BTS (band)

BTS (Hangul: 방탄소년단; RR: Bangtan Sonyeondan), also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a seven-
member South Korean boy band formed in Seoul in 2013. Beyond the Scene became a backronym for
the name in July 2017. The septet co-writes and produces much of their output. Initially rooted in hip
hop, BTS' musical style has evolved to include a wide range of genres. Their lyrics, often focused on
personal and social commentary, touch on the themes of mental health, troubles of school-age youth,
loss, the journey towards loving oneself, and individualism. Their work features references to literature
and psychological concepts and includes an alternative universe storyline. Popular for their live
performances, the group have staged several world tours.

The group initially formed as teenagers under Big Hit Entertainment and released their debut single
album, 2 Cool 4 Skool (2013). Subsequent work such as their first U.S. Billboard 200 entries The Most
Beautiful Moment in Life, Part 2 (2015), The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever (2016), and
Wings (2016) helped establish BTS' reputation as a socially conscious group. Wings became BTS' first
"million seller" in Korea. By 2017, BTS were international stars, leading the Korean Wave into the United
States music market and breaking numerous sales records. From then onwards, BTS continued to make
history with their RIAA-certified Gold single "DNA" and Platinum single "Mic Drop", a first for any Korean
group and the second for a Korean act after Psy. BTS became the first and only Korean act as of 2019 to
top the U.S. Billboard 200 with their album Love Yourself: Tear (2018) and have since hit the top of the
U.S. charts with their albums Love Yourself: Answer (2018) and Map of the Soul: Persona (2019), making
BTS the first group since The Beatles to earn three number one albums in less than a year. Love Yourself:
Answer also broke South Korea's Gaon Album Chart's all-time monthly record previously set by Love
Yourself: Tear and became the first Korean album certified Gold in the United States. In 2018, BTS had
the second and third best-selling albums worldwide and were the second best-selling artists worldwide
in terms of physical, digital, and streaming platforms, coming second only to Drake. In Korea, they have
sold over ten million albums, with five million sold in 2018.

Known for their global social influence, BTS hold the Guinness World Record for most Twitter
engagements and were the most-tweeted celebrities in 2017 and 2018, winning Top Social Artist three
years in a row and Top Duo/Group at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards. Time magazine has named the
band one of the 25 most influential people on the internet, featured them on their international cover
as "Next Generation Leaders," and named them one of Time 100's most influential people of 2019.
Forbes Korea Power Celebrity has named BTS the most influential celebrities of Korea in 2018. Their
influence led them to address the United Nations 73rd General Assembly and to become the youngest
ever recipients of the Order of Cultural Merit from the South Korean president due to their
contributions in spreading Korean culture and language. Measurably revitalizing the Korean economy
and the global music industry, BTS are worth more than $3.6 billion to South Korea's economy each
year, attracting one in every 13 foreign tourists that visit the country, and are cited as one of the key
acts boosting global music sales to $19 billion in 2018, a figure not seen since 2006 after digital
purchases gained momentum.
Lyrics and themes

BTS' lyrics are known for their social commentary, often incorporating criticism of South Korean society.
Songs such as "No More Dream" and "N.O" from their "school trilogy" were deeply motivated by their
experiences with South Korea's emphasis on education and called for change to the education system
and societal expectations.[222] Their experiences with youth culture in South Korea inspired songs like
"Dope" and "Silver Spoon" (Korean: 뱁새; RR: Baepsae) from their "youth series," referencing
generational disparity and the millennial's giving up of romantic relationships, marriage, children, proper
employment, homes, and social life in the face of economic difficulties and societal ills while facing
condemnation from the media and older generations.[222] The song "Am I Wrong" from Wings (2016)
questioned societal apathy towards the state of current events—the lyric "We're all dogs and pigs / we
become dogs because we're angry" referenced the South Korean Ministry of Education official Na
Hyang-wook who was a proponent of the caste system and described the average person as "dogs and
pigs," and BTS performed the song on television during the 2016 South Korean political scandal that led
to the impeachment of ex-President Park Geun-hye.[222] RM and Suga's personal struggles with mental
health inspired songs like "Tomorrow", "Intro: The Most Beautiful Moment in Life", "So Far Away", "The
Last", and "Forever Rain."[223][224] "Not Today" from You Never Walk Alone (2017) is an anti-
establishment anthem, with messages advocating for minority groups,[225] while "Spring Day" was
created to memorialize the victims of the Sewol Ferry tragedy.[226]

BTS' albums have recurring themes that fall under the over-arching theme of "reflection of youth."[7]
Their "school trilogy" explored "the troubles and anxieties of school-age youth."[227] Their "youth
series" "tackled a subject that the vast majority of youth experience, but few pop musicians articulate
well: mental health and the desire to belong in society."[227] Wings (2016) focused on temptation and
sin.[228] The "Love Yourself" series utilized a narrative form to illustrate the excitement of love, the
pains of farewell, and the enlightenment of self-love.[171]

Since their inception, BTS was convinced that telling their story was the only way for the younger
generation to relate to their music.[20] Writing over 90 percent of their lyrics,[229] BTS try to include
experiences everyone has felt in life, such as sadness and loneliness, and turn them to something more
light and manageable. In regards to their lyricism, RM states he tries to not sound as if they're preaching
or reprimanding people in their songs as everyone has different lives and different destinies.[230] When
asked if it is difficult to write about things like mental health, Suga responded,

"We feel that people who have the platform to talk about those things really should talk more, because
they say depression is something where you go to the hospital and you’re diagnosed, but you can’t
really know until the doctor talks to you. [...] More and more, I think artists or celebrities who have a
voice should talk about these problems and bring it up to the surface."[230]
BTS has been praised for "speak[ing] honestly about topics they deem important, even in a conservative
society" by Jeff Benjamin in Fuse magazine.[97] South Korean president Moon Jae-in, in a letter to BTS,
recognized their sincerity and inclusion of diversity as key to their success, writing, "Each of the seven
members sings in a way that is true to himself and the life he wants to live. Their melody and lyrics
transcend regional borders, language, culture, and institutions."

Impact and influence

BTS performing at the Korea-France Friendship Concert in Paris on October 14, 2018.

BTS has been described as "easily the biggest and most successful name in K-pop in the world" that can
"do things no other name in their genre can."[239] Their chart success and popularity in numerous
countries has prompted many Western media outlets to name them "the biggest boy band in the
world."[240][241] The first Korean musician to make the Global Artist Chart in 2018, BTS had the second
and third best-selling albums worldwide and were the second best-selling artists worldwide in terms of
physical, digital, and streaming platforms, coming second only to Drake.[242][243] The most tweeted-
about celebrities in the world in 2017 and 2018,[244][245] Time magazine has named the band one of
the 25 most influential people on the internet,[246] featured them on the cover of their October 2018
global edition as "Next Generation Leaders,"[247] and named them one of Time 100's most influential
people of 2019.[248] Forbes Korea Power Celebrity has named them the fifth most influential celebrities
of Korea in 2017 and the most influential celebrities of Korea in 2018.[249][250] Their influence led
them to address the United Nations at their 73rd General Assembly[251][252] and to perform to 400
officials including South Korean president Moon Jae-in at the Korea-France Friendship Concert in Paris, a
summit meant to show the friendly relations between France and South Korea.[253] Due to their
contributions in spreading Korean culture and language, BTS became the youngest ever recipients to be
awarded the Order of Cultural Merit by the South Korean president.[254]

BTS has measurably revitalized the Korean economy[255] and the global music industry. The surge in
popularity of online purchases of K-Pop items[256] and the Hallyu Movement between 2016 and 2018
was largely attributed to BTS by the Korea Customs Service and Korea Foundation.[257] Yung Duk Kim,
vice president and chief operating officer of KOCCA, stated K-pop has “skyrocketed” since BTS'
popularity surged and it has created jobs not only for BTS and their team but other idols as well.[258]
Various news outlets coined the term the "BTS effect" to refer to the commercial effects of BTS'
influence, such as when KB Kookmin Bank savings accounts increased six-fold compared to the prior
year after signing a contract with BTS and when stock prices of entertainment companies in South Korea
shot up for five days after BTS topped the U.S. Billboard 200.[259][260][261] The effect was also
observed when companies tied to BTS, such as Netmarble, NetMark, Soribada, Key Shares, GMP, Diffie,
and Mattel had their stocks rise.[262][263] BTS is worth more than $3.63 billion to the Korean economy
each year, and attracts one in every thirteen foreigners who visit Korea.[264][265] Along with Ariana
Grande and Drake, BTS boosted global music sales to $19 billion in 2018. Such profit had not been seen
since 2006 after digital purchases gained momentum.[266]
BTS' work has influenced numerous artists, including (G)I-dle,[267] D-Crunch's Hyunho,[268] The Boyz'
Younghoon,[269] SF9's Zuho,[270] Euna Kim,[271] Golden Child's Jaehyun,[272] Wanna One,[273]
IN2IT,[274] Park Ji-hoon,[275] Kim Dong-han,[276][277] Seven O'Clock,[278] Hyeongseop X
Euiwoong,[279] Noir,[280] Victon's Sejun,[281] and Loona.[282] After BTS released their single "Idol,"
the National Gugak Center had to expand the amount of Korean instrument sounds available due to
increased demand from Korean and foreign producers alike.[283] K-pop idol groups also began changing
the themes of their lyrics from love stories to words such as "looking for myself" following BTS' "Love
Yourself" era and RM's speech at the United Nations.[284]