The last few days have been chaotic for the BTS fans popularly known as the ‘BTS Army‘. Ever since there have been reports about the boy band BTS a.k.a Bangtan Boys breaking up, fans were restless. However, recent reports say that it was just a misunderstanding. BTS is neither breaking up nor going on hiatus. The band members just want to focus on their individual careers all the while working as a team. When they said it during the Festa Dinner, fans misread it as ‘breaking up.’
At the Festa Dinner, where the band members- RM, J-Hope, Suga, Jungkook, V, Jin, and Jimin – indulged in a candid conversation while celebrating the ninth anniversary of the band, they mentioned pursuing their individual careers. This created an uproar.
Later, Hybe, the South Korean entertainment company behind BTS, issued a statement saying that “BTS is not taking a hiatus. Members will be focusing more on solo projects this time.”
BTS is a globally-acclaimed boy band from South Korea. One of the richest bands, according to The Wealth Record, BTS’s net worth is $100 million. Each member has close to $20 million net worth. The group is worth $3.6 billion to South Korea’s economy. BTS has contributed to the surge in Korean tourism and Korean products. It was expected that the band would bring $37 billion over the next 10 years.
A major chunk of their earnings come from their “Love Yourself: Speak Yourself” world tour. It amassed $44 million from six US stadium shows. Besides that, their fortune comes from their music, album sales, concerts, merchandise, and brand deals. “Map of the Soul: Persona”, their April 2019 album, sold about 3.4 million copies within a month. In 2020, when covid was at its peak, BTS released its ‘Dynamite’ album, breaking all records. The album received 100 million viewers in 24 hours. Their 2018 movie “Burn the Stage” collected more than $20 million worldwide.
The group has partnered with brands such as Coca-Cola, Hyundai, and Puma. BTS has played a crucial role in putting South Korea on the top of the tourism map. About 800,000 tourists are said to have chosen South Korea because of BTS. The band’s popularity also boosted the sales of South Korean products like clothes, cosmetics, and food.
It was not easy for BTS to find its place in the music world. The band members struggled a lot before becoming a band in 2010. The band was formed by Big Hit Entertainment. BTSofficially debuted in 2013 but struggled to get traction as the South Korean traditional media was not quite in favour of the band. So, the band used social media to connect with the audience. It worked like magic! It led to sold-out concerts, record sales, and the band becoming the world’s most tweeted-about celebrities. Their fame also enhanced the net worth of Big Hit Entertainment that almost went bankrupt in 2007.
Since then, the life of BTS members changed forever. It became the first K-pop group to address the UN. Recently, the team visited the White House to meet the president and discuss the disparities Asians face. It also runs the ‘Love Myself’ campaign, aimed at promoting self-confidence and ending violence, along with UNICEF.
Although there is assurance that the band will remain despite the members chasing their individual careers, the news has obviously come as a shock to the BTS Army. All they want is their favourite BTS to be back soon!
