AB6IX (에이비식스) debuted in May 2019 under Brand New Music as a five-member group formed largely from former Wanna One members. Four of the five had been in Wanna One, giving the group an unusual debut context: they launched with an established fanbase already familiar with their profiles, but under the commercial pressure of being measured against a predecessor with one of the highest debut sales figures in 4th generation K-pop.
Their sound developed a reputation for quality across their career: albums like B:COMPLETE, SALUTE, and COMPLETE WITH YOU demonstrated songwriting and production values that rewarded attentive listening. Member Woojin's departure in late 2019 complicated their early trajectory, but the group consolidated around a four-member lineup and continued releasing consistently strong material.
AB6IX remain active under IST Entertainment. In the K-Pop Atlas graph, their connection through IST links them to Apink, and their Wanna One alumni status creates a narrative thread back to the Produce franchise's output—a recurring structural feature of 4th generation K-pop where project group members regrouped in permanent acts.