K-Pop
10 K-Pop Acts That Dominated 2021
The 2021 edition of our Annual Report continues with a spotlight on some of the best and brightest acts in K-pop. As the year winds down, stay tuned for more awards, lists, and articles about the best music, film, and TV of 2021. You can find it all in one place here. 2021 was another major year for K-pop. What was once a niche corner of the music industry has transformed into a formidable sub-genre in recent years, in part because of its depth and diversity of sound. There’s something for everyone under the K-pop umbrella — the catch-all label refers to South Korean groups (boy and girl alike) and soloists who incorporate a mix of standard-raising production, choreography, and packaging. The music itself pulls from so many different sounds that listeners drawn to rap are able to debate sp...
BTS Perform “Butter” to Celebrate the 1,000th Episode of Corden: Watch
Last night, The Late Late Show with James Corden celebrated its 1,000th episode, of which approximately 999 featured BTS (ok, that’s a slight exaggeration, though Corden undoubtedly wishes it were true). To honor the occasion, the Bangtan Boys returned once again to perform a rendition of their record-breaking hit, “Butter.” BTS sang the song live with a backing track, and if you’ve been following these performances closely, you’ll be able to hear a marked improvement in their English accents from just a few months ago. After a two-year marathon, the world’s most famous septet are getting close to a well-deserved “extended period of rest,” and this iteration of “Butter” was much looser than usual — a bit breathier at times, with slightly more ad-libbing on the mic, and a goofy dance ...
BTS Dishes ‘Butter’ on ‘Late Late Show’: Watch
After several years of world-domination, BTS is all set for a hard-earned break to replenish the creative juices and recharge the batteries. But before the lads find a beach and chill out, there’s work to be done. The K-pop phenomenon are regular guests on The Late Late Show with James Corden, and they stopped by once again on Wednesday (Dec. 8), this time to help celebrate its 1,000 episode. What better way to bring up four-figures of late-night TV than dishing out the full spread of “Butter?” On this occasion, there was little in the way of theatrics. Just a dancefloor, with Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook lighting it up for a performance of their chart-topping hit. Explore Explore BTS See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news It’s been ano...
Artist of the Month TOMORROW X TOGETHER on Connecting Through Their Music: “We Want Our Fans to Be Proud”
We’re taking a break from our 2021 Annual Report to recognize our last Artist of the Month of the year! AOTM is an accolade given to an up-and-coming artist or group who is poised for the big time. In December 2021, we recognize K-pop act TOMORROW X TOGETHER, who continue to solidify themselves as 4th-generation leaders in the genre. Throughout 2021, TOMORROW X TOGETHER was frozen in time. The K-pop group (whose name is often shortened to TXT) burst onto the international scene with a remarkable debut in 2019 and quickly amassed a no-skips reputation. The still very young group was poised to explode in 2020 — when the world, of course, came to a screeching halt. It must have been somewhat frustrating for the five members — Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun and Hueningkai — but if that’s th...
BTS Announce “Extended Period of Rest,” Tease “New Album”
After keeping up a stupefying pace for the last two years, BTS are ready for a break. Through BIGHIT MUSIC, the septet have announced an “extended period of rest,” as they prepare for a “new chapter” — which includes a “new album.” The break follows scheduled performances for “The Jingle Ball Tour” and “Permission to Dance On Stage,” which was one of the best-selling concerts in history. It’s their first hiatus since the one they took in 2019, which lasted for several weeks. In a statement, BIGHIT MUSIC said a break would give the Bangtan Boys “a chance to get re-inspired and recharge with creative energy. It will also be the first time for them since their debut to spend the holiday season with their families.” Advertisement Related Video The statement did not elaborate on how long the gr...
BTS Will Take an ‘Extended Period of Rest’
BTS is taking a well-earned break. The K-pop phenomenon will enjoy a hiatus at the completion of their scheduled upcoming events, which include the BTS Permission To Dance On Stage shows and the Jingle Ball Tour, reads a statement from the septet’s music company, Big Hit. It’s a pause, but not the end of days, insist the Seoul-based business. Explore Explore BTS See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The members of BTS had scheduled a several-week break in late 2019, and returned with all-guns blazing. They’ll need another “extended period of rest” to enable the group to get “re-inspired and recharge with creative energy,” the statement reads. Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook pump the brakes when they’re at the front of the pack. They’re the year...
BTS’ “Permission to Dance On Stage” Was One of the Best-Selling Concerts in History
On any given day BTS are setting some record, but here’s an especially impressive feat: the group’s “Permission to Dance On Stage” residency at Los Angeles So-Fi Stadium was the biggest single venue concert engagement by any act in nearly a decade. According to Billboard, the four-night stand sold 214,000 tickets and grossed $33.3 million. That’s the biggest box office draw at a single venue since Roger Waters earned $38 million over nine shows at Estadio River Plate in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2012. In the US, there hasn’t been a single venue box office total that large since Springsteen’s legendary 10-show run at Giants Stadium in 2003. And had BTS played even just one more show, it’s likely they would have smashed both Waters’ and Springsteen’s aforementioned totals. Advertisement Rel...
BTS Give “Butter” a Festive Holiday Remix: Stream
Ho, ho, ho! BTS have unveiled their festive “Butter (Holiday Remix)” just in time for the Christmas season. To transform their summer smash into a winter wonderland, the Bangtan Boys added a healthy dose of sleigh bells to the buttery proceedings. “Smooth like butter, like a criminal undercover/ Gon’ pop like trouble breaking into your heart like that,” the bandmates sing over jaunty Christmas bells and sparkling production. The holiday remix is just the latest iteration of the K-pop septet’s third No. 1 hit, following in the footsteps of the original version as well as the first remix featuring Megan Thee Stallion. Grab your Santa hat and stream “Butter (Holiday Remix)” after the jump. Advertisement Related Video Earlier this week, BTS returned to America for the first time since the...
Megan Thee Stallion Joins BTS for First Live Performance of “Butter” Remix: Watch
After Megan Thee Stallion was suddenly unable to attend the American Music Awards on November 22nd, BTS instead shared a performance of the original version of their summer smash, “Butter,” leaving the BTS ARMY wondering when the collaboration would be finally shared in person. They didn’t have to wait long — on November 28th, night two of BTS’ stint at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, The Stallion delighted the sold-out crowd with a surprise appearance. In an appropriately hot pink dress, Houston’s Hottie entered to an eruption of cheers throughout the already electric stadium. “Your existence made the stage perfect,” said RM. “We felt very sad at the AMAs but now you’re here!” Advertisement Related Video “We did it!” Megan replied. “I’m feeling like a hot girl every season!” Megan @TheeStall...
Stanning BTS: 2021 American Music Awards
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Radio Public | Pocket Casts | RSS BTS had a monumental night at the 2021 AMAs with sweeping wins across the board and two stunning energetic performances. Join Kayla & Bethany as they discuss their historic wins and performances of “My Universe” and “Butter.” Advertisement Related Video We hope you enjoy! Thank you so much for listening and for your support! Listen to the latest Stanning BTS episode above. Then you can show how hard you stan Stanning BTS with the Iconic ARMY T-shirt, now on sale at the Consequence Shop or via the buy-now button below — available in two new colors! Use code BTS15 for 15% off. Stanning BTS is a biweekly podcast about any...
BTS Perform “My Universe” with Coldplay at the AMAs: Watch
BTS and Coldplay hit the stage at the 2021 American Music Awards to perform their collaborative song “My Universe” live and in person for the very first time. Watch the relay below. “In the night, I lie and look up at you/ When the morning comes, I watch you rise/ There’s a paradise they couldn’t capture/ That bright infinity inside your eyes,” Chris Martin sang over spacey beats on the opening verse before being joined by Jungkook on the dual-language pre-chorus. BTS’ high-energy performance, which culminated with some fancy pyrotechnics, was also supposed to include the live debut of their “Butter” remix with Megan Thee Stallion. Unfortunately, the Houston rapper backed out of her planned performance with the K-pop idols at the last minute, citing an “unexpected personal matter” as her r...
Are BTS Getting Ready to Drop A New Album? A Brief Investigation
Buckle up, everyone: the biggest group on the planet seems to be gearing up for a new release. BTS may not have dropped a full-length album in 2021, but that hasn’t stopped them from breaking records and dominating the charts with their two singles, “Butter” and “Permission to Dance.” The Bangtan Boys have been a bit quiet lately — and sure, that could be because they just wrapped their Permission to Dance online concert, or because they’re preparing for their upcoming stint at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. This is the longest break BTS has ever taken between albums as the one-year mark approaches since the release of the tender, pandemic-era BE. Early 2020 also included the massive release of Map of the Soul: 7, so it’s been a while since fans had a full album to unpack. ARMY has...
