance in mind.[163][164] Producer Harvey Mason Jr. commented: "We
listen to their material ... and try and go one step further. We try and do things
that are fresh and original but yet still sound like Exo. ...They can sing, they
can dance, they have the energy ... It's like a painter having every color to paint
with."[164]

Early in their career, Exo were described by Billboard as sounding "wholly inspired
by the late '90s/early '00s sound ... with bigger beats, loads more hooks and
adding rap and dance breakdowns."[158][165] The group explored a more "mature" and
"dark" sound in 2016 with the release of their third studio album, Ex'Act,
featuring an increased use of electronic dance music styles like house and synth-
pop.[159][166][167][168] Their fourth studio album, The War, deepened the group's
experimentation with genre, including the addition of trap music.[164] With the
album's single "Ko Ko Bop", Exo received praise for unconventionally hybridizing
laid-back reggae sounds with heavy electronic breaks.[160][169]

Songwriting
Exo's members faced criticism early in their careers because of their lack of
involvement in the writing and producing of their songs.[170] However, in 2015 Exo
released its first song to credit lyrics to one of the group's members, on the
repackaged version of their second album, Love Me Right. "Promise (Exo 2014)" was
written by Chanyeol, Chen, and Lay, and was a "special gift" to the fans, with
lyrics thanking them for their support.[171][172] Since then, Exo has released
multiple songs with lyrics by the band's members, including "Heaven" and "She's
Dreaming" from their third album, the special promotional single "Lightsaber", and
most notably, the hit single "Ko Ko Bop" and several other songs from their 2017
album The War.[173]

In a 2017 interview with Billboard, Chanyeol spoke about his contributions to the
lyrics for "Chill", stating that because he "worked on the lyrics with an empty
track without demo lyrics", the process came more "naturally" to him.[164] In the
same interview, Chen explained the process of writing their single "Ko Ko Bop",
saying "[we] wrote the lyrics separately and worked on putting [them] together for
the song afterwards. I don't think I have any regrets [about the song] since it's
the best result produced through all the effort that our members and other writers
have put into the process."[164] Chen is also credited with writing the Korean
lyrics for the track "Lights Out", from Exo's fourth special winter EP Universe.
[107] Lay is also a songwriter and producer, having written and composed each track
of all his solo albums as well for other artists.[174][175] Chanyeol participated
in writing lyrics for "Gravity" and 'With You", both off of Exo's sixth studio
album Don't Mess Up My Tempo.[176]

Stage
Image depicting water raining down onto the stage in a circle.
Exo performance using water on stage in Bangkok during Exo Planet 3 � The Exo'rdium
in 2016.
Exo have been praised particularly for their synchronized choreography and
elaborate stage designs. The band was choreographed early in their career by
American hip hop choreographers Tony Testa and Nicholas Bass for songs like "Wolf"
and "Growl", respectively.[177] In recent years, Exo has collaborated with
choreographer Kim Tae Woo.[178] Dazed admired the band's "seamless...knife-point
choreography", saying it has put Exo "at the forefront of pop domination".[179] A
recurring stage element during the group's world tours has been the use of water in
the form of rain and shallow pools. Cleo said Exo's "winning formula" is the
incorporation of water into their choreography, saying "there was water cascading
from above during 'White Noise' and 'Lightsaber', which saw some of the members
getting drenched."[180] Yahoo wrote that "during one segment, the boys stood on an
elevated hexagon-shaped stage (modeled after the band's logo), and danced sensually
while water rained down on them from above."[181]

On their stage design, Music Mind noted Exo's use of "not only ... the stage-lights
and the lightsticks, but also [a] multitude of special effects like water, flames,
and fireworks, not to mention huge screens positioned both on the substage and
across the whole perimeter of the venue".[182] Rappler journalist Keb Cuevas
described Exo's "multi-LED screen stage fitted with holographic Exo embellishments
and choreographed laser lighting", saying "the stage was literally on fire as
pyrotechnic effects were ignited with the electronic beat."[183] Covering a 2018
concert in Singapore, Bandwagon remarked that after their "fourth headlining tour
[in] four years ... you might [assume] their setlist and stages would be repetitive
and stale. But [that] was not the case at all."[184]

Impact and influence

With the release of their debut studio album in 2013, Exo became the first South
Korean artists in 12 years to sell over one million copies of an album;[20] the
previous artist prior to reach this milestone was g.o.d, in 2001.[185] In 2018, Exo
became "quintuple million sellers", meaning the band has sold over one million
copies apiece for five different albums.[124] Following the release of their 5th
studio album, Don't Mess Up My Tempo, Exo became the first South Korean artist who
debuted in the 21st century to sell 10 million albums cumulatively.[124]
Exo have also contributed significantly to the financial success of their
management agency, SM Entertainment. In the fourth quarter of 2018, Sm
Entertainment recorded the largest ever quarterly profit for any South Korean
entertainment company at $13.4 million.[186] The SM artist generating the highest
revenue was Exo, at 31% of the total $188 million fourth quarter revenue.[186]

Exo have been described as "the biggest boy band in the world".[179] They have
gained immense popularity in South Korea, and were named by Forbes on the Korea
Power Celebrity list as the most powerful celebrities in South Korea for 2015 and
2016; within the top five for 2014, 2017, and 2018; and within the top 10 for
2019[187][188] They have been given a number of honorific nicknames such as "Kings
of K-Pop" by international outlets Vogue, Metro, PageOne and South Korean outlets
including OBS among others.[189] They were also named as the "Nation's pick" and
the "Global pick" by South Korean media.[190] Exo are widely esteemed as a
prominent force in the Hallyu Wave, which refers to the rise and spread of Korean
pop culture around the world.[191][192][193] When discussing the significance of
Exo in a global context, Bustle magazine described them as "the ultimate K-pop
sensation", saying "there's really nothing quite like Exo."[191] The group has
received further attention for releasing almost all of its studio albums
simultaneously in both Korean and Mandarin. Vulture described Exo as "leaders of a
K-pop generation" when describing the band's ability to release music in the Korean
and Chinese markets while continuing to impress in the United States with Billboard
chartings and arena tours.[194] In this regard, Dazed considered Exo's success to
be that of "a continent-straddling pop juggernaut".[179] In 2016, AsiaOne said "Exo
are turning into an omnipresent, unstoppable global force," citing their popularity
in the United States, their critical acclaim, and the size of their global fandom.
[195]

In April 2018, Forbes described Exo as one of the two artists worldwide that
dramatically over-perform on social media, with the other being fellow K-pop boy
band BTS.[196] Both groups exceeded the reach of American artists such as Beyonce,
Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift.[196] Twitter statistics from Next Big Sound, show
that with 24 million mentions in one week, Exo recorded 14,000 times more than
expected.[196] Exo also ranked at number two on the 2018 Billboard Social 50 end of
year ranking.[197]

Exo's work has influenced numerous artists, including Kim Dong-han,[198] Wanna One,
[199] and Kang Daniel.[200]

Other ventures
Endorsements
Exo has maintained numerous endorsement deals throughout the group's career, and
has been named multiple times as having the most powerful brand reputation among K-
pop artists by the Korean Business Research Institute.[201][202] Since 2012, Exo
has maintained a partnership with Samsung, the largest public company in South
Korea, where the group has endorsed the company's electronic products.[203][204] In
early February 2013, Exo began promoting the South Korean clothing brand Kolon
Sport, for which they filmed a commercial for a new pair of sneakers named for
their collaboration: MOVE-XO.[205] Also in 2013, Exo began a two-year endorsement
deal with cosmetics brand Nature Republic, which was later extended and remains
active to this day.[206][207] Their partnership grew in 2015 and 2016 to include
autograph events, which drew 30,000 and 50,000 fans, respectively.[208][209] The
2015 autograph event was held in Busan, with crowds such that the municipal police
department tweeted: "Currently live from Exo's fan signing in Gwangbukdong. One,
two three! We Are One! Busan Police! Everyone, please be in order."[210] These
events were followed by the Green Nature Exo Fan Festival in 2017 and 2018; both
were concert-style events hosted by Nature Republic with thousands of attendees.
[207][211]
In late 2015, Exo officially endorsed Star Wars: The Force Awakens with the release
of a collaboration film that featured "the nine Exo members in a Star Wars-inspired
world where clubs are 'Jedi Only' and they carry lightsabers", according to
Billboard.[212] In 2016, the group became ambassadors for American footwear company
Skechers, endorsing the D'Lites 2 Sweet Monster Collection. This partnership has
extended to Skechers events such as the 2017 Sweet Monster K-Pop Dance Competition,
attended by Exo members Chanyeol and Sehun.[213] Also in 2016, the group became the
official faces of international clothing brand SPAO's spring collection, which
included limited-edition postcards and posters for customers.[214]

In 2018, in the lead-up to Exo's performance at the Closing Ceremony for the 2018
Winter Olympics, the group became the faces of the Switzerland-based snow-sports
company Kessler.[215] In March 2018, Exo were announced to be the new brand
ambassadors for Major League Baseball (MLB) in Asia.[216] Following this
announcement, Chanyeol, Kai, and Sehun attended the grand opening of the MLB store
in Times Square, Hong Kong, on March 23.[217] In July 2018, Exo were appointed as
Korean Tourism Ambassadors for 2018 by the Korean Tourism Organization, and
appeared in a series of promotional advertisements designed to "promote Korea to
the world".[218] Exo also maintain partnerships with, or have previously endorsed,
companies including Coca-Cola, SK Telecom, KFC, MCM, Lotte Confectionery, Lotte
World, Goobne Chicken, and Hats On.[219]

Philanthropy
The members of Exo-K became goodwill ambassadors for South Korea's Red Cross Youth
in December 2012.[220] Members of Exo were appointed as official ambassadors for
Fashion-KODE 2014, which was hosted by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports
and Tourism and the Korea Active Content Agency Fashion Festival in July 2014.[221]
That same month, Samsung announced Exo as its brand ambassadors for the 2014 Summer
Youth Olympics.[222]

Since its debut, Exo members have been involved in charity, such as volunteering
for and making personal donations to organizations including childcare centers, the
Korea Childhood Leukemia Foundation, Siheung Women's Resources Development Center,
and China's Hunan province medical services.[223][224][225][226]

In 2015, Exo began participating in Smile For U, a joint SM Entertainment and

UNICEF project that supports music education for children in Asia. Part of the
proceeds from the band's second special winter release Sing for You and multiple
subsequent albums were donated to the campaign.[227][228][229]

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Exo

Exo at the 16th Mnet Asian Music Awards in December 2014

Exo have won numerous awards in South Korea and internationally. On June 14, 2013,
the band earned their first-ever music show win, with the single "Wolf" on Korea's
Music Bank.[230] Music programs are weekly television shows in South Korea and
China that award the artist with the most popular song in the country based on
digital chart performance, album sales and social media popularity.[231] Exo hold
the record for the most music show wins for a single song, with 18 wins for "Call
Me Baby", released in 2015.[232] Exo have gone on to win over 100 music program
awards, becoming the second act to do so after their label-mates Girls' Generation.
[233][234]

Exo have also received 23 Daesang awards from various year-end award shows.[235] In
South Korea's music industry, a Daesang award is the "grand prize" of an award
ceremony.[236] These wins included six Daesang awards from the Mnet Asian Music
Awards, which was recorded in the 2018 Guinness World Records book as the "Most
Daesang" (grand prize) awards won at the Mnet Asian Music Awards.[237]
On November 3, 2017, Exo received a Prime Minister Commendation at the Korean
Popular Culture and Arts Awards, an honor bestowed in recognition of public service
and/or excellence in a given field. When receiving the award, Suho said: "We have
received such a big award alongside brilliant people ... It's such a huge honor. We
will become performers who promote not only K-pop, but also Korea."[238]

Discography
Main article: Exo discography
See also: List of songs recorded by Exo
Korean and Mandarin albums
XOXO (2013)
Exodus (2015)
Ex'Act (2016)
The War (2017)
Don't Mess Up My Tempo (2018)[fn 1]
Obsession (2019)
Japanese albums
Countdown (2018)
Tours
Headlining

Exo from Exoplanet 1 � The Lost Planet (2014)

Exo Planet 2 � The Exo'luxion (2015�2016)
Exo Planet 3 � The Exo'rdium (2016�2017)
Exo Planet 4 � The Elyxion (2017�2018)
Exo Planet 5 � Exploration (2019)
Joint tours

SM Town Live World Tour III (2012�2013)

SM Town Live World Tour IV (2014�2015)
SM Town Live World Tour V (2016)
SM Town Live World Tour VI (2017�2018)
Supporting act

Super Junior � Super Show 4 (Exo-M only) (2012)

Filmography
Main article: Exo videography
Reality TV shows

2013: Exo's Showtime[239]

2014: XOXO Exo[240]
2014: Exo 90:2014[241]
2015: SurpLines Exo[242]
2015: Exo Channel[243]
2016: Exomentary Live[244]
2017: Exo Tourgram[245]
2018: Travel the World on Exo's Ladder Season 1[246]
2018: Exo Arcade[247]
2019: Travel the World on Exo's Ladder Season 2[248]
2019: Hearts For You[249]
Dramas

2015: Exo Next Door[250]

DVDs

2014: Exo's First Box[251]

2014: Exo Die Jungs[252]
2015: Exo from Exoplanet #1 � The Lost Planet in Japan[253]
2015: Exo from Exoplanet #1 � The Lost Planet in Seoul[254]
2015: Exo's Second Box[255]
2016: Exo from Exoplanet #2 � The Exo'luXion in Japan[253]
2016: Exo from Exoplanet #2 � The Exo'luXion in Seoul[256]
2017: Exo from Exoplanet #3 � The Exo'rdium in Japan[253]
2017: Exo from Exoplanet #3 � The Exo'rdium in Seoul[257]
2017: From Happiness[258]
2018: Exo Planet #4 � The ElyXiOn � in Japan[259]
2018: Exo Planet #4 � The ElyXiOn � in Seoul[260]
Footnotes
Studio album only released in Korean.
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