Most frequent collaboratorAdrian McKinnon · 12 tracks
GenresK-popR&BHip HopDance-Pop
Singer / Performer
8%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 6 of 75 tracks
Do the members of EXO write their own songs?
Only partly. EXO's music is mostly created by veteran Korean and international songwriters and producers such as Kenzie and Dean, which is standard for SM Entertainment idol groups. Members faced early criticism for a lack of writing involvement, but since around 2015 several of them have contributed lyrics to selected tracks, so their authorship is real but limited compared to the production team's.
By the Numbers
8
Studio Albums
75
Tracks Credited
8%
Self-Written
15
Years Active
293
Collaborators
Authorship Breakdown 6 / 75 self-written
Who wrote the songs?
Across all 75 tracks: how many EXO wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.
EXO has a writing credit8%
8%
92%
Sole author0tracks0%
Co-written6tracks8%
Outside writers69tracks92%
Role Fingerprint how they contribute
EXO's roles across the catalogue
Share of all 75 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.
Lyricist (words)8%
Composer (music)1%
Producer0%
Performer100%
Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on
Percentage of all 75 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.
Member
Period
Lyrics
Music
Production
Performance
Suho
2011-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Xiumin
2011-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Lay
2011-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Baekhyun
2011-present
1%
0%
0%
0%
Chen
2011-present
3%
0%
0%
0%
Chanyeol
2011-present
7%
1%
0%
0%
D.O.
2011-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Kai
2011-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Sehun
2011-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Kris Former
2011-2016
0%
0%
0%
0%
Luhan Former
2011-2016
0%
0%
0%
0%
Tao Former
2011-2018
0%
0%
0%
0%
Authorship Over Time writing credit per album
EXO's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.
avg 8%
0%
0%
11%
33%
20%
0%
0%
0%
2013XOXO
2015Exodus
2016Ex'Act
2017The War
2018Don't Mess Up My Tempo
2019Obsession
2023Exist
2026Reverxe
Early · 3% written
Mid · 18% written
Late · 0% written
Authorship by Decade track-weighted
11%
2010s
XOXO, Exodus +4 more
0%
2020s
Exist, Reverxe
Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author
Where EXO sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.
EXO
Other artists on the site
Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.
Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 292. AM Adrian McKinnon · JY Jo Yoon-kyung · M MZMC · J JQ · K Kenzie · LN LDN Noise
The Authorship Story
Data Insight
EXO are a textbook K-pop authorship case: the members are performers first, singing and rapping songs supplied by SM Entertainment's writing pool and outside professionals like Kenzie, Jo Yoon-kyung, Dem Jointz and LDN Noise. Member writing credits do appear, almost always lyrics rather than music, and almost always from Chanyeol, Chen or Baekhyun on tracks like 'Ko Ko Bop,' 'Heaven' and 'Gravity.' Across the catalog those credits remain a small share, so the composer and lyricist columns are dominated by career songwriters while the idols hold the performer role.
Quick Facts
LabelSM Entertainment group that debuted in 2012
Original sizeDebuted with twelve members split into subgroups Exo-K and Exo-M
Record breakerXOXO was the first Korean album to sell over a million copies in 12 years
Consistent sellersExist (2023) sold over 2 million copies in South Korea
DeparturesKris, Luhan, and Tao left amid lawsuits against SM in 2014-2015
Studio albumsEight, from XOXO (2013) to Reverxe (2026)
Creative Fingerprint
An idol group built by producers: EXO's music comes mainly from veteran Korean and international writers like Kenzie, with members contributing lyrics on selected tracks from 2015 onward.
The Story
EXO are a South Korean-Chinese boy band formed by SM Entertainment in 2011 and debuted in 2012, one of the most successful acts in K-pop history. The group began with twelve members split into the Korean-promoting EXO-K and the Mandarin-promoting EXO-M, before the departures of Kris, Luhan and Tao left the nine-member lineup of Xiumin, Suho, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai and Sehun. Their sound spans dance-pop, R&B, hip-hop and EDM, and their albums are built on SM Entertainment's songwriting system, in which the members perform songs written and composed by in-house and outside professionals. A handful of members, especially Chanyeol, Chen and Baekhyun, have co-written lyrics on later releases, but member authorship stays a minority of the catalog. Known for record-breaking sales and a string of million-selling albums, EXO helped define the second generation of globally popular K-pop.
Awards & Recognition
XOXO was the first South Korean album in 12 years to sell over one million copies
Multiple Golden Disc and Mnet Asian Music Awards
Called the 'Kings of K-pop' by Vogue and other outlets
Frequently Asked Questions EXO
Do the members of EXO write their own songs?
Only partly. EXO's music is mostly created by veteran Korean and international songwriters and producers such as Kenzie and Dean, which is standard for SM Entertainment idol groups. Members faced early criticism for a lack of writing involvement, but since around 2015 several of them have contributed lyrics to selected tracks, so their authorship is real but limited compared to the production team's.
Who are the members of EXO?
EXO debuted in 2012 with twelve members: Suho, Xiumin, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun, plus Kris, Luhan, and Tao. The group was originally split into two subunits, Exo-K performing in Korean and Exo-M in Mandarin.
Why did Kris, Luhan, and Tao leave EXO?
Kris, Luhan, and Tao each left the group individually between 2014 and 2015 after filing lawsuits against SM Entertainment over their contracts. Their departures reduced EXO to a nine-member lineup.
What is EXO's best-selling album?
Their 2013 debut XOXO was a landmark, becoming the first Korean album in 12 years to sell over a million copies, while their 2023 album Exist sold over two million in South Korea. Both reflect EXO's status as one of K-pop's top-selling acts.
Who wrote 'Growl'?
'Growl,' the 2013 hit added to the repackaged XOXO, was written and produced by a professional team for SM Entertainment rather than by the members. It became one of the songs that defined EXO's early success.
How many albums has EXO released?
EXO have released eight studio albums, from XOXO (2013) through Reverxe (2026), along with numerous EPs and repackages. Their catalog includes Exodus, Ex'Act, The War, and Don't Mess Up My Tempo.
Why is EXO called the Kings of K-pop?
EXO earned the title 'Kings of K-pop' from outlets including Vogue for their record-breaking album sales, cultural influence, and dominance of the genre in the 2010s. They repeatedly ranked among the most influential celebrities on Forbes Korea's Power Celebrity list.
Who wrote 'Tempo'?
'Tempo,' the lead single from 2018's Don't Mess Up My Tempo, was written and produced by an outside team for SM Entertainment. It was praised for its complex a cappella breakdown and became one of EXO's signature performances.
EXO