bts love yourself tour attendance

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BTS Love Yourself World Tour Is Set To Be The Most Attended Korean Tour Ever

BTS’s  “Love Yourself” world tour was already set to finalise at 1.1 million total attendees which is incredibly impressive.

However, with the addition of the “Speak Yourself” dates this will bolster the attendance numbers of the Love Yourself world tour overall. If we look at the capacities of the new dates:

Rose Bowl Stadium: 90,000 Soldier Field: 60,000 Metlife Stadium: 82,000 Allianz Parque: 55,000 Wembley: 90,000 Stade De France: 80,000 Yanmar Stadium: 47,000 x2 Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa: 50,800 x2

This is a total of  652,000  extra attendees which will bring the total for the tour up to at least  1.7 million.  That is a staggering number of attendees and it is set to break the record for the most attended Korean tour.

The current record holders are  BIGBANG for their “MADE” tour in 2015/16. That tour reached 1.5 million total attendees across 55+ shows. It is quite a hard record to break but BTS look set to do so as long as all goes well.

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At Metlife Stadium, BTS End U.S. Love Yourself: Speak Yourself Stadium Tour on Their Own Terms

BTS' final "Love Yourself: Speak Yourself" show in the U.S. was held Sunday at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey, and throughout the night, the group relayed why exactly they've come out on top of the…

By Tamar Herman

Tamar Herman

It was only a few months ago that BTS made history as the first-ever South Korean musical act to hold a concert at a Stateside stadium. When they brought their Love Yourself tour in October to New York’s Citi Field, it was an awe-inspiring experience that was a testament to the septet’s popularity. But when they returned to the New York metropolitan area again this weekend to perform at New Jersey’s Metlife Stadium on Saturday and Sunday nights with the final U.S. shows of their encore Love Yourself: Speak Yourself stadium concert series , the three-time Billboard 200 chart-toppers upped the ante as they elevated the performances already featured in the former tour run and introduced several new, impactful songs into their set list as they reveled in the day and what it stood for.

On Sunday night, fans couldn’t have asked for better weather for the final act of the group’s latest U.S. concert run. With hardly a cloud in sight, around 55,000 fans of BTS, collectively known as ARMY, descended on the East Rutherford, New Jersey, football stadium for the second day in a row, coming from far and wide across the country and beyond, the majority of whom were armed with their ARMY bomb lightsticks. Throughout the three-hour concert, attendees sang and danced along to the music of BTS as they actively participated in the concert experience, with their waving lightsticks — synchronized via bluetooth — facilitating an interactive light show that partnered with the graphics appearing on screens behind the seven members of BTS, emphasizing the relationship between the band and their dedicated ARMY throughout the dynamic concert. Though rain would start pouring shortly after the concert ended just before 10:30 p.m., the good weather held up throughout the entire show, giving the group the opportunity to showcase a wide array of performances.

After a lead-in of some of BTS’ more recent music videos playing on giant screens as the audience sang along, fanchants and all, the pulsating first notes of “ Dionysus ” roared through Metlife. One of the four songs incorporated from their newest album Map of the Soul: Persona into the Love Yourself set list — they’d also perform “ Boy with Luv ,” “ Make It Right ,” and “ Mikrokosmos ” — the riotous intro track welcomed the audience to the concert, inviting the crowd to get drunk on the artistry of BTS as the seven men in white suits performed the tune inspired by the ancient Greek god of wine while bolstered onstage by inflatable silver jaguars, classical columns and dozens of dancers.

“Dionysus” set the tone for much of the night: Whereas Love Yourself ’s set list spanned BTS’ career, incorporating older singles with the titular album series ’ songs, Speak Yourself was a celebration of the act’s rise to the top of the music world, with a special emphasis on their empowering messaging and each song showcasing the septet’s talent as singers and performers able to captivate the attention of millions of fans from around the world. Fittingly, the second song the group performed was the boisterous “Not Today,” which began with the anthemic declaration by RM: “All the underdogs in the world/ A day may come when we lose/ But it is not today/ Today we fight!” Next, the seven members took a few moments to greet the audience before launching into “Outro: Wings,” a track symbolic of the bond between ARMY and the group. “ARMY, you are our wings,” Jin sweetly expressed before RM asked if ARMY wanted to fly with the act, which then led into the uproarious rendition of the song full of harmonized ad-libs as that album series ’ circular logos appeared onstage behind them.

BTS' Historic Citi Field Show Brings Positivity, Promise to Return

After the opening trio of songs, the first solo of the night, J-Hope’s upbeat “Trivia: Just Dance,” arrived after one of several short video clips, known as VCRs in the world of K-pop, interspersed to split up the night’s set list. The first of seven solo songs performed by each member, the performances of BTS’ individual sets were upgraded versions from the prior variant of the Love Yourself tour, with the most notable visual effects appearing during Jungkook’s “Euphoria” and Jimin’s “Serendipity” performances. The former took to the sky, soaring high above the stadium, singing his uplifting song while harnessed onto a zipline, while the latter spent part of his set in a snowglobe-like bubble, which he later “popped” as the emotive tune progressed and he stepped out of it to offer up a sensual dance performance backed by dancers. Overall, the solo stages showcased each member’s individual performance style, like Suga dancing languidly along a track while he expressively vacillated about love in “Trivia: Seesaw” and V relaying his duality as a performer when mirrored reflections of himself appeared during “Singularity,” while RM’s wordplay-focused “Trivia: Love” and Jin’s soulful “Epiphany” rounded out the solo stages.

BTS' 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself' Pop-Up Store Serves Group's Message & Merch to Fans in Cities…

Interspersed with the solo songs and the unit-oriented renditions of “The Truth Untold” by the vocalists — Jimin, Jin, Jungkook and V, who endearingly sang along to the other’s verses without holding his mic to his mouth — and “Outro: Tear” from the rappers — J-Hope, Suga and RM — BTS performed several songs as a group, and a major highlight of the night came about halfway through thanks to an uproarious five-song segment that ran through some of their biggest hits and most beloved songs. As fans danced and chanted along, even making the stadium’s seating sections shake at some points, the energy exuding from the members of BTS rose to new heights. With each song, the performances emphasized just why exactly BTS and their music had made it to the point where selling out six stadium shows across the United States was not only a possibility but a given. Their latest single “Boy With Luv,” originally featuring Halsey but performed without the “Nightmare” singer, started the section, representing how they’ve been able to approach the global music market on their own terms. “Dope” followed, with the group cheering and hyping up themselves for having put in the hard work that they did in order to pursue their dreams, while the aggressive hip-hop track “ Silver Spoon ” arrived to express frustration with the way the world is for the current generation and motivate listeners to change. “Fire,” another explosive, inspirational dance track, similarly urged the audience to do whatever they want, while the section came to a close with “IDOL” closing things out with BTS’ declaration to love themselves the way they are, the anthem of the  Love Yourself  era.

Though they’d leave the stage after an impactful rendition of their RIAA platinum-certified single “ Mic Drop ” and return for an encore set that saw them perform “Anpanman” as they played around on bouncy houses and blow-up slides, and showcase frenzied energy during the encouraging “So What” before offering up touching renditions of “Make It Right” and “Mikrokosmos,” the latter of which brought Jungkook to tears. As one of the most prominent football stadiums in the U.S. — it is home to both the New York Jets and New York Giants — Metlife is itself is a sign of American culture. So when BTS performed their 2018 hit and fans sang along to its call-and-return shouts of Korean phrases known as chuimsae (???), which are typically featured in traditional Korean storytelling performances known as pansori (???) and not pop music, it was a momentous occasion and emphasized how the act has been able to make it in the country and the world at large in a way that has been true to themselves and where they come from.

“You know what they say, the so-called American dream. It’s a dream that some say we’ve reached it, some say not,” RM said during his closing speech. “But we never dreamed it because it was always considered something we could never dream of, that it wasn’t possible. But ARMY, look at this: We made it together. Dear America, thank you for embracing us, thank you for having us, thank you for accepting us. As seven boys from Korea who sing in Korean, and who have even different looks, speak different languages. But you guys truly proved to us that music transcends the language, looks and everything. Thank you for accepting us.”

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• Love Yourself: Answer

BTS World Tour: Love Yourself

BTS World Tour : Love Yourself is the third worldwide concert tour headlined by the South Korean boy band BTS to promote their Love Yourself series, Love Yourself 'Her' , Love Yourself 'Tear' and Love Yourself 'Answer' . The tour began on August 25, 2018 in South Korea and is set to visit 12 countries thus far, including Japan, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Germany, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brazil, and Thailand.

On February 20, 2019, BTS announced new stadium tour dates under the name "BTS World Tour 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself'" starting on May 4, 2019 at Rosebowl Stadium in Los Angeles.

• 1 Background
• 2.1 Commercial
• 2.2.1 Accolades
• 3.1 Setlist Notes
• 4.1 Love Yourself Tour
• 5.1 Background
• 5.2 Commercial reception
• 5.3 Setlist
• 5.4 Extension dates
• 11 References
• 12 Navigation

Background [ ]

On April 26, 2018, Big Hit Entertainment released a trailer on their official YouTube channel announcing an upcoming world tour. The video revealed an initial schedule of 22 concerts across 11 cities, spanning Seoul to California, Ontario to London, Amsterdam to Paris, with more dates and venues said to be awaiting confirmation. The information was also posted on Big Hit's official website and across all their official social media platforms as well. After news of the world tour broke, multiple hashtags trended worldwide on social media, including the tour's namesake tag – #LOVE_YOURSELF, highlighting the level of anticipation surrounding the event.

Before the international leg of the tour started, Big Hit announced BTS wasn't going to give interviews during the tour, during their American leg they made a couple of exceptions adding two schedules. The first one a conversation with the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles where the group reflected in the message they want to give through music on September 10 and a performance in the popular TV show America's Got Talent thanks to an invitation by the famous model and host Tyra Banks recorded the same day and aired September 12 on NBC.

Reception [ ]

Commercial [ ].

According to ticket resale site StubHub BTS was one of 2018's best selling concerts in the world, second to only Ed Sheeran. On October 7 it was estimated that BTS sold a total of 790,000 tickets, selling out all current concerts venues and with more dates expected to be added to the tour.

On August 4, Big Hit Entertainment confirmed all 90,000 tickets for the Seoul shows (August 25 and 26) were sold out after the second public sale on August 3. On August 17, it was announced that only from the first two concerts at the Seoul Olympic Stadium in Seoul, BTS was projected to make USD 8.4 Million (KRW 95 Billion) in ticket revenue alone. Dates for nine dome concerts in Japan were announced on July 30 across the group's social media platforms. In Japan, it came in at nineteenth overall for 2018 best selling concerts. In Singapore, tickets sold out in less than four hours.

Tickets went on sale May 5, 2018 for the Newark, Fort Worth, and Los Angeles shows and sold out in seconds. Due to the high demand, an additional date was added to the Los Angeles lineup, with tickets going on sale May 9, 2018. Tickets for the Oakland, Chicago, and Hamilton shows went on sale May 7, 2018. Tickets for the Hamilton shows sold out in just over an hour, with organizers for the Ontario stop, Core Entertainment, revealing they would have sold out faster if not for the strain put on Ticketmaster's online system due to the heavy influx of site traffic, the likes of which had not been seen for any ticketing held before All fourteen stops completely sold out. A fifteenth and final stop of the North American leg, Citi Field in New York, was later announced on August 8, making BTS the first Korean artist to hold a concert at a stadium in the United States. Tickets for the show sold out in under ten minutes. On September 9, Variety announced that BTS, and singer Elton John, were the top touring acts of Fall 2018 in the United States. According to StubHub, BTS entered the "highest-selling act" and "best-selling shows" lists with the "highest-selling average sales per show position". Yahoo Finance revealed that BTS were also the top-selling act and top-selling show artist in Canada for Fall 2018.

The London, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Paris stops mark the group's first and biggest European headline shows to date. Tickets went on sale June 1, with the London dates selling out in two minutes, and the Berlin shows selling out in nine minutes.

Critical [ ]

The Love Yourself received positive reviews from critics. For the first concerts in America, local media reported in Los Angeles since the moment fans started to camp outside the Staples Center days ahead the concert. Philip Cosores from Uproxx described BTS' Staples Center 4 night concerts as "Enormous, multi-sensory experience" bringing an "Inclusive" and "Multicultural experience" where music is above any language barrier. Tiffany Taylor from The Hollywood Reporter noted for Billboard News the "Amazing choreography" praising the solo performances and energy of the fans as highlight of the night. Jim Harrington from The Mercury News referred to the Oracle Arena concert on Oakland as "the hottest concert of the year in the Bay Area" noting the solo performances as "witnessing seven individual stars, each of whom could enjoy a successful solo career." For the Chicago show critic Kim Youngdae stated their strengths were the dazzling group displays, the artistry in the solo numbers, and how immersive it was. Crystal Bell from MTV said about the tour, "BTS have created an experience so captivating, so inclusive, and so visually stunning that it’s cemented the boy band as one of the most vital acts in pop music today." The Quietus wrote about the European tour as " The show is about a search for self-identity. After two-and-a-half hours of costume changes, pulsing beats, soaring high notes and the impossible iconic beauty of their videos, BTS walk to the front of the stage in low-key jeans and T-shirts. As they sing the last song, ‘Anpanman’, which is about a new kind of superhero, we realise that their awkwardness and sensitivity is also the source of their strength."

The Denisonian rated the concert ten out of ten, stating the music, visuals, dancing, and fans is what made it a great experience. Vivid Seats named BTS the 2018 artist of the year, citing the group's history-making concert at Citi Field.

Accolades [ ]

The Love Yourself tour was nominated for three awards during ticket sale website Ticketmaster's year-end awards, winning two of them. The Ticket of the Year Award was awarded to BTS following a user poll by Ticketmaster, using a database of roughly 200 million people to determine the most popular touring act of 2018. In addition, BTS was awarded the French ticket of the year award, which pulled from data via French Ticketmaster sales. The tour was also nominated for the "Most Anticipated Event of the Year, 2019" award, but did not receive it. Love Yourself also won grand prize award at the 6th Edaily Culture Awards for Best Concert. The Seoul performances were popular among judges because, according to Kim Eun-koo of Edaily, they "created a new history [for] K-pop". The skill of the performers and popularity of the event were also cited as influences on the decision.

Set List [ ]

BTS features two set lists for their concerts. It includes the same songs except for the title medley (#12 to #16)

Setlist Notes [ ]

• Seoul (August 25, 2018)
• Los Angeles (September 5 & 8, 2018)
• Seoul (August 26, 2018)
• Los Angeles (September 6 & 9, 2018)
• Oakland (September 12, 2018)
• Fort Worth (September 15 & 16, 2018)
• Hamilton (September 20, 22, & 23 2018)
• Newark (September 29, 2018)
• Chicago (October 3, 2018)
• New York (October 6, 2018)
• London (October 9, 2018)
• Amsterdam (October 13, 2018)
• Berlin (October 17, 2018)
• Paris (October 20, 2018)
• Tokyo (November 13, 2018)
• Osaka (November 21 & 24, 2018)
• Taoyuan (December 9, 2018)
• Newark (September 28, 2018)
• Chicago (October 2, 2018)
• London (October 10, 2018)
• Berlin (October 16, 2018)
• Paris (October 19, 2018)
• Tokyo (November 14, 2018)
• Osaka (November 23, 2018)
• Taoyuan (December 8, 2018)

Tour dates [ ]

Love yourself tour [ ], speak yourself extension [ ].

BTS World Tour Love Yourself: Speak Yourself is an extension to the Love Yourself world tour, separated under a different name. The extension is slated to start on May 4, 2019 in Pasadena, California and will feature concerts in North and South America, Europe, and Asia, including the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan.

Speak Yourself was first announced on February 19, 2019 through the Big Hit Entertainment YouTube channel, where a spot for the extension was posted. The video featured clips of the BTS members performing, with the title and dates for the tour written on top of them. That same day, Live Nation was revealed as the concert promoter, with tickets sold through Ticketmaster.

Commercial reception [ ]

In North America, tickets sold out for all initial three dates in approximately two and a half hours. The Wembley Stadium stop sold out in 90 minutes and in France tickets sold out in about five and a half hours. Tickets went on sale in Brazil on March 11, 2019. Despite ticket sales website having connecting issues at the time, tickets sold out in 75 minutes. To accommodate demand, additional dates were added to all American, European, and Brazilian dates. The additional European dates sold out the same day they were listed.

According to pop music website PopCrush, the extension had higher first-day sales in the United States and Europe than the Rolling Stones' 2019 tour, which went on sale the same day. BTS are also the first Asian act to sell out the Rose Bowl.

Setlist [ ]

Extension dates [ ], volumes [ ].

Five concert DVDs and Blu-Rays were released showcasing different legs of the tour.

• Love Yourself
• Speak Yourself

• ^   The "Love Yourself" section of the tour ended on April 7, 2019, however a separately named extension, called BTS World Tour Love Yourself: Speak Yourself, was eventually added.
• ^  The score data is combined from the shows held in Japan from November 13, 14, 21, 23, 24, January 12, 13, February 16, & 17 respectively. [1]
• On October 9, Jungkook was performing while seated at the group’s October 9 concert in London. Following the rehearsal and sound check, Jungkook was lightly stretching in the waiting room when he collided with floor furnishings and suffered an injury to his heel. Medical staff immediately responded and performed the necessary treatment. The opinion of the medical team is that while the injury is not serious, performing choreography may do further damage to the injured area.

Gallery [ ]

References [ ].

• ↑ " BTS（防弾少年団）、11月より初の日本ドーム・ツアー「BTS WORLD TOUR 'LOVE YOURSELF'～JAPAN EDITION～」開催 " (in Japanese).

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• BTS Island: In the SEOM
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• 1 Are You Sure?!

BTS - 'Love Yourself' World Tour becomes the Most Attended Tour ever by a Korean Artist

BTS breaks another impressive record for a Korean Artist .

They became the Korean artist whose tour has the highest audience count .

Top Most Attended Tours by Korean Artists:

1. BTS --- World Tour: Love Yourself ~1,585,000+ with 51 shows (still touring) . (2018-2019)

2. BIGBANG --- MADE World Tour ~1,500,000+ with 66 shows. (2014-2015)

3. BIGBANG ---  0 TO 10 ~1,115,000+ with 24 shows. (2016-2017) ~ 1,380,000

4.   TVXQ --- Time (2013) ~ 850,000 5. BIGBANG --- ALIVE (2012 - 2013) ~ 800,000 6. BIGBANG --- Japan Dome Tour (2013 - 2014) ~ 771,000 7. TVXQ --- With (2015) ~ 750,000

8. EXO ---  Exo Planet 2 Exo'luxion (2015 - 2016) ~ 742,000

9. BIGBANG --- Japan Dome Tour X (2014 - 2015) ~ 741,000 10. EXO --- Exo Planet 3-The Exo'rdium (2016 - 2017) ~ 611,000 11. TVXQ --- Tree (2014) ~ 600,000  12. G-Dragon --- One Of A Kind World Tour (2013) ~ 570,000

Top 3 Most Attended Tours by Korean Artists 1. kchartsandstats

Congratulations BTS !

Ahn Jae Hyun's grandfather passes away

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Well deserved!!!

The tour isn't even over yet

I've been noticing lately that people are going twice as hard on downvoting BTS articles more than usual and it's disgusting, alot of jealous haters out there

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Highlights from BTS’ ‘Love Yourself: Speak Yourself’ stadium tour

Published : Oct. 25, 2019 - 14:51

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• LOVE YOURSELF
• SPEAK YOURSELF

25 AUG UST 2018

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

OLYMPIC STADIUM

26 AUG UST 2018

5 sep tember 2018

los angeles, usa

staples center

6 sep tember 2018

8 sep tember 2018

9 sep tember 2018

12 sep tember 2018

oakland, usa

oracle arena

15 sep tember 2018

fort worth, usa

fort worth convention center

16 sep tember 2018

20 sep tember 2018

hamilton, canada

first ontario centre

22 sep tember 2018

23 sep tember 2018

28 sep tember 2018

NEWARK, USA

PRUDENTIAL CENTER

29 sep tember 2018

2 Oct ober 2018

CHICAGO, USA

UNITED CENTER

3 Oct ober 2018

6 Oct ober 2018

NEW YORK, USA

9 Oct ober 2018

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

THE O2 ARENA

10 Oct ober 2018

13 Oct ober 2018

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

16 Oct ober 2018

BERLIN, GERMANY

MERCEDES-BENZ ARENA

17 Oct ober 2018

19 Oct ober 2018

PARIS, FRANCE

ACCORHOTELS ARENA

20 Oct ober 2018

13 Nov ember 2018

TOKYO, JAPAN

14 Nov ember 2018

21 Nov ember 2018

OSAKA, JAPAN

KYOCERA DOME OSAKA

23 Nov ember 2018

24 Nov ember 2018

8 Dec ember 2018

TAOYUAN INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL STADIUM

9 Dec ember 2018

12 Jan uary 2019

NAGOYA, JAPAN

NAGOYA DOME

13 Jan uary 2019

19 Jan uary 2019

SINGAPORE NATIONAL STADIUM

16 Feb ruary 2019

FUKUOKA, JAPAN

FUKUOKA YAFUOKU! DOME

17 Feb ruary 2019

20 Mar ch 2019

ASIAWORLD-EXPO ARENA

21 Mar ch 2019

23 Mar ch 2019

24 Mar ch 2019

6 Apr il 2019

BANGKOK, THAILAND

RAJAMANGALA NATIONAL STADIUM

7 Apr il 2019

LOS ANGELES, USA

ROSE BOWL STADIUM

11 May 2019

SOLDIER FIELD

12 May 2019

18 May 2019

NEW JERSEY, USA

METLIFE STADIUM

19 May 2019

25 May 2019

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL

ALLIANZ PARQUE

26 May 2019

1 Jun e 2019

WEMBLEY STADIUM

2 Jun e 2019

7 Jun e 2019

STADE DE FRANCE

8 Jun e 2019

6 Jul y 2019

YANMAR STADIUM NAGAI

7 Jul y 2019

13 Jul y 2019

SHIZUOKA, JAPAN

SHIZUOKA STADIUM ECOPA

14 Jul y 2019

11 OCT OBER 2019

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA

KING FAHD INTERNATIONAL STADIUM

26 OCT OBER 2019

27 OCT OBER 2019

29 OCT OBER 2019

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Bts’s ‘love yourself: speak yourself’ tour wraps with staggering $117 million.

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LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 01: BTS performs onstage during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand ... [+] Garden Arena on May 1, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

BTS quickly established themselves as a global touring juggernaut, and the final numbers from their Love Yourself: Speak Yourself Tour prove it. 

The Love Yourself: Speak Yourself Tour is an extension of BTS’s initial Love Yourself Tour, and it saw the group graduate from arenas to stadiums. The international trek—which spanned Europe, Asia, and North and South America—raked in a staggering $116.6 million and sold 976,283 tickets across 20 shows, Billboard reports. That averages 48,814 attendees and $5.8 million per show. In the 2019 chart year dated Nov. 1, 2018 to Oct. 31, 2019, only the Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift and the Spice Girls earned higher average grosses in stadiums, though they all played fewer shows than BTS in that timeframe. 

BTS’s Love Yourself Tour has been full of firsts. Last year, the K-pop septet became the first Korean act to perform a U.S. stadium show at New York’s Citi Field , which sold out in roughly an hour. They similarly became the first Korean artist to headline London’s Wembley Stadium in June, selling out the first of two nights in 90 minutes . 

These stats put BTS in a class usually reserved for legacy rock acts such as the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Billy Joel, and American pop superstars such as Swift and Beyoncé. Even then, many powerhouse artists take weeks or months to sell out stadiums, while BTS usually accomplished this feat in a matter of hours (or minutes). 

BTS have commemorated their monstrous world tour with several concert films along the way. Last year’s Burn the Stage: The Movie debuted to nearly $14 million from 1.4 million global admissions, breaking the record for an event cinema production previously held by One Direction: Where We Are . Meanwhile, 2019’s Burn the Soul: The Movie made history by opening in 110 countries, a record for a concert film. 

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BTS World Tour: Love Yourself: Speak Yourself

BTS World Tour: Love Yourself: Speak Yourself is the stadium extension of BTS ' third world tour BTS World Tour: Love Yourself . The first show was held on May 4, 2019 at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, United States.

• 1.1 Main set
• 3 Video links

Setlist [ ]

Main set [ ].

• "Not Today"
• "Outro: Wings"
• "Trivia 起: Just Dance" (J-Hope solo)
• "Euphoria" (Jungkook solo)
• "Best of Me"
• "Serendipity" (Jimin solo)
• "Trivia 承: Love" (RM solo)
• "Boy With Luv"
• "Dope" + "Baepsae" + "Fire"
• "Singularity" (V solo)
• "Fake Love" (Rocking Vibe remix)
• "Trivia 轉: Seesaw" (Suga solo)
• "Epiphany" (Jin solo)
• "The Truth Untold" (Jin, Jimin, V, & Jungkook)
• "Outro: Tear" (Suga, J-Hope, & RM)
• "Make It Right"
• "Mikrokosmos"

Video links [ ]

• 2 Lara (KATSEYE)

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BTS To Release New Album 'Love Yourself: Answer' With Upcoming Tour

Follow up to 'Love Yourself: Tear' expected to arrive Aug. 24, just in time for the crew's world tour

On July 16, BigHit entertainment let out the big news that bestselling K-pop group BTS will release their new album Love Yourself: Answer on Aug. 24 , the day before they begin the Love Yourself World Tour on Aug. 25 in Seoul. Love Yourself: Tear reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart dated June 2, the first time ever a Korean band has claimed the top spot. Although the hints are more tantalizing so far than revealing, it looks like they are aiming for a repeat.

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On that same June 2 chart, the BTS single "Fake Love" reached No. 10 on the Hot 100, their first Top 10 hit. On Oct. 17, 2017, the band's " DNA " from their album Love Yourself: Her reached No. 67, kicking off the latest period in which public awareness of the seven more-than-idols exploded. Although the band's music quality has always been high, Love Yourself: Tear reached an unexpected level of growth, both critically and in sales.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="ko" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BTS</a> LOVE YOURSELF 結 &#39;Answer&#39; 발매 안내 <a href="https://t.co/PLkN6Q6lBt">https://t.co/PLkN6Q6lBt</a></p>&mdash; BTS_official (@bts_bighit) <a href="https://twitter.com/bts_bighit/status/1018873089088630786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2018</a></blockquote>

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BTS will arrive in Los Angeles on the U.S. leg of their sold-out tour on Sept. 5, just after Labor Day. That will be one week after they are expected to begin performing their highly anticipated new material. Whatever the details prove to be, this is going to get a lot of attention from the group's passionate fanbase. Fans went wild as news of the announcement spread, and BTS Army are bound to do their best to spur sales.

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BTS offers their fans a lot: targeted content , the rich backstory of alternative BTS universes and symbolism, even a philanthropic context connecting fanhood to global citizenship. Three percent of all Love Yourself album proceeds have been pledged to the group's UNICEF Love Myself international campaign. Simply put, these young men have taken K-pop to unprecedented heights.

Moreover, it takes more than nerve for first-ever pop stars to drop a new album only two months after having an album at No. 1. That's artistic confidence, and the fan army are not the only ones wondering what behind-the-scenes songs BTS will unleash, challenging themselves like this. We know the answer is in an album called "Answer" and besides that, the world will have to wait.

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Get To Know KATSEYE: The Global Girl Group Styled After K-Pop Superstars

The first-of-its-kind group is the project of Geffen Records and Korean entertainment giant HYBE. Learn all about the six-member group, from their journey as trainees on "Dream Academy" to their debut album, 'SIS (Soft Is Strong).'

Although they have yet to release an album, six-member girl group KATSEYE has already racked up a passionate global fanbase. Those fans have eagerly followed KATSEYE's journey so far, which span nearly three years and multiple continents.

KATSEYE is the result of a highly anticipated, first-of-its-kind partnership between American label Geffen Records — which counts Olivia Rodrigo and Camila Cabello on its roster — and HYBE Entertainment, best known as the home of BTS and subject of a new GRAMMY Museum exhibit . Thanks to the collaboration between two cultures with a track record of turning artists into household names, KATSEYE's Sophia, Manon, Daniela, Lara, Yoonchae , and Megan are poised for the global stage.

"This is the most ambitious project both HYBE and Geffen have ever been involved in," Geffen Records President Tom March ( now Chairman and CEO of Capitol Records)  said during a 2023 press conference, per Weverse Magazine . "We are hoping to create something that genuinely moves culture with a group that makes magazine covers and headlines festivals."  

Ahead of the Aug. 16 release of their debut album SIS (Soft Is Strong) , GRAMMY.com rounded up everything you need to know about the rising stars, from their in-depth training process to their global roots.

They Competed Against More Than 100,000 Hopefuls

In late 2021, HYBE and Geffen kicked off a worldwide search for potential members of the group that would become KATSEYE. "In the city of dreams where stars are born, an unprecedented girl group will rise," boasted the promotional video .  

Through online and offline auditions in 15 cities around the world, more than 120,000 talented artists tried out. Only the top 20 girls were selected to become finalists — an acceptance rate tougher than elite universities.  

Revealing the finalists at an August 2023 press conference in Los Angeles, HYBE Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk said, "I have wanted to form an international group based on K-pop methodology for a while," per Billboard .

Geffen Records CEO John Janick shared the same sentiments. "To develop a global group with Bang, with the best of K-pop methodology, and our Geffen team, is truly special and will bring to life a first-of-its-kind experience in music," he said during the press conference.

They Went Through The Intense K-Pop Trainee System  

The 20 finalists were enrolled in what was dubbed "The Debut: Dream Academy," an "X Factor"-style survival show that was broadcasted in real time on social media for nearly three months in late 2023.

"Dream Academy" offered the finalists a crash course in the infamously rigorous K-pop trainee system, one where aspiring stars train intensely in everything from vocals to dance and foreign languages, all with the aim of developing into well-rounded artists. Through a combination of audience voting and evaluations from a panel of experts (which included executives from HYBE and Geffen), the show whittled down the 20 finalists to the debut group.

The show consisted of three rounds with distinct "missions" that tested each finalists on their dance and vocal prowess, as well as their teamwork and performance skills. The contestants were primarily based in Los Angeles but also had the opportunity to travel to South Korea to train directly in HYBE’s Seoul headquarters.

The final lineup was revealed live on Nov. 17, 2023, with a studio audience in Los Angeles and thousands of viewers watching in real time. The energy and anticipation was palpable as each member was announced one by one to tears of joy and screams of excitement.  

"I can’t even put it into words," expressed Lara after she was selected as part of the final lineup. "This is everything I ever wanted in my entire life."

The official group name of KATSEYE was also revealed on that date, signaling the transition from the trainee process to becoming a full-fledged group.

The entire training and development journey was documented by Netflix and will be released as a series under the name "Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE" on Aug. 21. The show promises to "pull back the curtain on the rigorous process of making a global music sensation."

KATSEYE Members Hail From Around the World

The six members of KATSEYE represent a mosaic of cultures and backgrounds from around the world. Sophia is from the Philippines, while Yoonchae was born in Korea. Manon was raised in Switzerland to Swiss Italian and Ghanian parents.  

The three American members also have global roots: Daniela is Venezuelan Cuban, Lara is Indian, and Megan is Chinese Singaporean.

While KATSEYE’s music is sung in English, the members are also fluent in their fair share of languages, allowing them to connect with fans around the globe.  

The diversity of the members even influenced the group name. KATSEYE is an alternate spelling of the stone cat’s eye, which "shows off a variety of colors depending on its direction, much like all of us who come from all different cultures and backgrounds," the members told Sweety High .  

Industry Elites Form Part Of Their Team  

Even ahead of their debut album drop, KATSEYE has already worked with some of the most prominent names in the entertainment world.

The group’s creative director is Humberto Leon, best known as co-founder of iconic fashion brand Opening Ceremony. His vision helped create "Dream Academy’s" whimsical Art Film of the finalists performing inside an empty school; he’s also had input on all the creative decisions for the group, from styling to posing.

"I want each and every one of them to stand out," Leon told the New York Times .  

KATSEYE’s first single, "Debut", was produced by three-time GRAMMY winner and OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder , who has written songs for icons like Taylor Swift and Adele .

Their Labelmates Are K-Pop Superstars

As part of HYBE Entertainment, KATSEYE is the successor to some of the biggest names in the K-pop world. HYBE is best known for launching BTS in 2013, when the label was still known as Big Hit Entertainment.

HYBE has since expanded and launched groups including TOMORROW X TOGETHER , LE SSERAFIM , and New Jeans, who have all achieved massive heights, from topping the Billboard charts to performing at Coachella.

Ahead of the "Dream Academy" competition, HYBE artists imparted words of wisdom to the contestants in a video letter . "The more challenges you face, you’ll have more worries," said Le Sserafim member Sakura, who made her own debut through a similar competition show in South Korea. "I think the most important thing is to have fun!"  

Read more: 5 Takeaways From The GRAMMY Museum’s "HYBE: We Believe In Music" Exhibit

KATSEYE's  Music Is About Self Confidence

Although the group has released just two singles so far, KATSEYE’s music has already honed in on themes of confidence and empowerment. The first single, aptly titled "Debut," is an upbeat pop anthem that boasts the group’s self-assurance despite being industry newcomers. Second single "Touch" is an R&B and drum-and-bass-influenced ode to independence.

Their debut single is "really just about sisterhood and being confident and strong and powerful and the best version of yourself," Lara told Teen Vogue .

Listeners can expect a continuation of this theme on their upcoming album, SIS (Soft Is Strong) . "Our debut comes with a lot of confidence and a lot of willpower and passion," Sophia hinted in the group’s intro film .

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KCON L.A. 2024: 7 Highlights From NCT 127, ZEROBASEONE, NMIXX & More

Courtesy of the Recording Academy™️/photo by Rebecca Sapp, Getty Images© 2024.

The first full-floor K-pop exhibit at the GRAMMY Museum runs through Sept. 15. Experience the magic of BTS, ENHYPEN, SEVENTEEN, LE SSERAFIM in an immersive exhibit of fashion, photos and more.

In 2005, South Korean producer and songwriter Bang Si-Hyuk (aka "hitman" Bang) founded Bit Hit Entertainment. Only eight years later, he finished assembling what would come to be the label’s groundbreaking boy group, BTS . The rest is history, now chronicled in "HYBE: We Believe In Music," the first full-floor K-pop exhibit at the GRAMMY Museum, which runs through Sept. 15.

Following the success of Bit Hit’s premier act, and that of other artists under acquired labels SOURCE MUSIC and PLEDIS Entertainment, the company eventually evolved to become HYBE in 2021. "I think HYBE is very special in that they have gone beyond being just a K-pop company," says Kelsey Goelz, curator of the exhibit. "They have many different sub labels. They’ve come to America and gotten involved in the music business here, and then they’re also working in AI and gaming ."

But beyond its global presence, one of K-pop’s ever-captivating elements is the sheer amount of blood, sweat, and tears that goes into making it possible, even when HYBE artists like ENHYPEN, SEVENTEEN , and LE SSERAFIM make it look easy. There’s a core humanity to this work ethic and dogged tenacity — to the level of artistry in general — that speaks to K-pop fans around the world.

While HYBE’s growth shows no signs of slowing down yet, the GRAMMY Museum exhibit takes a look back on the entertainment company’s legacy thus far. Read on for the five things we learned from the "HYBE: We Believe In Music" exhibit.

All photos Courtesy of the Recording Academy™️/photo by Rebecca Sapp, Getty Images© 2024.

In A Decade, BTS Built Themselves Into A Global Phenomenon

Let’s start with a history lesson: despite being around for almost a decade, HYBE’s story begins in earnest with the formation of one of K-pop’s breakthrough acts, BTS, in 2013. (At that point, the company was still a standalone label.) Led by rapper RM , the seven boys hopped off a yellow school bus with a bratty, adolescent attitude — and that’s where the GRAMMY Museum’s exhibit picks up.

There’s a lot that happened between then and their seven Billboard No. 1s. Luckily, a wallpapered timeline breaks down all the major global highlights: the first U.S. tour, their UNICEF campaign, a landmark performance on "Saturday Night Live," and the announcement of BTS as TIME ’s 2020 Entertainer of the Year, to name just a few.

Sitting in the middle of the museum floor is a glass case of polaroids — in them, Jin , Suga , j-hope , RM , Jimin , V and Jung Kook toss up peace signs while sporting novelty hats designed to look like BTS’s lightstick . Nostalgic and deeply silly, these photos date back to 2017 and 2018, serving as a reminder of the colossal strides BTS has taken in the intervening years.

Learn more: Breaking Down Every Solo Act From BTS: Singles, Debut Albums & What's Next For The Septet

It Takes A Village To Make A K-Pop Music Video

When K-pop music videos are delivered to fans, they’re already finished products. Behind the curtain, it’s hard work to make them polished and perfect. Collected ‘fits and accessories throughout the exhibit get you up close and personal with creative details; then, to showcase the costumes in action, they’re paired with screens that play the finalized MVs.

Each customized artifact is an expression of its respective group’s individuality, from ENHYPEN ’s King of Pop-inspired "Sweet Venom" ensembles to BOYNEXTDOOR’s slouchy cabbie caps. Other standouts include belts and chains from &TEAM’s angsty " Samidare ," fromis_9’s opera-ready "# menow " jewels, and chunky necklaces featured in ILLIT’s runaway single "Magnetic." 

Everything Comes Back To The Music

HYBE’s proffered ethos is "we believe in music" — this motto gives the special exhibit its name, while also serving as a mission statement.

In a series of recorded interviews on view in the exhibit, HYBE’s idol songwriters share their process for and perspective on making music. The main takeaway: Inspiration comes in different forms. While writing, BTS’s j-hope pictures ideas as tree branches that sprout outward, while RM sees his rap verses as a realized world to live inside.

Literally, too, their lyrics mark the passage of time. If you’ve ever wondered why Suga circles back to motifs across the years, the rapper has all the answers for you here.

There’s also a conversation with WOOZI of SEVENTEEN, one of the K-pop industry’s most prolific idol composers with more than 150 credits to his name. It’s a penchant for plain language, he says, that makes the lyrics he writes really sing; the band’s beloved B-side "Hug," for example, gets its potency from everyday words and phrases. TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s Yeonjun likewise fills visitors in on the origin story behind co-written "Maze in the Mirror," a misty reflection of their tough trainee days.  

This isn’t to say they haven’t had help, of course. Nearby, clips of HYBE producers Pdogg , BUMZU, and ZICO, settled in their respective studios, walk us through how the instrumentals for songs like BTS’s "ON" and SEVENTEEN’s " Lilili Yabbay " came to be. Peruse at your leisure — for those curious about the creation of K-pop’s biggest hits, this corner of the exhibit could easily take up the better part of a trip.  

Fans Make K-Pop Special

To some fans, K-pop is more than just the music . As a sincere few explain in an exhibit video, K-pop is something that has profoundly touched their lives, providing the basis for genuine friendships and community. Fans get to give a little bit of this positive energy back to their idols, particularly through online platforms like HYBE’s Weverse , where users can interact directly with artists. "I don’t think there’s another genre like K-pop that allows and enables that communication," Goetz, the curator, tells GRAMMY.com.  

In true form, the GRAMMY Museum offers an interactive experience. At the exhibit’s opening event, fans posed next to their idols (digitally) in a photo booth, yelled K- pop’s national anthem into prop mics, and hit the dance floor with perfect renditions of LE SSERAFIM’s "Perfect Nights" choreography.  

Before heading out, visitors could leave a mark of their own on the exhibit: after writing a message to their favorite artist via pastel Post-its and baby No. 2 pencils, fans loudly and proudly displayed them on the walls.

HYBE’s Story Is Just Getting Started

According to another timeline, the story so far has three chapters. There was the era of Big Hit Entertainment, when BTS came into the picture; then, the establishment of HYBE, with its many labels. Finally, as the U.S. and Latin America enter the fold, we’re in the end game. Representing this future is L.A.-based girl group KATSEYE, a collaboration with Geffen Records and the most recent inclusion to HYBE’s roster.

But K-pop hasn’t entirely let go of its "K" just yet, if the special guests for the exhibit’s launch were any indication. As the sun set over the GRAMMY Museum’s rooftop terrace, rookie boy group TWS kicked things off; before performing high-energy five songs back to back , the six boys charmed the audience by cutely cruising through a moderated conversation in English and Korean.  

As the exhibit reveals, there’s a reason HYBE — and K-pop — went global in the first place. On top of the spectacle, their success has everything to do with the work that goes into making the effort seem effortless. Audiences root for real people, and that's what makes them keep coming back.

Photo: Courtesy of KCON L.A.

The world's biggest K-pop festival returned to Los Angeles, featuring headliners NCT 127, ENHYPEN, and Taemin, along with a mix of rookie sensations and nostalgic favorites.

Held from July 26-29 at the Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena, KCON 2024 showcased an array of performances from K-pop stars, with notable acts including NCT 127 , ENHYPEN , Taemin , ZEROBASEONE , and g.o.d. The event marked its largest success yet, attracting fans worldwide both in-person and through digital platforms.

KCON, the biggest K-pop show in the world, has come a long way since its inception in 2012 at Irvine's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre with around 10,000 attendees. Over a decade later, the music festival and convention event has expanded globally, but Los Angeles remains special as its origin. This year, KCON proclaimed its biggest success yet, stating, "Over 5.9 million fans from more than 170 countries enjoyed KCON L.A. 2024 both at the festival site and through digital platforms." It was also broadcasted for the first time on the CW network in the U.S., and by its usual broadcaster Mnet in Korea and around the world.

This year's KCON featured a varied lineup for performers. The finale headliners were NCT 127, who last attended KCON L.A. in 2017 in their early days. They were joined by ENHYPEN and Taemin as nightly headliners. Rookie groups like ZEROBASEONE and Boynextdoor proved to be crowd favorites, while Y2K icons like g.o.d surprised the whole audience with 2000s hits. Despite fewer female performers, dynamic sets from NMIXX, Somi, and StayC made a significant impact.   

It was generally a big year for rookie acts, with a variety of Korean, Japanese, and Filipino newer boy bands and girl groups making appearances throughout the weekend. As more senior artists hold solo tours, with many touring simultaneously to KCON, there was ample time to meet newcomers. 

Even L.A. -based Katseye, Hybe X Geffen Records' new girl group that features members from around the world, had a moment as the openers for the final night, performing live in front of fans for the very first time. 

Read on for memorable highlights, performances, and other insights from the annual event.

g.o.d Ascend To New Heights

Although the styles of the '90s and early aughts are trending, it was perhaps a bit of a surprise — to the crowd and artists alike — that one of Korea's early boy band greats could get the whole stadium up out of their seats, clapping, and swaying along to the R&B stylings of g.o.d. 

Formed in 1999, the quartet took the stage in suits and began their set with the ballad "Road" followed by "Lie." While many fans came out specifically to see them, bearing banners and light blue balloon-shaped light sticks in support, it was the group's comfortable affability that made them one of KCON's most talked-about acts. 

By having fun and being earnestly engaging, they won over a crowd largely made up of people unfamiliar with their discography. When they performed "Sky Blue Balloon," a song dedicated to their fans, everyone clapped and sang along. As they turned on their phone flashlights ("Give us 1% of your phone battery!" quipped Cali-native Joon Park), the audience basked in the poignant closer "One Candle," a song well-known in South Korea as a democratic anthem, creating a warm, memorable glow.  

ZEROBASEONE Lead Rookie Power

When they performed at the 2023 event, ZEROBASEONE, or ZB1, were charming newcomers who had just come together during K-pop competition show, "Boys Planet . " While ZB1 are not technically rookies anymore, they're still relatively new kids on the block compared to many senior acts. Despite their relative youth, at KCON LA 2024, they were one of the biggest draws for fans in attendance. Throughout the weekend, it was near impossible to move a foot or two without spotting one or two (or 10!) dedicated "Zeroses" cheering them on with a light stick that looks surprisingly similar to a rose-shaped engagement ring. 

For fans lucky enough to attend multiple nights of KCON LA 2024, ZB1 performed both on Friday, July 26, and Sunday, July 28, showcasing fan favorites like " Sweat ," " Crush ," and " In Bloom ." They also shared a teaser for their new EP, Cinema Paradise, which will drop in August. 

Along with ZB1, it was a big weekend for some other newer boy bands: Boynextdoor’s catchy, witty performances were some of the most-talked about, while TWS’s earworm hits had the whole arena singing along. 

ENHYPEN Fulfill Dreams And Enhance Fantasies

Coming to KCON right after touring in the U.S. earlier this year could have meant repeat performances for ENHYPEN's "Engenes" to witness, but instead, the vampiric septet charmed with new energy just days after releasing their latest EP, Romance: Untold, on July 12. 

Surprising the crowd with the English version of that album's single " XO (Only If You Say Yes) ", ENHYPEN ran through some of their biggest hits, seducing listeners with " Bite Me " and charming them with the picture-perfect " Polaroid Love ." 

They also, along with Zico and Taemin, hosted one of KCON's unique "Dream Stages," coming together with fan dancers to perform the English version of last year's smooth "Sweet Venom." 

Read more: Meet ENHYPEN, K-Pop's Latest Breakout Boy Group

A Welcome Return For NCT 127

Seven years since their last KCON LA performance, NCT 127 appeared triumphant as both openers and closers on the third night of the show. They kicked the night off (literally) with their 2020 hit "Kick It," and returned at the end of the night to perform their new song " Walk ," before renditions of hits " Lemonade ," " 2 Baddies ," and " Fact Check ."

It was a moment of glory for the team, who had spent much of their biggest musical eras without touring during the pandemic. Now that concerts are back, they've been touring heavily. When their planned world tour, "Neo City – The Unity," became an Asia-only tour, it felt like there would be no moment for Stateside fans in 2024. When they were announced as late-addition special headliners, NCTzens rapidly bought up tickets. 

With the 127 members and their U.S. fans (plus many from overseas) reunited, the atmosphere was one of euphoria and exuberance as the members boisterously dominated the stage, making jokes and playfully engaging in a way that felt comfortable and assured in their performing prowess. It may not have been a full NCT 127 concert in LA, but it's clear that the stars and many fans are waiting for that. 

Jeon Somi, Hyolyn & BIBI Shine

While groups are the bread and butter of K-pop, soloists have their own flair, and this year the fiery spotlight fell on the women. During the final night, the powerful dynamism of BIBI, Jeon Somi, and Hyolyn took over. Although BIBI's real set was the first night, she performed a expletive-free version of her hit revenge track " Bibi's Vengeance " before embracing Hyolyn. 

Hyolyn, a soloist and member of girl group Sistar, forwent her own songs for the concert event and instead put her own sultry spin on LOONA's " So What " with a team of fierce dancers. 

Jeon Somi rounded out things with her truly addicting dance tracks " Fast Forward " and " DUMB DUMB ," along with the emotive " The Way ." She then revealed the name of her new upcoming song, "Ice Cream" and charmed the crowd by teaching them a call-and-response chant: "Come get your ice cream," shouted one side of the arena. "Too hot!" returned the other before Somi realized with a laugh that the lyric actually was "Too cold!" 

Read more: 10 K-Pop Rookie Girl Groups To Watch In 2023

Fiery Covers Galore

One of the special things about KCON is the emphasis put on historic K-pop songs and events, with remakes and covers being a major part of every KCON. This year was no different, beginning with the first day's concert featuring P1Harmony 's cover of BTS's " Fire ."

In 2016, when BTS performed "Fire" at KCON LA, the air was palpable with the feeling that something big was taking place. That set has often been cited as the moment many K-pop fans and music watchers realized BTS was on the brink of global superstardom. It was a fitting tribute to have P1Harmony, who had a major year on the festival and touring circuit, open up KCON LA with their own spin on the song the very first night of the event. 

Other acts also put their own spin on both recent hits and older classics throughout the nighttime concerts. The third night featured an homage to girl groups: along with Hyolyn covering LOONA , ZB1 covered Red Velvet's "Psycho" and STAYC covered (G)I-DLE's " Queencard ."

The Unsung Hero: The KCON Stage

A rather unsuspecting, warehouse-style room next to the main convention floor was the secret sauce that brought a special touch to revitalize the decade-plus event by making it a true day-long music festival. 

While KCON LA had previously tried smaller nighttime concerts, concerts occasionally on the convention floor, and long-time had a meet-and-greet stage, this year's daytime KCON Stage that almost all artists visited was the sort of concert fans dream of. 

While the headlining M Countdown concerts were certainly the highlights of KCON LA 2024, the KCON Stage provided an intimate moment for artists and fans to get up-close and personal. Kicking off each morning with auditions for the Dream Stage performances with Taemin, ENHYPEN, and Zico for their respective night's events, the KCON Stage featured concert sets from a variety of artists throughout the day. Each day's KCON Stage performances were a bit more relaxed and raw compared to the highly choreographed made-for-TV nighttime shows. 

NMIXX, whose " Run for Roses " and " Dice " got the second night's crowd basking in their glory, was one such moment. The KCON Stage gave them a chance to bring some summertime fun with a bubble-blowing rendition of " Love Me Like This ." 

Even acts who are popular K-pop crowd pleasers but not part of the lineup for KCON's main concerts, like A.C.E and AleXa, had sets during the day. They, along with other acts like POW, Bibi, and Craxy, had KCON convention-goers perking up their ears at these unexpected concert moments. 

Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images

5 Takeaways from BTS Jimin's New Album, 'MUSE': A Bold Exploration Of Love And Inspiration

Jimin's second solo project, 'MUSE,' showcases his artistic growth and versatility, featuring a blend of nostalgic sounds, personal reflections, and standout collaborations.

K-pop juggernauts BTS are still on hiatus due to military enlistments, except for Jin, who was discharged last month. Yet, all members remain booked and busy in their solo endeavors.

Documentaries , travel shows , special singles — you name it, they carefully prepared it before starting their duties. And after new records from j-hope ( HOPE on the Street ) and RM ( Right Place, Wrong Person ) this year, the next in line is Jimin , who dropped MUSE today.

The album comes almost a year and a half after his debut EP, FACE , which placed Jimin as the first South Korean soloist to top Billboard 's Hot 100 chart. In it, the Busan-born star proved his versatility and prowess standing on his own, captivating audiences old and new with his sensitive charisma.

In MUSE , Jimin introduces a new facet of his musical identity: bolder and more confident, but still a big softie at heart. To celebrate the beginning of a new era — and to ease the wait until his discharge next year — here are five key takeaways from Jimin's latest release, MUSE .

It's Another Jimin-Led Production

FACE was a proper introduction to Jimin's artistic vision, with him contributing to every aspect of the project and co-writing all of its tracks, minus the instrumental "Interlude: Dive."

Now, he takes it up a notch for MUSE , showcasing his growth by co-writing six out of seven tracks, and co-producing two of them: "Rebirth" and "Interlude: Showtime." Once again, Jimin had a hand on all of the album's components, including its concept and visuals, and bore down another layer of his ever-evolving skills.

If FACE introduced us to a vulnerable and sometimes desperate Jimin, MUSE charges forward with main pop boy energy, tender but commanding, sweet but sassy. It works both as a gift to fans and a tool to get to know Jimin even deeper.

He’s Still In Search Of His Muse

"We never met, but she's all I see at night/ Never met but she's always on my mind/ Wanna give her the world/ And so much more/ Who is my heart waiting for?" Jimin sings in MUSE 's track, "Who." As the lyrics suggest, MUSE 's main theme is Jimin's journey to find the source of his inspiration — his muse.

The album's seven tracks are all interconnected by love and longing, with Jimin searching for the one but getting lost in the way, and back at it once more. Through this perspective, he continues his path of self-discovery. After looking at his own FACE in the mirror, who else does he see? Who else instigates him enough to make art?

A Stellar Team Backs Up The Effort

To write and produce MUSE , Jimin enlisted longtime collaborators Pdogg, Ghstloop, Evan, and Supreme Boi. They have also been working with BTS for years, and know just what Jimin wants and needs in his songs.

But to make this album even more special, Jimin also collaborated with a fresh crop of professionals. Lead single "Who" was co-written and co-produced by Jon Bellion , Pete Nappi , and Tenroc , while Ayo the Producer and Kofo co-signed the fan-dedicated "Closer Than This." OneRepublic 's Ryan Tedder helped pen "Be Mine," and Tommy Brown has writing credits on "Rebirth" and "Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (feat. Loco)."

Aside from Korean rapper Loco, MUSE also features American actress and singer Sofia Carson on the smooth duet "Slow Dance." Together, these names assembled a cohesive, yet diverse LP, brimming with influences from several decades, genres, and countries at once.

The Smeraldo Flower Makes A Comeback

Back in 2017, when BTS was in their LOVE YOURSELF era, they also introduced to their lore a fictional blue flower named Smeraldo . Symbolizing "a truth that cannot be told," its legend was better explored in the track "The Truth Untold (Feat. Steve Aoki)," and offered important clues to understanding that era's messages.

However, as years passed, the Smeraldo flower was largely forgotten from BTS's new works — until MUSE . Here, Jimin brings back the blue flower as one of the albums' visual concepts , and as the main motif behind pre-release "Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (feat. Loco)."

According to a press statement, the track's lyrics "express the longing to confess and find love on behalf of those unable to articulate their feelings," hence the use of Smeraldo. As for its curious title — loosely inspired by The Beatles ' 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band — it came first as a casual nickname between Jimin, Pdogg, Ghstloop, and Evan while they worked together on FACE , and eventually became real.

It’s Packed With Nostalgia

If you miss Justin Timberlake 's Justified sounds and other early-2000s gems, MUSE is here to take you on a nostalgic trip. Inspired by pop, R&B and hip hop from that era, Jimin gave his latest album a vintage, cozy veneer.

These references are predominantly visible on "Who" and its delightful guitar strums, but "Slow Dance (feat. Sofia Carson)," for example, sounds like an updated version of Usher and Alicia Key 's "My Boo," and "Be Mine" could be the 2020's lovechild of Santana 's "Maria Maria" and Sean Paul 's "I'm Still In Love With You."

Another strain of references can be seen in "Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (feat. Loco)," which extends The Beatles' inspiration to experimental samples and marching band percussion, and creates a quirky piece that strays away from any current trends. "Interlude: Showtime" drinks from the same source, featuring a circus brass and drum line that introduces us to the singularity of "Smeraldo Garden."

While infused with nostalgia, MUSE still appeals to today's tastes, and offers a seamless, polished listen. It stands as a testament to Jimin's artistic growth, and while he might not have found his muse yet — he is certainly a source of inspiration for many.

More BTS News

GRAMMY Museum Partners With HYBE For New K-Pop Exhibit 'HYBE: We Believe In Music' Opening Aug. 2

• 1 BTS To Release New Album 'Love Yourself: Answer' With Upcoming Tour
• 2 Get To Know KATSEYE: The Global Girl Group Styled After K-Pop Superstars
• 3 5 Takeaways From The GRAMMY Museum’s "HYBE: We Believe In Music" Exhibit
• 4 KCON L.A. 2024: 7 Highlights From NCT 127, ZEROBASEONE, NMIXX & More
• 5 5 Takeaways from BTS Jimin's New Album, 'MUSE': A Bold Exploration Of Love And Inspiration

BTS releases Love Yourself Tour VOD on Weverse: Where to buy, packages, and more details explored

O n September 3, 2024, BTS announced the release of the BTS World Tour: Love Yourself World Tour VOD on Weverse. The group's official Weverse account notified fans about the time-limited products, their guide, and their subsequent release schedule.

Fans will now have the opportunity to relive or watch BTS' five-year-old worldwide concert tour content for the first time at their convenience on the Weverse mobile app, website, and smart TV app. However, the smart TV app is only available for platforms that offer the Weverse TV app.

BTS rental VOD time-limited product

The Love Yourself tour content is scheduled to be available from September 3, 2024, till October 29, 2024. The tour content is expected to include four packages - Love Yourself, Bring the Soul, Love Yourself: Speak Yourself, and Break the Silence.

Fans can also opt for individual content apart from packages, which may include BTS' docu-series and their concerts in specific regions, such as New York, Europe, Wembley, Saudi Arabia, etc.

Detailed list of content and their scheduled dates:

• September 3: Lover Yourself Package (two VODs, about 300 mins)
• September 17: Love Yourself EUROPE & NEW YORK (one VOD each)
• September 17: Bring the Soul Package (seven VODs, about 281 mins)
• October 1: Bring the Soul: Docu-series (six VODs) and Bring the Soul: The movie commentary package (one VOD)
• October 1: Love Yourself: Speak Yourself Package (three VODs, about 511 mins)
• October 15: Love Yourself: Speak Yourself in Wembley Stadium, Saudi Arabia, and the final (one VOD each)
• October 15: Break the Silence Package (eight VODs, about 225 mins)
• October 29: Break the Silence: Docu-series (seven VODs) and Break the Silence: The movie and commentary package (one VOD)

Following the guide posted by Weverse on X, viewers can purchase and enjoy the Love Yourself tour content. Bring the Soul and Break the Silence packages can be viewed in 1440 FHD and 2160 UHD quality.

The sale of the products, that is, the concert tour VODs, will be available for purchase within its scheduled period of two weeks for each product. The purchased VODs will be accessible for 7 days from purchase.

For instance, if an individual purchased a VOD on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at 11 AM, they can watch it till Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 10:59 AM (KST).

Fans should note that even if they have purchased a permanent VOD product of the same content in the past, they can still purchase the same content.

Payments and refunds

The products can only be purchased with the payment method supported on Weverse, that is, through Jelly. A refund can be requested within seven days of the purchase if the video has not been watched.

BTS' third world tour on Weverse

The Love Yourself tour marked the Save Me singers' third tour, which began on August 25, 2018, and ended on October 29, 2019. The set list primarily included songs from their Love Yourself album series. The tour concluded with 62 shows in 14 countries. In 2019, it was ranked third on Billboard's 2019 Year End Top 40 Tours chart worldwide.

Fans worldwide can enjoy the content with subtitles in various languages, including Korean, Japanese, English, and Chinese (Simplified). Love Yourself: Speak Yourself package will also be available in Chinese (Traditional), Indonesian, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, and Vietnamese.

BTS Announce ‘Love Yourself’ World Tour

By Suzy Exposito

Suzy Exposito

Korean superstars BTS are set to kick off their Love Yourself world tour this August, opening with two dates in their home turf of Seoul. 

After their August 25th and 26th shows in Seoul’s Jamsil Olympic Stadium, BTS will continue their world tour across major cities in North America and Europe, starting with three nights in Los Angeles. North American tickets will go on sale on May 5th and May 7th at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time. 

“We have only released the concert schedule whose dates and venues have been confirmed, and will announce further schedules as they are confirmed later on,” said a representative of Big Hit Entertainment on Friday.

The tour follows the success of their 2017 EP, Love Yourself: Her , which has remained steadily on the Billboard 200 for 27 weeks and counting – a first for any K-pop artist. The next installment in their Love Yourself series, Love Yourself: Tear , is due for release May 18th.

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The band is set to perform May 20th at this year’s Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, NV, where they will debut a brand new song. They are nominated a second year in a row for the Top Social Artist award, which they won in 2017.

BTS Tour Dates

September 5th – Los Angeles, CA @ STAPLES Center (on sale May 5 @ 10am local) September 6th – Los Angeles, CA @ STAPLES Center (on sale May 5 @ 10am local) September 8th – Los Angeles, CA @ STAPLES Center (on sale May 5 @ 10am local) September 12th – Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena (on sale May 7 @ 4pm local) September 15th – Fort Worth, TX @ Fort Worth Convention Center (on sale May 5 @ 10am local) September 16th – Fort Worth, TX @ Fort Worth Convention Center (on sale May 5 @ 10am local) September 20th – Hamilton, ON @ First Ontario Centre (on sale May 7 @ 4pm local) September 22nd – Hamilton, ON @ FirstOntario Centre (on sale May 7 @ 4pm local) September 23rd – Hamilton, ON @ FirstOntario Centre (on sale May 7 @ 4pm local) September 28th – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center (on sale May 5 @ 10am local) September 29th – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center (on sale May 5 @ 10am local) October 2nd – Chicago, IL @ United Center (on sale May 7 @ 4pm local) October 3rd – Chicago, IL @ United Center (on sale May 7 @ 4pm local)

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