World-renowned K-pop group BTS has been included in the list of “The Best Pop Artists of the 21st Century” by Billboardthe American magazine indicated in a statement on September 10.
Billboard highlighted the impressive ability of the South Korean band, who managed to reach the first place on the main singles and albums charts: “Hot 100” and “Billboard 200” on six different occasions. It also mentioned that, throughout their artistic journey, BTS has caused a global sensation similar to that of the Beatles.
The magazine noted that “no other K-pop group has achieved the accomplishments of BTS in the 21st century,” adding that they have managed to “form a global community, expanded the K-pop genre, and paved the way for all seven members to have successful solo careers.”
BTS’s relationship with ARMY: the key to their success and recognition
In response to these very positive comments, BTS stated that they attribute a very important part of their success to their special relationship with ARMY, their fan community, and to the group members’ ability to cover various musical genres.
Billboard noted that “BTS has created a community inspired by messages of positivity, love and connection” and highlighted that the fan group, called ARMY, is made up of people of all ages, ethnicities and religions from around the world. “These individuals have helped the group grow beyond what a typical fandom usually achieves,” it added.
The American magazine also stressed that “the seven members have undergone training that allows them to excel in all fields of performance. Both high-quality music videos and stage performances and choreographies, ranging from hip-hop to ballet, are key factors in their success.”
Since last month, Billboard has been revealing two artists from all of the chart-toppers on a weekly basis, in descending order starting at No. 25, which is Katy Perry’s top spot. Ed Sheeran is next at No. 24, Bad Bunny at No. 23, One Direction at No. 22, Lil Wayne at No. 21, and Bruno Mars at No. 20.
Billboard is one of the world’s leading music publishing and platform outlets. It is dedicated to classifying and analyzing the popularity of songs, albums and artists through various lists with specific selection criteria.
The most famous of these is the Billboard Hot 100. It ranks the most popular songs in the United States, taking into account sales, radio plays, and streaming data. In addition, the magazine also publishes charts covering specific genres and metrics related to album sales, tours, and other aspects of the music industry.
BTS: A global phenomenon that marked a before and after in music
South Korean group BTS has had an impressive journey since its debut, achieving unprecedented international fame that has marked a before and after in the music industry.
BTS debuted on June 13, 2013 with the single “No More Dream” from their album 2 Cool 4 Skool under Big Hit Entertainment (now HYBE Corporation). In their early work, the boys focused on themes related to the hardships and frustrations of youth. Their early style was influenced by underground rap and hip-hop, genres in which some of the members, such as RM, Suga, and J-Hope, had prior experience. It was during these early years that BTS began to build a loyal fan base, known as ARMY.
In 2015, BTS released the album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Part 1, which was a turning point in their career. The album addressed youth and uncertainty, and its single “I Need U” gained increasing popularity over time.
While the group began to attract the attention of an international audience with songs like The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Part 2 or “Blood, Sweat & Tears”, the year that marked their definitive success was 2017. With the release of the album Love Yourself: Her and the single “DNA”, BTS not only debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, but also became the first K-pop group to perform at the Billboard Music Awards.
Their next album, Love Yourself: Tear (2018), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making them the first South Korean group to achieve this milestone.
Breaking cultural barriers
As for their impact beyond the music industry, during this period, BTS broke numerous cultural and linguistic barriers and managed to introduce K-pop to the world in a significant way.
The group has managed to connect with a global audience thanks to their music, which covers themes of self-love, mental health, and overcoming challenges. Albums such as Love Yourself: Answer and Map of the Soul: Persona continued to consolidate their success.
The success of Dynamite, their first single entirely in English, catapulted them to levels of popularity never before seen. The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, leading BTS to become the first South Korean group to achieve this recognition.
In 2021, the successful K-pop group continued their hot streak with hits like Butter and Permission to Dance, both of which reached number one on the Hot 100. BTS was also nominated multiple times for Grammy Awards, marking an important milestone for K-pop in the American music industry.
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