on the way 11

Years 2012–present
active
Labels  SM
 Avex
Spinoffs  Exo-K
 Exo-M
 Exo-CBX
 Exo-SC
 SuperM
Member  Xiumin
s
 Suho
 Lay
 Baekhyun
 Chen
 Chanyeol
 D.O.
 Kai
 Sehun
Past  Luhan
member
 Kris
s
 Tao
Website www.smentertainment.com/
artist/
Exo (Korean: 엑소; RR: Ekso; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean-Chinese boy
band based in Seoul formed by SM Entertainment in 2011 and debuted in
2012. The group consists of nine
members: Xiumin, Suho, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai and Sehu
n. They are noted for releasing music and performing extensively in
Korean, Mandarin and Japanese.
The group debuted with twelve members separated into Exo-K (Suho,
Baekhyun, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai and Sehun) and Exo-M (Xiumin, Lay,
Chen, Kris, Luhan and Tao). Members Kris, Luhan, and Tao departed the
group individually amid legal battles with SM Entertainment in 2014 and
2015. Exo-K and Exo-M performed music in Korean and Mandarin,
respectively, until the release of their third EP Overdose in 2014. Since then,
Exo have exclusively performed as one group, although their music continues
to feature multiple languages. Members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin
debuted in the sub-unit Exo-CBX in 2016. Members Sehun and Chanyeol
began promoting as the sub-unit Exo-SC in 2019. All members also maintain
individual careers in music, film and television.
Exo's first studio album XOXO (2013), released alongside breakthrough single
"Growl", was received positively by critics and sold over one million copies
with its repackage, making Exo the first Korean act to do so in twelve years.
The group's later works expanded on their early commercial success, with
their subsequent Korean studio albums combined with their repackages each
selling over one million copies. Exo's sixth studio album, Don't Mess Up My
Tempo (2018), became their highest-charting album on the US Billboard 200,
debuting at number 23. Their eighth studio album, Exist (2023), is their best
selling album in South Korea, where it sold over 2 million copies.
Exo have won numerous awards, including five consecutive Album of the
Year awards at the MAMA Awards and two consecutive Artist of the Year
awards at the Melon Music Awards, and have performed over 100 concerts
across four headlining tours and multiple joint tours. The group ranked as
one of the top five most influential celebrities on the Forbes Korea Power
Celebrity 40 list from 2014 to 2018. They have been labelled "Nation's Pick"
by the Korea Tourism Organization and by some as the "Kings of K-pop".
Outside of music, the group members have endorsed brands such as Nature
Republic and Samsung and participate in philanthropic efforts such as Smile
For U, an ongoing project by SM Entertainment and UNICEF that began in
2015.
Background
Logo of Exo
In 2011, SM Entertainment founder 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 lineup 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.[4][5][6] It was also reported
that Exo would compete with a new girl group from rival YG Entertainment.[7]
History
2006–2012: Formation and early years
Exo-K's eventual leader, Suho, was the first member to join SM

Entertainment in 2006.[8] The following year, Kai, with encouragement from
his father, auditioned at the SM Youth Best Contest; he won and received a
contract.[8][9] In 2008, Chanyeol, who had been studying at an acting
academy, and Sehun, who was first scouted by SM Entertainment at the age
of thirteen and then went through four auditions in two years, were the next
members to become trainees.[10][11] In 2010, D.O. sang for his audition and
was offered a contract.[10] 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. [12] Exo-M
leader Kris auditioned in 2008 at a global SM Entertainment audition in
Canada, later moving to South Korea for training. [13] That same year, Lay was
discovered through a global audition and subsequently moved to South
Korea, while Xiumin attended an audition with his friend and placed second.
[14][15]
In 2010, Luhan was scouted by an SM Entertainment representative in
Seoul and passed his audition, while Tao was cast through the SM auditions
in China at Qingdao.[16] The last member to join Exo-M was Chen in 2011.
[16]
The band's first televised performance was at the annual SBS Gayo
Daejeon event on December 29, 2011.[17]
Exo at SM Town Live World Tour III in Singapore in
November 2012
Exo-K and Exo-M debuted with the single "Mama" on April 8, 2012, followed
by the EP Mama on April 9. The two sub-groups promoted the album
separately; Exo-K performed on South Korean music program Inkigayo, while
Exo-M performed on the Top Chinese Music Awards in Shenzhen on the same
day.[18] The Korean version of the EP peaked at number one on South
Korea's Gaon Album Chart[19] and at number eight on the Billboard World
Albums Chart,[20] while the Mandarin version reached number two on
China's Sina Album Chart and number one on various Chinese streaming
platforms. Prior their debut, Exo released two singles, "What Is Love" and
"History", which peaked at numbers 88 and 68, respectively, on the Gaon
Digital Chart and at number six on the Sina Music Chart. [21] 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: Domestic breakthrough
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. [22] XOXO was jointly promoted
by both sub-units.[23] Exo recorded the album's lead single "Wolf" together,
although the rest of the album tracks were recorded separately.
[24]
A repackaged version of the album, Growl, was released on August 5,
2013, with three additional tracks. All versions of XOXO collectively sold over
one million copies, making Exo the first South Korean artists to reach that
milestone in 12 years.[25][26] That December, Exo released a second
EP, Miracles in December, as a special winter album containing the single of
the same name.[27] Prior to the release, the group promoted the album
through their first reality show, Exo's Showtime, which premiered on
November 28, 2013.[28] Following their 2013 releases, Exo won several
awards, including Song of the Year at the Melon Music Awards for
"Growl"[29] and Album of the Year at the Mnet Asian Music Awards[30] for XOXO.
Exo's third EP, Overdose, was released on May 7, 2014.[31] Originally

scheduled to be released on April 21, the album was delayed due to
the Sewol Ferry accident on April 16. The Korean edition peaked at number
129 on the Billboard 200, making Exo the highest-ever charting male Korean
group at the time.[32] Overdose became the best selling release of 2014 in
South Korea and was the first EP to top the yearly charts. [33] On December
22, Exo released their first live album, Exology Chapter 1: The Lost Planet.
[34]
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.
[35]
By the end of 2014, Exo was Japan's best-selling K-pop artist of the year.
[36]
On May 15, 2014, Kris filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment to
terminate his contract. He alleged that the company disregarded his health
and maintained unfair profit distributions. [37] On May 24, the group embarked
on their first headlining tour, Exo from Exoplanet 1 – The Lost Planet, at
the Olympic Gymnastics Arena.[38] Tickets for the concert sold out in 1.47
seconds, breaking the record for the quickest concert sell-out by a Korean
artist.[38] On October 10, Luhan also filed a lawsuit against SM Entertainment
to terminate his contract,[39][40] citing health problems and different treatment
than the group's Korean members.[41]
2015: Continued popularity and Japanese debut
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, at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul.[42] The group
released their second studio album Exodus on March 30, 2015, with both
Korean and Mandarin versions.[43] Lead single "Call Me Baby" was released
ahead of schedule, on March 27, after versions of the song leaked online,
[44]
while the music videos were released four days later. [45] Exo
entered Billboard's Canadian Hot 100 chart at number 98, making them the
first K-pop group and second Korean artist to chart there. [46] 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.[47][48] Exo released a repackaged version of Exodus, titled Love Me
Right, on June 3, 2015. The album with its repackage sold over one million
copies, making it Exo's second album to do so after XOXO.[49] The re-issue
added four new songs, including the single "Love Me Right".[50] Due to Tao's
absence, the group promoted the song as nine members. That October, Exo
became the first artist to hold a dome concert in South Korea, called Exo –
Love Concert in Dome, at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.[51]
On November 4, 2015, Exo released their Japanese debut single album Love
Me Right ~romantic universe~, which contained the Japanese version of
"Love Me Right" and an original Japanese song titled "Drop That". On the day
of 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.[52] 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 their second winter special release
and fourth EP, Sing for You, containing the singles "Sing for You" and "Unfair".
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. [53]
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.[54]
2016–2017: Further success and initial solo activities
Exo at Ex'act release press conference in June

2016
Exo's third studio album Ex'Act and its singles "Lucky One" and "Monster"
were released on June 9, 2016, with both Korean and Mandarin versions.
[55]
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.[56] "Monster"
became Exo's first number one on the Billboard World Digital Songs chart.
[57]
On August 18, a repackaged edition of the album, titled Lotto, was
released; it added four new songs, including the single of the same name.
[58]
Within two months of its original release, the two editions combined sold
over 1.17 million copies, making Ex'Act Exo's third million seller album and
earning the group the title of "triple million sellers". [59]
On July 21, 2016, contractual disputes between Kris and Luhan and SM
Entertainment were settled and both members left the group. [60] 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. [61]
Exo-CBX at their debut showcase in Seoul on

October 31, 2016
In late 2016, the group members spent time advancing their solo careers. On
October 28, Lay released his debut EP, Lose Control.[62] Chen, Baekhyun, and
Xiumin debuted in the group's first sub-unit, Exo-CBX, releasing their first
EP Hey Mama! on October 31.[63]
On December 7, 2016, Exo released their second Japanese single, "Coming

Over".[64] Selling over 158,000 copies, it reached number two on the Oricon
weekly chart and became the band's second Japanese single to receive a
platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan.
[65]
Exo's third winter release and fifth EP For Life was released on December
19.[66]
Exo at the Golden Disk Awards in January 2017

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.
The tour brought the band's total number of concerts to over 100. [67] In June
2017, Lay announced he would not take part in the band's next album and
would instead focus on his acting career. [68]
Exo at the Dream Concert in June 2017
Exo's fourth studio album The War was released on July 18, 2017.[69] The
album received 807,235 pre-orders, surpassing the band's own record of
660,000 for Ex'Act.[70] On August 29, the 2018 edition of the Guinness World
Records named Exo as having won the "Most Daesang" awards at the Mnet
Asian Music Awards.[71] On September 5, the group released a repackaged
edition of The War, titled The War: The Power of Music. The re-issue added
three new songs to the tracklist, including the single "Power".[72] Exo began
their third world tour, Exo Planet #4 – The Elyxion, with three consecutive
nights at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome, beginning on November 24. [73] As of
November 30, Korean sales of The War 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. [74] In early December,
Exo announced their fourth special winter release and sixth EP, Universe. It
was originally due for release on December 21 but was delayed until
December 26 after the death of labelmate, Jonghyun.[75]
2018–2019: International recognition and first Japanese studio

album
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. [76] The song's initial run was
extended from January to March;[77] it was also brought back from September
until November of the same year.[78][79] On January 31, Exo released their first
Japanese studio album, Countdown.[80] The album debuted at number one on
the Oricon weekly chart, selling approximately 89,000 copies. The
achievement made Exo the first non-Japanese band whose debut single and
debut studio albums both reached number one on the Oricon weekly chart. [81]
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.[82] 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. [82]
[83]
The band's performance drew widespread global media attention and
praise.[84] The Russian two time Olympic silver medalist and figure skating
world champion Evgenia Medvedeva also drew media attention for her
support of Exo.[85] 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.[86] The nine medals, each
commemorating one of the group's members, were unveiled at a ceremony
in Seoul.[87]
Exo's fifth studio album, Don't Mess Up My Tempo, was released on

November 2, 2018.[88] Don't Mess Up My Tempo featured all nine Exo
members—the group's first release to do so since Lotto in 2016.[88] The
album was a commercial success, selling 1,179,997 copies by November 30
and making Exo "quintuple million sellers" in the media. [89] 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.[89] Love Shot was released on December 13,
a repacked version of Don't Mess Up My Tempo.[90] 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.
[91]
Chen became the second Exo member to debut as a soloist with the
EP April, and a Flower, which was released in April 2019.[92] Baekhyun
debuted as the group's third soloist with the release of his EP, City Lights, on
July 10.[93] Chanyeol and Sehun debuted as Exo's second official sub-
unit, Exo-SC, and released their first EP, What a Life, in July.[94] Baekhyun and
Kai represented Exo in SM Entertainment's supergroup SuperM.[95] Exo
embarked on their fifth headlining tour, Exo Planet 5 – Exploration, with six
dates in Seoul from July 19–28, totaling to thirty-one shows. [96] Exo's sixth
studio album, Obsession, was released on November 27, 2019.[97] The group
debuted several songs from the album live through Exo Planet 5 –
Exploration encore concerts in December 2019, which also served as the
tour's concluding shows.[98]
2020–2021: Focus on solo activities and group's special album
In February 2020, SM Entertainment revealed that Exo would prioritize solo

and sub-unit activities in 2020 due to multiple members being on hiatus to
fulfill their mandatory military service.[99] Suho became the fourth member to
debut as a soloist with his EP Self-Portrait, released on March 30, 2020.
[100]
Baekhyun and Kai returned to activities with SuperM for the group's first
studio album, Super One.[101] Kai debuted as the group's fifth soloist with
his self-titled EP on November 30, 2020.[102]
Prior to the enlistments of Chanyeol and Baekhyun, the active members

recorded Exo's next album in secret. In a video celebrating their ninth
anniversary on April 8, 2021, the group showcased the filming of their
upcoming music video and announced that they were preparing for the
album to be released in the first half of the year, which would mark Xiumin
and D.O.'s return to the group.[103] Lay also participated in the album,
marking his first activities with Exo since Don't Mess Up My Tempo.[104] The
group's seventh extended play, the "special album" Don't Fight the Feeling,
was released on June 7.[105] D.O. debuted as the group's sixth soloist with his
EP Empathy on July 26, 2021.[106]
2022–present: Debut anniversary
Exo celebrated their tenth anniversary on April 8, 2022, through the

premiere of a new season of their reality show Exo's Ladder, released
through the streaming service Wavve, as well as a special fan meeting, titled
2022 Debut Anniversary Fan Event, on April 9, 2022, at the Jamsil Arena,
which marked their first show with a live audience since the beginning of
the COVID-19 pandemic.[107][108] Following the completion of his contract with
SM Entertainment, Lay announced his departure from the company. He
clarified that he would remain active as a member of Exo. [109] Xiumin became
the seventh member to debut as a soloist with his extended play Brand
New on September 26, 2022.[110][111]
On January 5, 2023, Suho announced that the group is set to release new
music after spring.[112] Exo celebrated their 11th debut anniversary with a fan
meeting, titled "2023 Exo Fanmeeting 'Exo' Clock", at the KSPO Dome on
April 8–9, 2023.[113] On June 1, 2023, it was announced that Chen, Baekhyun,
and Xiumin were terminating their contracts with SM and filed a joint lawsuit
against SM in regards to transparency of earnings. [114] Despite this, SM
confirmed that the group would continue filming their comeback MV, while
also including Kai despite his military service. [115] In response to SM, it was
confirmed that Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin were exploring ways to continue
promoting as Exo members following the results of the lawsuit. [116] On June
19, SM Entertainment and Exo members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin jointly
announced that both parties had resolved the contract dispute, and the
members had decided to stay with the company. [117]
Exo's seventh studio album, Exist, was released on July 10, 2023.[118] Exist is
the group's first album to be promoted as a seven-member group, as
member Kai is currently undergoing mandatory military service, and member
Lay is promoting his solo activities in China. [119] D.O. departed SM
Entertainment following the expiration of his contract in November, though
he would still be continuing his activities with Exo. [120] He then signed with
Company Soosoo for his solo activities. [121][122] In January 2024, Baekhyun
announced to have started his own company, INB100, and recruited Xiumin
and Chen to join his label. SM announced later on that while Xiumin,
Baekhyun, and Chen are still contracted under the label for group activities,
they can proceed with solo activities under their new company. [123][124]
Members
On May 15, 2014, Kris Wu stopped promoting with Exo and its subunit, Exo-
M, as a result of the lawsuit he filed against SM Entertainment. [37] Luhan
followed on October 10, 2014.[39] Both members formally left the group on
July 21, 2016.[60] Tao went on an official hiatus during Exodus promotions due
to injury and filed a lawsuit against SM on August 15, 2015, formally leaving
Exo on March 15, 2018.[125][126] Following Tao's lawsuit, Exo promoted their
albums as a full group rather than in two sub-groups.
On June 13, 2017, SM Entertainment announced Lay would not be

participating in activities for the group's upcoming album due to conflicting
schedules with his solo activities.[127] Lay did not return to active participation
in Exo until 2021, although he did contribute vocals to the Chinese version of
their song "Tempo" in 2018.[128] On May 26, 2021, Lay was reported to be
returning to the group to take part in their special album, Don't Fight the
Feeling.[104] Lay participated in each of the songs on Don't Fight the
Feeling and was featured in the music video for the lead single of the same
name.
On May 7, 2019, Xiumin became the first member of the group to participate
in mandatory military service and was discharged on December 6, 2020.
[129]
On July 1, 2019, D.O. enlisted for his service, which he completed on
January 25, 2021.[130][131] Suho enlisted on May 14, 2020, and completed his
service on February 13, 2022,[132][133] followed by Chen, who enlisted on
October 26, 2020, and completed his service on April 25, 2022. [134]
[135]
Chanyeol enlisted on March 29, 2021,[136] and was discharged on
September 28, 2022.[137] Baekhyun enlisted on May 6, 2021,[138] and
completed his service on February 5, 2023.[139] Kai enlisted on May 11, 2023.
[140]
Sehun was the final member to enlist on December 21, 2023. [141]
Current (active) Current (inactive)
 Xiumin (시우민)  Kai (카이; inactive due to m
 Suho (수호)  Sehun (세훈; inactive due t
 Baekhyun (백현)  Lay (张艺兴; 레이; inactive due
 Chen (첸) Former
 Chanyeol (찬열)  Luhan (鹿晗; 루한)
 D.O. (디오)  Kris (吴亦凡; 크리스)
 Tao (黄子韬; 타오)
Timeline
Sub-units
Exo-CBX
Main article: Exo-CBX
In October 2016, SM Entertainment formed the group's first sub-unit, Exo-

CBX (also known as Chen-Baek-Xi), which is composed of three members:
Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin.[142] Exo-CBX has released one studio
album: Magic (2018)[143] and three extended plays: Hey Mama! (2016),
[144]
Girls (2017),[145] and Blooming Days (2018).[146]
Exo-SC
Main article: Exo-SC
In July 2019, SM Entertainment formed the group's second sub-unit, Exo-SC,

which is composed of members Sehun and Chanyeol. [147] Exo-SC has released
one studio album: 1 Billion Views (2020)[148] and one extended play: What a
Life (2019).[149]
Artistry
Musical style
Exo are considered by many to be a vocal powerhouse group in the K-pop

industry. In particular, the group's three main vocalists D.O., Chen, and
Baekhyun have received praise from industry figures and the media. [150][151]
[152][153]
The special winter-themed EPs that Exo have released nearly every
December since 2013 feature classic, emotional ballads that diverge from
the upbeat singles usually featured on the band's studio albums and better
showcase the members' vocal abilities.[154][155][156] Billboard applauded the
band's single "Universe" from the 2017 EP of the same name, stating, "With
soaring, emotive vocals courtesy of the Exo members, 'Universe' is a power
ballad that showcases the group's strengths." [157]
Most of Exo's songs blend pop, hip-hop, and R&B with electronic dance
music genres such as house and trap and are produced with onstage
performance in mind.[158][159] The group has frequently worked with veteran
Korean and international producers, including Kenzie, Dean, LDN Noise, The
Underdogs, and MARZ Music.[160][161] 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."[159]
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." [162][163] The group explored a
more "mature" and "dark" sound in 2016 with the release of their third studio
album, Ex'Act, which was marked by an increased use of synth-pop and
electronic dance music styles such as house. [164][165][166][167] Their fourth studio
album, The War, deepened the group's sonic experimentation, featuring
elements of trap music prominently for the first time. [159] With the album's
lead single "Ko Ko Bop", Exo received praise for unconventionally hybridizing
laid-back reggae sounds with heavy electronic breaks. [168]
Songwriting
The members of Exo faced criticism early in their careers because of their
lack of involvement in the writing and producing of their songs. [169] However,
in 2015, Exo released their 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. [170]
[171]
Since then, Exo have released multiple songs featuring lyrical
contributions from 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" among others from
their 2017 album The War.[172]
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.
[159]
Chen explained the process of writing their single "Ko Ko Bop": "[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."[159] Chen was also credited with writing the
Korean lyrics for the track "Lights Out" from Exo's fourth special winter
EP, Universe.[75] Member Lay is also a songwriter and producer, having
written and composed all tracks on his solo albums, as well for other artists.
[173][174]
Chanyeol participated in writing lyrics for "Gravity" and 'With You",
both on Exo's sixth studio album Don't Mess Up My Tempo.[175]
Stage
Exo have been praised 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.[176] More recently, Exo collaborated with
choreographer Kim Tae Woo.[177] Dazed admired the band's "seamless...knife-
point choreography", saying it has put them "at the forefront of pop
domination".[178] A recurring stage element on the group's world tours has
been the use of water in the form of rain and shallow pools. Cleo noted that
Exo's "winning formula" was the incorporation of water into their
choreography, describing the water "cascading from above during 'White
Noise' and 'Lightsaber'" that "saw some of the members getting
drenched."[179] 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." [180]
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". [181] 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."[182] 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."[183]
Impact
With the release of their debut studio album in 2013, Exo became the first
South Korean artist in 12 years to sell over one million copies of an album;
[25]
the previous artist to reach this milestone was g.o.d, in 2001.[184] Following
the release of their fifth 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.[89] In 2023, Exo became "septuple million
sellers", meaning the band has sold over one million copies apiece for seven
different albums.[185]
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] Exo generated the
highest revenue of all SM artists, at 31% of the total $188 million fourth
quarter revenue.[186]
Exo have been described by Dazed as "the biggest boy band in the world",
[178]
and have been referred to as the "Nation's Pick" by the Korea Tourism
Organization.[187][188] They have also been referred to as the "Kings of K-pop"
by international outlets Vogue, PageOne and South Korean outlets such
as OBS.[189] Exo have gained immense popularity in South Korea and were
named by Forbes on the Korea Power Celebrity 40 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.[190][191] They are considered a
prominent force in the Hallyu Wave, which refers to the rise and spread of
Korean pop culture around the world.[192][193][194] When discussing the
significance of Exo in a global context, Bustle described them as "the
ultimate K-pop sensation": "there's really nothing quite like
Exo."[192] Vulture described Exo as "leaders of a K-pop generation" when
describing the band's ability to consistently release music in the Korean and
Chinese markets while continuing to impress in the United States
with Billboard chartings and arena tours.[195] Similarly, Dazed considered
Exo's success to be that of "a continent-straddling pop juggernaut". [178] In
2016, AsiaOne said "Exo are turning into an omnipresent, unstoppable global
force," citing their worldwide popularity, critical acclaim, and large fandom
size.[196]
In April 2018, Forbes described Exo as one of the two artists worldwide
(alongside fellow K-pop band BTS) that dramatically over-perform on social
media,[197] even exceeding the reach of American artists such
as Beyonce, Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift.[197] Twitter statistics from Next Big
Sound showed that Exo recorded 14,000 times more mentions than
expected, with 24 million in total.[197] In addition, Exo ranked second on
the Billboard Social 50 Year-End Chart from 2018 through 2020.[198] Exo's
work has influenced numerous artists, including MVP,[199] Kim Dong-han,
[200]
NCT 127,[201] Wanna One,[202] Ong Seong-wu and Kang Daniel.[203]
Awards and achievements
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 both in South Korea and internationally. The
band earned their first-ever music show win in June 2013 for their single
"Wolf" on the South Korean music program Music Bank.[204] For four years,
Exo held the record for the most music show wins for a single song, with 18
for "Call Me Baby" (2015).[205] The band have won over 100 music program
awards cumulatively, becoming the second act to do so after their label-
mates Girls' Generation.[206][207] Exo have received 23 Daesang[a] awards from
various year-end award shows, including six from the Mnet Asian Music
Awards, a feat that was recorded in the 2018 Guinness World Records book.
[209]
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." [210]
Other ventures
Endorsements
EXO-M at Nature Republic's press conference
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.[211][212] Exo has endorsed Samsung's electronic products and served
as the company's brand ambassadors for the 2014 Summer Youth
Olympics in China.[213][214] In 2014, Exo collaborated with the South Korean
clothing brand Kolon Sport on a new pair of sneakers named Move-Xo after
the group.[215] Also in 2013, Exo began a two-year endorsement deal with
cosmetics brand Nature Republic, which was later extended and remained
active until 2020.[216][217] Their partnership grew in 2015 and 2016 to include
autograph events, which drew 30,000 and 50,000 fans, respectively. [218]
[219]
These events were followed by the Green Nature Exo Fan Festival in 2018
and 2019; both were concert-style events hosted by Nature Republic with
thousands of attendees.[220][221]
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.[222] In 2016, the group became ambassadors for
American footwear company Skechers, endorsing the D'Lites 2 Sweet
Monster Collection, which became known as the "Exo's sneakers". [223][224] 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.[225]
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.[226] In March 2018, Exo were announced to be
the new brand ambassadors for Major League Baseball (MLB) in Asia.
[227]
Following this announcement, Chanyeol, Kai, and Sehun attended the
grand opening of the MLB store in Times Square, Hong Kong, on March 23.
[228]
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".
[229]
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.[230]
Philanthropy
The members of Exo-K became goodwill ambassadors for South Korea's Red
Cross Youth in December 2012.[231] 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.[232] That same month, Samsung
announced Exo as its brand ambassadors for the 2014 Summer Youth
Olympics.[233] Since their 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.[234][235][236][237]
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. [238][239][240]
Discography
Main article: Exo discography
See also: List of songs recorded by Exo
Korean and Chinese albums Korean-exclusive albums Japanese a
 XOXO (2013)  Don't Mess Up My Tempo (2018)  Coun
 Exodus (2015)  Obsession (2019)
 Ex'Act (2016)  Exist (2023)
 The War (2017)
Tours
"Exo Planet" redirects here. Not to be confused with exoplanet.
Headlining Joint tours
 Exo from Exoplanet 1 – The Lost Planet (2014)  SM Town Live World Tour
 Exo Planet 2 – The Exo'luxion (2015–2016)  SM Town Live World Tour
 Exo Planet 3 – The Exo'rdium (2016–2017)  SM Town Live World Tour
 Exo Planet 4 – The Elyxion (2017–2018)  SM Town Live World Tour
 Exo Planet 5 – Exploration (2019) Supporting act
 Super Junior – Super Sho
Filmography
Main article: Exo videography
Selected filmography
 Exo's Showtime
 XOXO Exo
 Exo 90:2014
 Exo Next Door
Notes
1. ^ A daesang (Korean: 대상), which translates to "grand prize", is

the highest honor given out at South Korean music award
ceremonies in recognition of the artist(s) with the greatest
physical and digital achievements for the year. [208]
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External links
 Official website
 Exo former official website Archived July 31, 2017, at the Wayback
Machine (in Korean)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Exo (musical group).
songs
own
es Korea Power Celebrity
ds won by Exo
ority control databases

Categories:
 Exo
 2012 establishments in South Korea
 Avex Trax artists
 Chinese boy bands
 Chinese dance music groups
 Chinese electronic musicians
 Chinese synthpop groups
 Japanese-language singers of South Korea
 Korean Music Award winners
 K-pop music groups
 Mandarin-language singers of South Korea
 Mandopop musical groups
 Melon Music Award winners
 MAMA Award winners
 Musical groups established in 2012
 Musical groups from Seoul
 SM Entertainment artists
 SM Town
 South Korean boy bands
 South Korean electronic musicians
 South Korean synthpop groups
 South Korean hip hop groups
 Chinese hip hop groups
 South Korean musical nonets
 This page was last edited on 5 December 2024, at 14:57 (UTC).

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Years 2012–present

In 2011, SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man revealed plans to debut a

2006–2012: Formation and early years

Exo-K's eventual leader, Suho, was the first member to join SM

2013–2014: Domestic breakthrough

Exo with South Korean President Park Geun-hye in

Exo's third EP, Overdose, was released on May 7, 2014.[31] Originally

2015: Continued popularity and Japanese debut

From left to right: D.O, Lay, and Kai at the

In December 2015, South Korean entertainment industry leaders ranked Exo

2016–2017: Further success and initial solo activities

Exo at Ex'act release press conference in June

Exo-CBX at their debut showcase in Seoul on

On December 7, 2016, Exo released their second Japanese single, "Coming

Exo at the Golden Disk Awards in January 2017

Exo at the Dream Concert in June 2017

2018–2019: International recognition and first Japanese studio

Exo with the President of South Korea, Moon Jae-

Exo performed at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in

Exo's fifth studio album, Don't Mess Up My Tempo, was released on

2020–2021: Focus on solo activities and group's special album

In February 2020, SM Entertainment revealed that Exo would prioritize solo

Prior to the enlistments of Chanyeol and Baekhyun, the active members

2022–present: Debut anniversary

Exo celebrated their tenth anniversary on April 8, 2022, through the

On June 13, 2017, SM Entertainment announced Lay would not be

Current (active) Current (inactive)

 Xiumin (시우민)  Kai (카이; inactive due to m

 Suho (수호)  Sehun (세훈; inactive due t

 Baekhyun (백현)  Lay (张艺兴; 레이; inactive due

 Chen (첸) Former

 Chanyeol (찬열)  Luhan (鹿晗; 루한)

 D.O. (디오)  Kris (吴亦凡; 크리스)

 Tao (黄子韬; 타오)

Main article: Exo-CBX

In October 2016, SM Entertainment formed the group's first sub-unit, Exo-

Main article: Exo-SC

In July 2019, SM Entertainment formed the group's second sub-unit, Exo-SC,

Exo are considered by many to be a vocal powerhouse group in the K-pop

In a 2017 interview with Billboard, Chanyeol spoke about his contributions to

Exo have also contributed significantly to the financial success of their

Awards and achievements

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Exo

On November 3, 2017, Exo received a Prime Minister Commendation at

EXO-M at Nature Republic's press conference

Exo has maintained numerous endorsement deals throughout the group's

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

Main article: Exo discography

See also: List of songs recorded by Exo

Korean and Chinese albums Korean-exclusive albums Japanese a

 XOXO (2013)  Don't Mess Up My Tempo (2018)  Coun

 Exodus (2015)  Obsession (2019)

 Ex'Act (2016)  Exist (2023)

 The War (2017)

"Exo Planet" redirects here. Not to be confused with exoplanet.

Headlining Joint tours

 Exo Planet 2 – The Exo'luxion (2015–2016)  SM Town Live World Tour

 Exo Planet 3 – The Exo'rdium (2016–2017)  SM Town Live World Tour

 Exo Planet 4 – The Elyxion (2017–2018)  SM Town Live World Tour

 Exo Planet 5 – Exploration (2019) Supporting act

47. ^ 黃子韜父親要兒子與 SM 解約因身心俱受傷. Sina (in Simplified

65. ^ 一般社団法人日本レコード協会. www.riaj.or.jp (in