BTS

BTS also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a South Korean boy band formed in 2010. The group consists of Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, who co-write and co-produce much of their own material. Initially a hip hop group, BTS later diversified their musical style to include a wide range of genres. Their lyrics often address themes such as mental health, the challenges of school-age youth, coming of age, self-love, individuality, and the impact of fame. The group’s body of work frequently incorporates literary, philosophical, and psychological references, and includes a fictional narrative known as the BTS Universe.

BTS debuted under Big Hit Entertainment in 2013 with the single album 2 Cool 4 Skool. Their first Korean and Japanese studio albums, Dark & Wild and Wake Up, were released in 2014. The group’s second Korean studio album, Wings (2016), became their first release to sell more than one million copies in South Korea. By 2017, BTS had achieved significant international recognition, leading the Korean Wave (Hallyu) into the United States. They became the first Korean act to receive a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the single “Mic Drop,” and the first South Korean group to top the Billboard 200 chart with their studio album Love Yourself: Tear (2018).

In 2020, BTS became the fastest group since the Beatles to achieve four number-one albums in the United States within a two-year period. Their compilation album Love Yourself: Answer (2018) became the first Korean album to be certified Platinum by the RIAA. In the same year, their Grammy-nominated single “Dynamite” made them the first all-South Korean act to reach number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Global 200 charts. Subsequent releases, including “Savage Love,” “Life Goes On,” “Butter,” “Permission to Dance,” and “My Universe,” further extended their chart success, making BTS the fastest act to earn six US number-one singles since the Beatles in 1966.

As of 2023, BTS is the best-selling musical act in South Korean history, with over 40 million albums sold according to the Circle Chart. Their studio album Map of the Soul: 7 (2020) ranks among the best-selling albums in South Korea, becoming the first to surpass both four and five million registered sales. The group is also the first non-English-speaking and Asian act to sell out Wembley Stadium in London and the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles during their Love Yourself World Tour (2019).

BTS was named the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)’s Global Recording Artist of the Year in both 2020 and 2021. Their achievements include multiple American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, Golden Disc Awards, and five Grammy Award nominations. Beyond their musical activities, the group has delivered speeches at three sessions of the United Nations General Assembly and partnered with UNICEF in 2017 to launch the Love Myself anti-violence campaign.

BTS has been featured on Time magazine’s international cover as “Next Generation Leaders” and were described as the “Princes of Pop.” They appeared on Time’s lists of the 25 Most Influential People on the Internet (2017–2019) and the 100 Most Influential People in the World (2019). In 2018, they became the youngest recipients of South Korea’s Order of Cultural Merit in recognition of their contributions to the global promotion of Korean culture and language. On June 14, 2022, BTS announced a hiatus from group activities to allow members to fulfill their mandatory military service obligations. Jin, the eldest member, enlisted on December 13, 2022, followed by the remaining members throughout 2023. All members completed their service by June 2025, after which the group announced plans to release new music in spring 2026.

History

Formation and Early Years (2010–2013)

BTS was formed in 2010 after Bang Si-hyuk, CEO of Big Hit Entertainment, sought to create a hip hop group centered around RM (Kim Nam-joon), an underground rapper active in Seoul’s music scene. As physical album sales declined and digital revenues remained low, Bang shifted focus toward forming an idol group with stronger potential for live performances and fan engagement. Many early trainees left, but RM, Suga, and J-Hope remained. Unlike typical idol groups, Bang envisioned BTS as artists with individuality and creative freedom.

Auditions were held in 2010, and the members began living and training together, practicing up to 15 hours a day. They made their first industry performance in 2013. According to Suga, the group aimed to tell “stories that people wanted to hear—about pain, anxiety, and worries—to create empathy that people could relate to.” Being under Big Hit, rather than one of the dominant K-pop agencies, gave BTS greater autonomy in their music and image. On June 12, 2013, they released their debut single album 2 Cool 4 Skool and lead single “No More Dream.” The single, noted for addressing youth pressure and societal expectations, reached the top five on South Korea’s Gaon Music Chart and introduced BTS’s old-school hip hop style. The group debuted live the next day on M Countdown.

In September 2013, BTS released their second “school trilogy” installment, the EP O!RUL8,2?, led by the single “N.O.” The album continued themes of academic pressure and loss of personal dreams, resonating with young audiences in South Korea and abroad. That same year, BTS starred in their variety show Rookie King: Channel Bangtan and received multiple New Artist of the Year awards in South Korea.

2014–2017: Expansion, Breakthrough, and Global Recognition

In February 2014, BTS released Skool Luv Affair, the final entry in their “school trilogy.” The EP topped the Gaon Album Chart and reached number three on Billboard’s World Albums Chart, supported by the singles “Boy in Luv” and “Just One Day.” Following its success, BTS held their first fan meeting in Seoul, where they officially named their fandom A.R.M.Y. In July, they performed their first U.S. concert in West Hollywood and appeared at KCON Los Angeles the following month.

Their first full-length Korean album, Dark & Wild, was released in August 2014, peaking at number two in South Korea and featuring the singles “Danger” and “War of Hormone.” BTS then embarked on their first concert tour, The Red Bullet Tour, performing across Asia, North America, and Latin America to more than 80,000 fans. They also released their first Japanese studio album, Wake Up, which reached number three on the Oricon Albums Chart.

In 2015, BTS began exploring broader musical styles with The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 1, the first in their “youth trilogy.” The album, themed around the beauty and struggles of youth, produced the hit singles “I Need U” and “Dope,” both of which charted internationally and expanded their global fan base. They followed with The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 2 in November 2015, which topped both the Gaon and Billboard World Albums charts and marked their first entry on the Billboard 200.

The trilogy concluded with the compilation The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever (2016), featuring the singles “Fire,” “Save Me,” and “Young Forever.” The album topped the Gaon Chart for two consecutive weeks and won Album of the Year at the 2016 Melon Music Awards. BTS’s accompanying tour, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life On Stage: Epilogue, sold out within minutes across Asia.

In October 2016, BTS released their second studio album, Wings, which combined themes of youth and temptation. The album and its lead single “Blood Sweat & Tears” topped multiple charts, including the Gaon Music Chart, and reached number 26 on the Billboard 200, setting a new record for K-pop albums. Wings became the best-selling album in South Korea that year.

The group reissued Wings in February 2017 as You Never Walk Alone, featuring the single “Spring Day,” which won Song of the Year at the 2017 Melon Music Awards. BTS’s Wings Tour sold out arenas worldwide, including venues in the United States. In May 2017, BTS won Top Social Artist at the Billboard Music Awards, becoming the first K-pop act to win a Billboard award.

In September 2017, BTS launched their Love Yourself series with the EP Love Yourself: Her. Its lead single, “DNA,” marked their first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, later peaking at number 67—the highest for a K-pop group at the time. A remix of “Mic Drop,” featuring Desiigner, peaked at number 28 and became the first K-pop song to achieve RIAA Platinum certification.

That year, BTS became the first K-pop group to perform at the American Music Awards and won Artist of the Year at the Mnet Asian Music Awards. Their Japanese single album “DNA / Mic Drop / Crystal Snow” topped the Oricon Chart and became the only foreign release certified Double Platinum in Japan in 2017.

In November 2017, BTS partnered with UNICEF for the Love Myself campaign to promote youth well-being and end violence. The initiative, later renewed in 2021, was recognized internationally as a successful example of artist-led social advocacy.

2021–Present: Butter, Permission to Dance, and Proof Era

In March 2021, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) named BTS the Global Recording Artist of the Year for 2020, making them the first Asian and first non–English-language act to top the ranking. Their albums Map of the Soul: 7, Be, and Map of the Soul: 7 – The Journey ranked among the world’s top sellers that year. BTS performed “Dynamite” at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, becoming the first Korean nominees to perform at the ceremony. On April 1, 2021, they released the Japanese single “Film Out” from their compilation album BTS, The Best, followed by the virtual event Bang Bang Con 21 in April. Their second English-language single, “Butter”, was released on May 21, debuting atop the Billboard Hot 100 and maintaining the position for ten non-consecutive weeks. The single earned BTS their second Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Their follow-up single, “Permission to Dance”, was released on July 9, 2021, and also debuted at number one on the Billboard chart. In September, BTS collaborated with Coldplay on “My Universe,” which debuted atop the Hot 100, marking the first collaboration between two groups to debut at number one. The band returned to live audiences with the Permission to Dance on Stage concerts, beginning with an online performance in October 2021 and four sold-out shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles later that year — their first in-person concerts since 2019.

In 2022, BTS released the webtoon 7Fates: Chakho, which broke viewership records on Webtoon, and held three large-scale concerts at Seoul Olympic Stadium in March. The group performed “Butter” at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards and received seven nominations at the Billboard Music Awards, winning three, including Top Duo/Group. On June 10, 2022, BTS released their anthology album Proof, a three-disc compilation featuring career highlights and new tracks such as “Yet to Come.” Shortly after, the group announced a temporary focus on solo projects while continuing select group activities. Despite media speculation, Hybe Corporation clarified that BTS was not disbanding but restructuring activities to allow for both individual and collective work.

Military Service and Renewed Contract

In October 2022, Big Hit Music confirmed that Jin, the group’s eldest member, would begin his mandatory military service, with other members to follow sequentially. BTS continued to receive international recognition, including Grammy nominations for “Yet to Come” and “My Universe,” making them the only act nominated three consecutive years for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Jin enlisted in December 2022, followed by J-Hope in April 2023. The concert film BTS: Yet to Come in Busan was released in early 2023, and the group contributed the song “The Planet” to the animated series Bastions. To mark their tenth anniversary, BTS released the commemorative single “Take Two” in June 2023. On September 20, 2023, Hybe announced that BTS had renewed their exclusive contracts, with new terms taking effect following each member’s service completion. Suga enlisted as a public service worker in September 2023, followed by RM and V on December 11, and Jimin and Jung Kook on December 12.

By June 2025, all seven members had completed military service — Jin (June 2024), J-Hope (October 2024), RM and V (June 10, 2025), Jimin and Jung Kook (June 11), and Suga (June 18).

On July 1, 2025, BTS reunited publicly for the first time since their enlistments during a live broadcast on Weverse, confirming that they were preparing a new studio album and a world tour scheduled for early 2026, marking their first full-group project since Proof (2022).

Artistry

Influences

BTS have cited a wide range of musical influences, including Seo Taiji and Boys, Nas, Eminem, Kanye West, Drake, Post Malone, Charlie Puth, and Danger. They have also acknowledged Queen as an influence, with Jin leading the crowd in Freddie Mercury's "ay-oh" chant during BTS’s 2019 Wembley Stadium concert. BTS’s early hip hop work pays homage to artists such as Epik High, Jay-Z, Biggie, and CL Smooth. Literary and philosophical works have also shaped their music, including Hermann Hesse’s Demian, Friedrich Nietzsche, Haruki Murakami, Ursula K. Le Guin, Carl Jung, George Orwell, and Erich Fromm. The song "Magic Shop" (2018) was inspired by James R. Doty’s memoir Into the Magic Shop.

Musical Style

BTS began with a strong hip hop foundation, influenced by RM and Suga's backgrounds as underground rappers and mentorship from American artists. Their music draws on a global R&B and pop tradition while incorporating Korean elements such as Pansori and janggu drums. Over time, their style has diversified, experimenting with:

R&B, rock, jazz hip hop (Dark & Wild, 2014)
EDM (The Most Beautiful Moment in Life series, 2015–2016)
Moombahton, tropical house (Wings, You Never Walk Alone, 2016–2017)
Future bass, Latin pop (Love Yourself series, 2017–2018)
Emo rap, Afro pop, funk, trap, pop rock, disco (Map of the Soul series, 2019–2020; Dynamite, 2020)

Solo projects have further explored genres, including neo-soul on V’s Stigma and R&B on Jimin’s Lie. BTS is also known for EDM-infused hip hop remixes, as seen in Mic Drop (Steve Aoki remix, 2017), and upbeat electro-pop, exemplified by Boy With Luv (2019).

Lyrical Themes

BTS emphasize writing their own lyrics to connect with listeners, addressing universal experiences such as sadness, loneliness, mental health, love, friendship, loss, and self-acceptance. Early work, including the school trilogy (No More Dream, N.O), critiqued South Korea's rigid educational system and societal expectations. The youth trilogy (The Most Beautiful Moment in Life) explored generational disparity, economic pressures, and personal struggles, culminating in Young Forever.

Later works, including Wings and the Love Yourself series, addressed mental health, societal pressures, female empowerment, self-love, and the emotional highs and lows of youth. Songs such as Am I Wrong and Not Today feature social and political commentary, while Spring Day honors national tragedies, such as the Sewol Ferry disaster. BTS members’ personal experiences with mental health inform much of their music, giving their lyrics authenticity and global resonance. Their thematic approach has been praised for honesty and relatability, even within a conservative cultural context, with former South Korean president Moon Jae-in noting that their lyrics and performances transcend cultural and linguistic barriers.

Impact

Cultural Impact

BTS has had a significant impact on global popular culture. In 2019, Time named them among the 100 most influential people, calling them the “Princes of Pop,” and Billboard compared their influence to that of the Beatles. They were the first non-English-speaking artists to appear on the Global Artist Chart in 2018 and the second best-selling artists worldwide that year, behind Drake. In 2020, BTS became the first non-Western act to be named IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year. In South Korea, they accounted for 41.9% of album sales in the first half of 2019.

BTS has been credited with advancing the Korean Wave (Hallyu), with a global cultural impact comparable to Psy’s success and the international influence of Parasite. The Bank of Korea estimated that BTS contributed approximately US$5 billion annually to the South Korean economy through increased tourism, cultural interest, and media consumption. Their success has highlighted the role of active fan engagement and social media in the modern music industry, and their pursuit of creative freedom has influenced career management in K-pop.

Diplomacy

BTS has been recognized for their role in soft power and entertainment diplomacy. They addressed the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 and have participated in international events promoting cultural exchange and social awareness. They received the Order of Cultural Merit in South Korea—the youngest recipients ever—for their contributions to spreading Korean culture globally. In 2020, they received the James A. Van Fleet Award for promoting US-Korea relations and were appointed Special Presidential Envoys for Future Generations and Culture in 2021. In this role, they advocate on global agendas such as sustainable development and have met with leaders, including US President Joe Biden, to discuss issues such as anti-Asian hate crimes.

Fandom

BTS’s fandom, known as ARMY (Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth), is a global, highly organized online community. ARMY contributes to BTS’s commercial success by coordinating streaming campaigns, promoting their music, and engaging in charitable and social activism. Fans interact with the group via social media, alternate storylines like BTS Universe, mobile games, and other media, fostering a sense of mutual influence and collaboration. The relationship between BTS and ARMY is described as a mutual exchange, where fans are inspired by the group’s messages of positivity, social engagement, and global awareness, and the group, in turn, incorporates fan feedback into their music and actions.

Other Ventures

Endorsements

BTS has partnered with numerous global brands. They became Puma ambassadors in 2015, first in Korea and then globally in 2018, promoting the "Turin" remix and "Sportstyle" lines. In 2019, they endorsed Fila sportswear and served as global brand ambassadors for LG Electronics smartphones and Hyundai Motors, promoting vehicles including the Palisade SUV and the hydrogen fuel cell SUV Nexo. BTS also became ambassadors for Formula E, advocating electric vehicles and sustainability. In 2020, they collaborated with Samsung Electronics on a BTS-themed Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy Buds+. They were the first male pop group to collaborate with Dior and became global ambassadors for Louis Vuitton in 2021.

Philanthropy

BTS are recognized for their charitable work. Members have been inducted into donation clubs such as UNICEF Honors Club and the Green Noble Club. The band has received awards for philanthropy, including a Patron of the Arts Award and a UNICEF Inspire Award for their Love Myself campaign. Their donations often inspire fans to engage in charitable activities, sometimes matching the band’s contributions.

Accolades

BTS has received numerous awards globally. They have won the Billboard Music Award for Top Social Artist consecutively since 2017 and were the only K-pop group to win Top Duo/Group at the 2019 BBMAs. As of 2022, they are the most-awarded group in BBMA history with 12 wins. They are the only K-pop group to win Favorite Duo or Group – Pop/Rock and Favorite Social Artist at the American Music Awards, and the first Asian act to win Artist of the Year in 2021. BTS were the first Korean pop act nominated for a Grammy Award and the first Korean artist nominated for a Brit Award. They hold records in Japan, including 30 awards at the Japan Gold Disc Awards, and have received 50 trophies at the MAMA Awards.

Members

Jin (진) – vocalist
Suga (슈가) – rapper
J-Hope (제이홉) – rapper
RM (알앰) – leader, rapper
Jimin (지민) – vocalist
V (뷔) – vocalist
Jung Kook (정국) – vocalist

Filmography

Films

Burn the Stage: The Movie (2018)
Love Yourself in Seoul (2019)
Bring the Soul: The Movie (2019)
Break the Silence: The Movie (2020)
BTS: Permission to Dance on Stage – LA (2022)
BTS: Yet to Come in Cinemas (2023)

Online shows

Run BTS (2015–present)
BTS In the Soop (2020–2021)
BTS: Bon Voyage (2016–present)

Bibliography

Beyond the Story (2023)

Concert tours

The Red Bullet Tour (2014–2015)
Wake Up: Open Your Eyes Japan Tour (2015)
The Most Beautiful Moment in Life On Stage Tour (2015–2016)
The Wings Tour (2017)
Love Yourself World Tour (2018–2019)
Map of the Soul Tour (2020; cancelled)
Permission to Dance on Stage (2021–2022)