Lorelle Mauricio
Music has changed drastically over the years, along with the people in the industry. New faces are not something irregular, but it is when the stars are from overseas. BTS, a South-Korean boy band, has been taking over the North American charts and records.
In 2020, the boy band was dubbed “Entertainer of the Year” by TIME magazine after releasing their album “BE.”
BTS was even nominated for and performed at the Grammys in 2020 and 2021. The singers performed their record-breaking song “Dynamite” in 2021, and their Billboard-ranking song “Butter” in 2022.
The group has also broken many records, such as 13 Guinness World Records just in the time of 2021 alone, giving them a place in the Guinness World Records Hall of Fame 2022.
BTS’s first all-English single, “Dynamite,” allowed the group to obtain the record for the biggest music video premiere on Youtube in 2021. Then, in 2022, the group’s second song “Butter,” surpassed that same record set by “Dynamite.” The group has won many awards in the United States, such as the Favorite Duo/Group Pop/Rock award at the American Music Awards (AMAs), and the Top Selling Song award from the Billboard Music Awards in 2021, and even a Grammy nomination two years in a row.
In 2021 and 2022, BTS performed their popular all-English songs at the Grammys. The boys were also nominated for best pop duo/group performance, making them the first-ever Korean Pop act to be nominated for a Grammy.
Not only has BTS won many awards and broken several records, they have also changed the Western music industry.
With catchy melodies and appealing visuals, Korean Pop, or K-Pop, is one of the most popular, if not the most popular, foreign genres of music in the United States.
During K-Pop performances, the group would have choreography and different eye-catching concepts and outfits, all while singing their songs; similar to how 90’s American boy bands would dance during their performances.
Aside from music, BTS has impacted the youth of today’s society as well.
In 2021, the boys spoke at the United Nations in order to announce the launching of their “Love Yourself” campaign, a collaboration with UNICEF and BTS, in order to send a strong and powerful anti-bullying message while also promoting self-love among today’s youth.
In order to enforce this campaign, BTS pledged over $1 million USD to UNICEF, along with a portion of the group’s sales from their album “LOVE YOURSELF” and proceeds of the merchandise from the “LOVE YOURSELF” campaign.
BTS has been influential in more ways than one. From giving hope to international acts and representing minorities in a well-dominated industry to speaking out and being role models for people, BTS is much more than a Korean music group; they are icons for people around the world. The group will be performing in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 9, 10, 15, and 16 for their concert, “Permission To Dance on Stage: Las Vegas.”
