2014 in Review: Day 12 – Artist of the Year

[The 2014 in Review Series]

1. Introduction and Best Album Art
2. R&B and Soul
3. Rock and Alternative
4. Rap and Hip-hop
5. Dance and Electronic
6. Pop and Ballad
7. Folk and Country
8. Jazz and Blues
9. Crossover and Other
10. Best Collaborative Work
11. Rookie Artist of the Year
12. Artist of the Year
13. Song of the Year
14. Album of the Year
15. Staff Picks
16. Storylines and Other Recognition
17. Concluding Remarks

Artist of the Year 2014

IU

Notable activity: repackage album Modern Times – Epilogue, EP 꽃갈피 (A Flower Bookmark), featured performances for and with god, High4, Ulala Session (via Choi Gap-won), Seo Taiji, and Yoon Hyun-sang

HKP recognition: Best Collaborative Song 2014 and Song of the Year candidate for “너의 의미” (“Meaning Of You”); Pop and Ballad Next Ten Out for A Flower Bookmark, “봄 사랑 벚꽃 말고” (“Not Spring, Love or Cherry Blossoms”), and “언제쯤이면” (“When Would It Be”); Collaborative Work Next Ten Out for “소격동” (“Sogyeokdong”); Dance and Electronic Honorable Mention for “삐에로는 우릴 보고 웃지” (“The Pierrot Laughs At Us”) and  “Sogyeokdong”; Pop and Ballad Honorable Mention for “금요일에 만나요” (“Friday”), Collaborative Work Honorable Mention for “노래 불러줘요” (“Sing Me A Song”) and “Not Spring, Love or Cherry Blossoms”

Runner-up Artist of the Year 2014

Swings

Notable activity: third studio album Vintage Swings, EPs 감정기복 (Mood Swings) Part I: Major Depression and Part II: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, singles Fallin’, Pool Party, and 다녀올게 (I’ll Be Back), featured performances for and with Brand New Music, Giriboy, Chunjae Nochang, 40, Ailee, Yu Sung-eun, and others

HKP recognition: Rap and Hip-hop Next Ten Out for Major Depression; R&B and Soul Next Ten Out for “Black”, Rap and Hip-hop Honorable Mention for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, “Bulldozer”, “Camp”, “Rain Showers”, “Hongkiyoung #2”, “이겨낼거야 2” (“Victorious 2”), and “A Real Man”; Collaborative Work Honorable Mention for “Hongkiyoung #2” and “A Real Man”

The Next Ten Out/Honorable Mentions

The Barberettes

Notable activity: debut studio album 바버렛츠 소곡집 #1 (The Barberettes Album #1), OST work for Prime Minister and I, featured performance for Yang Hee-eun

HKP recognition: Runner-up Rookie Artist of the Year, Runner-up Crossover and Other Song 2014 for “가시내들” (“Little Gals”), Crossover and Other Next Ten Out for The Barberettes Album #1

B-Free

Notable activity: third studio album Korean Dream, singles “Get It”, “My Team”, and “I Wish”, featured performances for and with Smokie J, Double K, Chillin Monster, Evo, Jay Park, Jerry.K, and Kirin

HKP recognition: Best Rap and Hip-hop Album 2014 and Album of the Year candidate for Korean Dream, Rap and Hip-hop Next Ten Out for “Hot Summer” and “불타” (“On Fire”)

Danpyunsun and the Sailors

Notable activity: debut studio album 동물 (Animal)

HKP recognition: Rock and Alternative Honorable Mention for “순” (“Bud”); more forthcoming

Gonne Choi

Notable activity: first full-length studio album I Was, I Am, I Will

HKP recognition: Best Folk and Country Album 2014 and Album of the Year candidate for I Was, I Am, I Will, Runner-up Folk and Country Song for “Monster”

HA:TFELT

Notable activity: solo debut EP Me?, featured performances for Sunmi and Gaeko

HKP recognition: Runner-up Dance and Electronic Album for Me?, Dance and Electronic Next Ten Out for “Ain’t Nobody”, Dance and Electronic Honorable Mention for “Wherever Together”, Rap and Hip-hop Honorable Mention for “화장 지웠어” (“No Makeup”)

Junggigo

Notable activity: singles “썸” (“Some”), “너를 원해” (“Want U”), and “라틴썸머” (“Latin Summer”); soundtrack work for Hi! School-Love On

HKP recognition: Collaborative Work Next Ten Out for “Some”; more forthcoming

Lee Jung-ah

Notable activity: debut studio album Undertow, featured performances for Haze and Robbin

HKP recognition: Rookie Artist of the Year 2014, Best Pop and Ballad Album 2014 and Album of the Year candidate for Undertow, Pop and Ballad Next Ten Out for “가벼운 출발” (“Light Departure”), Pop and Ballad Honorable Mention for “I Want To See You”

Lee Sora

Notable activity: eighth studio album 8

HKP recognition: Runner-up Pop and Ballad Album for 8, Pop and Ballad Next Ten Out for “난 별” (“I’m A Star”), Pop and Ballad Honorable Mention for “운 듯” (“As If Wept”), Rock and Alternative Honorable Mention for “좀 멈춰라 사랑아” (“Would You Stop, Love”) and “나 Focus” (“I, Focus”)

Seo Taiji

Notable activity: ninth studio album Quiet Night

HKP recognition: Rock and Alternative Next Ten Out for Quiet Night, Rock and Alternative Honorable Mention for “Christmalo.win”, Dance and Electronic Honorable Mention for “Sogyeokdong”

Shin Hae-chul

Notable activity: EP Reboot Myself Part. 1

HKP recognition: Rock and Alternative Honorable Mention for “단 하나의 약속” (“Only Promise”)

Sources: Photos – Danpyunsun and the Sailors from Media Today, all others from Daum Music