#BTS

BTS's Jungkook Heads to Japan Two Days After the iHeartRadio Finale — Fans Cheer On a Nonstop Global Run

Just two days after returning from his U.S. schedule, BTS's Jungkook has headed off to Japan again. Right before the Chuseok holiday, fans are sending both cheers and concern for his health over a global run that never seems to pause. U.S. Stage → Home → Japan Two Days Later Jungkook departed for Las Vegas via Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 17th. After the "2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival" stage on the 18th (local time), he returned through Incheon Airport in the early hours of the 21st — and just two days later, on the 23rd, he departed for Japan again via Gimpo Airport. News of this departure for a scheduled engagement spread quickly on X (formerly Twitter) that day, becoming a major topic. The 23rd was the day before Korea's Chuseok holiday and also a public holiday in Japan, designated as Autumnal Equinox Day. On a day when both countries begin to rest, Jungkook was crossing holidays in transit. Meanwhile, J-Hope was also reported to have carried out a personal engagement on the same day, and support continues to pour in for members who have no time to rest even on the first day of the holiday. First iHeartRadio in Six Years — Closing the Show The centerpiece of this U.S. schedule was the "2026 iHeartRadio Music Festival." On the 18th (local time), BTS appeared as the closing artist at the festival, held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and capped the night with the finale. It was their first appearance in about six years, since 2020, on a stage shared with world-class artists such as Cardi B, Snoop Dogg, and Benson Boone. In a show staged under the theme "BTS 2.0," BTS performed four songs, opening with "SWIM," the title track of their fifth full album, followed by "2.0," "MIC Drop," and "FYA." Each song came with its own staging — water flowing across the giant LED screen for "SWIM," the Las Vegas night skyline unfolding for "2.0." "Master of Intros" Jungkook Proves His Vocals Jungkook once again made his presence shine on the stage that night. Taking the intro of the opening song "SWIM," he showed off vocals that blended a sweet voice with a dreamy tone, and in the intense, dynamic performances of "MIC Drop," "2.0," and "FYA," he captivated fans with vocal skills that moved freely between low and high notes and with commanding stage presence. That day, the Chinese fan club "Jungkook China" ran an ad video on a giant billboard directly across from T-Mobile Arena to support his festival appearance, drawing attention. In an interview, the members shared, "ARMY is the best fandom in the world, and it's amazing how they sing along to every Korean lyric." "We Hope He Rests, Even Briefly, This Holiday" Reactions from fans followed right away toward Jungkook, who set out on an overseas schedule just two days after returning from the U.S. stage. One Japanese fan lamented, "I'd just been hoping he'd rest well over Chuseok, and now he's off to Japan again," while another worried about his health amid the grueling pace: "Wishing him a safe flight — I hope he gets some rest this time." Seeing him keep up his schedule without rest even over the holiday, fans took to social media with mixed feelings — glad to see the proud star at work, yet aching for him — sharing the wish, "We hope he can rest comfortably, even for a moment, this holiday." As Jungkook runs nonstop between the ARIRANG world tour and global festivals, hearts are gathering in the hope that ample rest accompanies his passion.

BTS's Jimin Enters the Global Top 5 in Instagram Influence — the Only Korean, for Two Months Running

BTS's Jimin has entered the global top 5 in Instagram influence. As the only Korean to make the top 5, and for a second month in a row following August, it is all the more meaningful. No. 5 Worldwide as of September 22 As of September 22, Jimin ranked No. 5 worldwide on the Instagram influence ranking of HypeAuditor, a global influencer-marketing platform. He was the only Korean to make the top 5. Following August, Jimin made the top 5 for two consecutive months. His Instagram account, followed by more than 60.13 million people, took No. 1 in Korea in the by-country ranking and No. 2 overall in the music category. Both Metrics — Followers and Engagement — in the Top Tier HypeAuditor is a global marketing platform that analyzes influencer accounts' activity and influence through an artificial-intelligence (AI) algorithm. It detects fake followers and fraudulent activity to assess account credibility and influence, and provides related data so that brands, ad agencies, and others can select influencers. Because the influence ranking reflects metrics such as account activity and engagement as key factors, it can shift according to an influencer's level of activity. Beyond simply having a large follower count, it is a structure in which how actively users respond to content is also evaluated. Holding No. 5 Even After a Single Post — Steady Influence What especially draws attention is Jimin's "efficiency." Even after unveiling just one post on September 13, he ranked No. 5 as of September 22. In a structure where activity level is reflected in the ranking, maintaining the very top with few posts confirms his solid influence once again. Having also entered the top 5 on the same metric in August, Jimin has held No. 5 worldwide for two consecutive months through September, continuing a steady presence at the top of the global influencer market. Interest is gathering in Jimin's path as he shows powerful influence on Instagram, beyond music and the stage.

BTS's J-Hope Unveils an "ARMY" Tattoo — Formed from the Silhouettes of All Seven BTS Members

BTS's J-Hope has inked his affection for the fandom "ARMY" into a tattoo. A design that completes the word "ARMY" from the silhouettes of all seven members is striking a chord with fans. "ARMY" Completed with Seven Members' Silhouettes Recently, tattoo artist Dr. Woo unveiled J-Hope's new tattoo. In the black-and-white photo, the tattoo arranges the silhouettes of seven figures like letters of the alphabet to complete the word "ARMY." It's a design that faithfully recreates the scene from BTS's "Butter" music video, where the members spelled out "A-R-M-Y" with their bodies. Even at a small size, the members' poses and characteristics are captured with delicate detail, drawing the eye. Rather than simply inking the fandom name, J-Hope used the full-group image of BTS to complete a tattoo that symbolizes both the members and the fans at once. Detail That Faithfully Carries Over the "Butter" Poses The unveiled photo shows the figures of all seven BTS members inked side by side. The members at each end spread their arms and legs to form the letters "A" and "Y," while the members in the middle lean their bodies or hold each other's hands to form "R" and "M." Compared with the attached "Butter" music-video scene, the detail — carrying over those poses exactly — stands out even more clearly. The work was done by the world-renowned tattoo artist Dr. Woo. He is also known to have created the "HOPE" tattoo inked on J-Hope's arm. Following the friendship tattoo "7" that he shared with his BTS members, J-Hope has added the "HOPE" tattoo symbolizing his own name and now the "ARMY" tattoo meaning the fandom — imbuing his body with special meaning. "A Tattoo Worthy of an ARMY-Lover" — Fans Respond Fans responded warmly with reactions like "A man who inks ARMY onto his body," "The detail of carrying over the 'Butter' poses exactly is moving," "He captured all seven members and the fans at once," and "A tattoo worthy of an ARMY-lover." Since the fandom name was completed with the members' figures, it is being received as all the more special for carrying the meaning of uniting members and fans as one. Continuing Their Global Run with the ARIRANG World Tour Meanwhile, BTS — the group J-Hope belongs to — is currently meeting fans worldwide through "BTS WORLD TOUR ARIRANG." Opening with Goyang shows in April 2026, this tour has followed its concerts at LA's SoFi Stadium into South America, Asia, Oceania, and beyond, accelerating their global run. As BTS — reunited as a full group after completing their military service — travels the world with a large-scale tour, ARMY's interest is growing even hotter over this news of J-Hope inking his heart for the fandom into a tattoo.

BTS Jimin's "Who" Earns a Streaming "Platinum" Certification from Japan's RIAJ — A First for His Solo Songs

BTS's Jimin has earned a streaming "Platinum" certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). As the first streaming Platinum certification of his solo career, it is all the more meaningful. Surpassing 100 Million Cumulative Plays in Japan According to the RIAJ's announcement, "Who," the title track of Jimin's second solo album "MUSE," surpassed 100 million cumulative plays in Japan and received a "Platinum" certification in the July streaming category. This adds meaning as the song with the most cumulative plays among Jimin's solo tracks, and as the first RIAJ streaming "Platinum" certification he has earned in his solo career. Each month, the RIAJ grants Gold (50 million plays or more), Platinum (100 million or more), and Diamond (500 million or more) certifications based on cumulative play counts. Jimin's Solo Certification Record Earlier, Jimin's first solo album "FACE" surpassed 250,000 cumulative shipments and received a "Platinum" certification in the album category. His second EP "MUSE," too, shipped over 100,000 copies to earn a "Gold" certification. With this streaming Platinum certification for "Who" now added, Jimin continues to build solid results in Japan across both albums and streaming. "Who," Which Has Kept Up Global Success "Who" is a hip-hop R&B track, characterized by an intense beat that bursts out from the very start and acoustic yet delicate guitar playing. It sings of the tenderness and confused emotions of longing for someone never met. Since its release, "Who" has proven steady success on the global stage. On Spotify, it surpassed 2.5 billion cumulative streams, and it spent a total of 33 weeks on the U.S. Billboard main song chart, the "Hot 100," setting the record for the longest chart run by a K-pop act. It also enjoyed a 32-week run on the Billboard "Japan Hot 100," proving its popularity locally in Japan. Jimin's second solo album "MUSE," released in July 2024, is a work that captures a range of emotions about love and relationships. Its title track "Who" continues to be loved worldwide more than two years after release, adding new certification records along the way.

"HAPPY JK DAY": BTS Jungkook's Birthday Celebrations Take Over Billboards Worldwide

Around September 1, the birthday of BTS's Jungkook, fan clubs at home and abroad are carrying out massive birthday support all over the world. From outdoor ads spanning Asia, the U.S., and Europe to drone and fireworks events, the global fandom's firepower has rallied once again. From 11 Chinese Cities to LA and New York in the U.S. On September 1, the Chinese fan club "Jungkook China" will run celebratory ads on large LED screens in 11 Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Changsha, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan, Tianjin, Taiyuan, Haikou, and Harbin. The overseas fan base "Jungkook CIS" will, on the same day, operate an LED truck for eight hours around LA's SoFi Stadium, where Jungkook performs. At home, from August 31 to September 6, it will run ads 120 times a day on the outdoor electronic billboard at Shinsegae's Gangnam Central branch in Seoul. "Jungkook China" will also broadcast birthday ads 576 times in a single day on September 1 on the massive TSX Live billboard in Times Square, Manhattan, New York. And from August 17 to September 13, it will continue ads at bus stops near SoFi Stadium and on three massive outdoor billboards in LA. From Jakarta and Tokyo to Budapest — Spreading Worldwide Celebratory ads will also go up on September 1 on the "Graha Mandiri" outdoor billboard in Jakarta, Indonesia, the large LED at the "Blok M BCA" subway station, and the large electronic billboard at Unika Vision in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The Japanese fan club "Jungkook Japan" flew 1,000 drones over the Tokyo sky for about 10 minutes on August 30, and will also hold a fireworks event on September 1. "Jungkook Hungary" will run ads on two outdoor billboards at the Allee shopping mall in Budapest, while Russian fans will broadcast ads on a billboard in Bryansk through September 1. Birthday ads will also continue from August 31 to September 1 on the largest LED KTZ billboard in Astana, Kazakhstan, and on a billboard at Allen Park in Kolkata, India. All the Way to the ARIRANG World Tour LA Concert Site The fan bases "Golden JK Universe," "Jungkook Supporters," and "Jungkook China" will operate three LED trucks from September 1 to 2 at SoFi Stadium, where BTS's "ARIRANG" World Tour in LA concert is held. The trucks consist of one for video and two for images, and are planned to be deployed in key LA areas such as Koreatown, Downtown, and Santa Monica. With Jungkook's birthday coinciding with BTS's LA concert, this year's birthday support has grown even larger in scale and fervor. The celebratory heat from fans worldwide for Jungkook — who is actively performing on the "ARIRANG" World Tour after completing his military service — is coloring September 1 with warmth.

BTS's Jimin Shows "Taegukgi Fashion" on a US Stage for Liberation Day — Historical Meaning Conveyed through the Geon-Gon-Gam-Ri

BTS's Jimin conveyed historical meaning through an outfit inspired by the Taegukgi (the Korean national flag) on a US concert stage for Liberation Day. Commemorating Liberation Day with styling evoking the Taegukgi on a US stage far from Korea, he drew the interest of fans at home and abroad. Stage Attire Bearing the Geon-Gon-Gam-Ri On the 15th (local time), Jimin took the stage at the BTS world tour "ARIRANG" concert held in Arlington, Texas, USA. That day, Jimin showed a hairstyle accented with red and blue hairpieces, and wore a top with a design rendering the Taegukgi's trigrams—the "Geon-Gon-Gam-Ri" (the four trigrams on the flag)—in beadwork. As the day of the concert was Liberation Day, Jimin's styling drew even more attention. After the show, a staff member also posted Jimin's photo along with a Taegukgi emoji on social media, revealing that it was a design commemorating Liberation Day and adding to its meaning. On that stage, elements evoking the Taegukgi could be found not only in Jimin's attire but in that of other members as well. Reflecting on the Meaning of Liberation Day That day was Liberation Day, commemorating Korea's freedom from Japanese colonial rule in 1945. Jimin reflected on the meaning of Liberation Day with red and blue hairpieces evoking the Taegukgi and an outfit with the Geon-Gon-Gam-Ri pattern. Last year, on the 80th anniversary of Liberation, Jimin also drew fans' attention by wearing a cap with a Taegukgi patch in the US. In that a world star didn't forget where he came from and revealed that identity in the most natural way, this styling carried a special meaning. Warmth Shown Off Stage At the concert, another side of Jimin was also captured. During the show, he gave a young fan a keyring and gently patted their head. When this news spread, fans left various responses to Jimin's warm consideration, sharing how moved they were. Since the Arlington concert, Jimin has been named one of the most-mentioned BTS members in the US, once again showing his presence there. The "ARIRANG" World Tour in Progress BTS, the group Jimin belongs to, reunited as a full group this past March and released their fifth studio album "ARIRANG." Starting in Goyang this past April, the group has been continuing the "BTS World Tour 'ARIRANG.'" As BTS's performances—grounded in the Korean language, music, and sensibility—continue on stages around the world, the cultural expressions of Jimin and the other members are also expected to draw international interest. Jimin, embracing the colors and patterns of the Taegukgi on a US stage on Liberation Day, remains a moment that naturally showed Korea's history and identity on a world stage.

BTS's Jimin Captivates Global Fans with a Quote on the "Beauty of Emptying" — Selected as India's Economic Times "Quote of the Day"

BTS's Jimin has once again captured the hearts of fans around the world with a quote conveying the "beauty of emptying." As an Indian outlet spotlighted his words, Jimin's sincere message—one that goes beyond music—is resonating across borders. The Words the Economic Times Spotlighted The Economic Times, a major Indian business daily, recently selected and spotlighted Jimin's remark as its "Quote of the Day." The remark the outlet introduced is: "If your heart has grown bigger, that also means you have emptied out that many things." These words come from the BTS documentary film "BRING THE SOUL: THE MOVIE" (2019), and the outlet explained that the remark reminds us that emotional growth doesn't mean carrying more baggage. "I've Cleared Away All the Knots and Feel at Ease and Happy" At the time, Jimin added: "Compared to who I was before, I think my heart has grown a little bigger. You could say I've emptied out a lot of what was inside, and having cleared away all the knots, I feel really at ease and happy." On this, the Economic Times conveyed: "The more we forgive, heal, and let go of negative emotions, the stronger and lighter our hearts become, and the more open we are to happiness." "Sincerity and Emotional Truth Inspire Across Generations" The Economic Times introduced Jimin as an artist who has shown outstanding expressiveness and emotional vocals, and as one of the influential artists in contemporary pop music. It also assessed that, beyond his musical activity, he is respected by fans and the public for his authenticity, kindness, and emotional openness, and that his songs have consistently explored themes such as identity, vulnerability, healing, and self-acceptance. The Economic Times emphasized that "Jimin's journey shows that authenticity and emotional truth can inspire people across cultures and generations." It added that "Jimin's words remind us that true strength is found not in holding on to every wound, but in the courage to let it go," and that "a bigger heart belongs not to one who holds greater pain, but to one who has learned how to leave the pain behind." Resonance Beyond Music Jimin's selection for this quote shows that his message is reaching fans as an attitude toward life, beyond the form of music. His insight—that the heart grows larger precisely through emptying—conveys quiet comfort and inspiration to many, crossing the boundaries of culture and language.

An NYT Op-Ed Ignites the "BTS Grammy Boycott" Debate — Perspectives on the "Asian Pop Category"

An op-ed by a university professor in The New York Times, addressing BTS's Grammy boycott, is drawing attention. Over how to view the Grammys' newly created "Best Asian Pop Music Performance" category, the professor's critique, the Grammys' rebuttal, and fans' reactions diverge. Rather than reaching a one-sided conclusion, we've laid out the arguments that have been exchanged. The Trigger: An Op-Ed in The New York Times Dan Charnas, a professor at New York University's (NYU) Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, published an op-ed titled "Pop Music Is the Problem" in The New York Times on the 9th (local time). In it, he described the Grammys' newly created "Best Asian Pop Music Performance" category as "a mechanism designed to prevent K-pop's influence from encroaching on the major award categories." This is, above all, Charnas's own interpretation and argument. The creation of this category is also the matter that earlier led to BTS's Grammy boycott. In late July, BTS (Jungkook, Jimin, V, Jin, j-hope, RM, Suga) decided not to submit its new album "ARIRANG" for the 2027 Grammys, and each member posted a statement on their social media to the effect that "rather than music being divided by region or language, we hope music can be heard and loved for what it is." Charnas's Argument Charnas noted the trend of Grammy categories expanding from 28 in 1959 to around 100 today. He held that after Beyoncé recently became the first Black woman to win "Best Country Album," the Academy split that category into "Traditional" and "Contemporary," and that after songs from the animated film "K-Pop: Demon Hunters" became big hits, the Asian Pop category was created. He argued that such subdivision has repeated itself in ways that ultimately draw racial boundaries. He also posed the question of "what pop even is." His point is that while the dance category has concrete judging criteria such as "dynamic sense of rhythm," the only eligibility requirement for the pop category is simply that it "must be pop." He also holds that American pop music excluded Black artists in its early formation, citing the case of Michael Jackson—that Jackson was excluded from major Grammy categories in 1980 with "Off the Wall," and that even his follow-up "Thriller" was aired on MTV only after his label's president applied pressure. He also mentioned that, unlike white artists who were called "King of Swing" or "King of Rock and Roll" without much proof, Jackson had to call himself the "King of Pop." He then noted that K-pop, which absorbed R&B, dance, hip-hop, and rock, is likewise a genre rooted in Black music, and assessed that "BTS may be the biggest artist in the world since Michael Jackson—the only Korean group with the bargaining power to drive such change." As a solution, he proposed that the Academy stop creating new categories based on race, nationality, or language. The Grammys' Rebuttal The Grammys (the Recording Academy), on the other hand, took a different position. CEO Harvey Mason jr. said of BTS's decision that he was "saddened, but as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision." At the same time, he explained the intent of the Asian Pop category this way: "The Asian Pop category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity, and extraordinary growth of pop artistry coming out of Asia. It's to shine a dedicated spotlight on these important artists." Mason emphasized that "more categories mean more artists' work is recognized, and it's never to divide, but to expand who is recognized." In particular, he stated that "submitting in a genre category such as Asian Pop does not exclude an artist from also being considered for the general-field categories such as Record of the Year and Album of the Year." In other words, his explanation is that a genre category and the major awards aren't an either-or choice. This is precisely the point where his account collides head-on with Charnas's interpretation of "a mechanism to block access to the major awards." Fans' Reactions and a Note of Caution When the op-ed became known, fans spread the hashtag "#ArtHasNoAliens" on X, sharing related lines. Yet even among fans there was a note of caution. Some warned against the phrase "the biggest since Michael Jackson" being distorted into "BTS is bigger than Jackson," urging care with wording. Their point was that the professor's assessment was a reference to "a position with bargaining power," not an attempt to rank the two artists. The Lingering Question This matter is less one with a clear-cut answer than a point where differing viewpoints collide. At its core is the question: "Is creating a dedicated category an inclusion that spotlights a minority culture, or a boundary-drawing that separates it from the mainstream?" The Grammys call it "more recognition"; Charnas and some fans warn of "the risk of separation." Whether BTS's boycott will lead to similar moves by other Asian artists, and whether the Academy will re-examine its category structure, remains to be seen. What's clear is that K-pop's standing has grown large enough to spark such a debate. This controversy has once again brought to the surface a question the Grammys have long faced: how to recognize and classify global music.

BTS's V Shares Everyday Moments with the Members — A Witty "Been a While?" Update

BTS's V drew fans' attention by sharing welcome everyday moments spent with the members. With the members appearing in this update after a while, it gave fans a strong sense of delight. An Update Delivered with the Witty "Been a While?" On the 10th, V posted several recent photos on his social media along with the witty line "Been a while?" In the revealed photos, V captivated attention, radiating his signature free-spirited, hip charm. In particular, from a black-and-white close-up selfie making a playful expression toward the camera to a shot exuding overwhelming aura on stage, he packed in a wide range of charm. Even the Close Everyday Moments with the Members Along with this, the members' welcome everyday moments were conveyed just as they are, giving fans deep emotion. In a mirror selfie, the members alongside V were captured, adding to the delight. Also included were Jungkook's natural look as he lay comfortably asleep on a sofa, RM's heartwarming visual caught at a bowling alley, and a mirror selfie taken while working out with j-hope at a gym—showing off an unchanging, close-knit teamwork. Fans who came across the photos showed hot interest with reactions like "I screamed the moment I saw his face," "j-hope, Jungkook, and RM—so heartwarming," "Seeing the members together brings me to tears," and "Counting down the days to the comeback." BTS Carrying on Full-Group Activity Meanwhile, BTS, the group V belongs to, has been carrying on full-group activity—releasing its fifth studio album "ARIRANG" this January, then holding a comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul in March. From April, it embarked on the world tour "BTS WORLD TOUR ARIRANG," meeting global fans. As the members' updates are shared, fans' anticipation for their next activities is rising further.

BTS's V Shares Piano Video with Cho Seong-jin — "It's Already Started," a Heartwarming Friendship

BTS's V shared a piano video made together with world-renowned pianist Cho Seong-jin, offering a glimpse of their long-standing friendship. With V — long known as a fan of Cho — sitting down at the piano himself, both the music world and the fandom responded at once. The Two, Documenting Each Other's Playing On July 28, V shared a video on his Instagram Story of himself sitting at a grand piano, playing the jazz standard "Misty." The video is said to have been filmed by Cho Seong-jin himself. The video captured V playing the piano, along with Cho's reflection in a glass window. A scene of Cho playing Chopin's "Ballade No. 4" while V films him was also visible, and the sight of the two documenting each other's playing drew attention. Cho, too, shared a video in the same vein, adding to the meaning. The Meaning Behind "It's Already Started" V attached the caption "It's already started" to the video. It quotes a remark Cho made in a past interview: "We don't start this, it's already started." The idea is that music doesn't begin the moment a performer's fingers touch the keys; rather, the energy of music already flowing through the air is drawn in by the hand and laid onto the keys. Fittingly, V drew his left arm in from a distance and slowly lowered his fingers onto the keys — mimicking Cho's signature motion — as he played "Misty," which caught the eye. A Bond After Seven Years of Admiration V has long been well known as a fan of Cho Seong-jin. On a 2019 V Live broadcast, he said he often watches videos of Cho's playing and would love to see a performance in person if the chance arose. Since then, the two have steadily kept up their connection. Last June, V drew attention by attending Cho's piano recital at the Seoul Arts Center alongside director Park Chan-wook, and a photo taken with footballer Son Heung-min also drew notice as an "unexpected trio." Cho attended V's military-discharge celebration as well, continuing their unwavering friendship. Cho Seong-jin is a world-renowned pianist who in 2015 became the first Korean to win the International Chopin Piano Competition. The sight of two figures on such different stages — a classical performer and a K-pop artist — sharing a friendship through music has drawn an enthusiastic response from fans on both sides.

BTS's "ARIRANG" Re-enters Billboard 200 Top 10 at No. 9 — "NORMAL" Returns to the Hot 100

Four months after its release, BTS's fifth studio album "ARIRANG" is still showing staying power on the global charts. The album re-entered the Billboard main album chart's Top 10, and its tracks built their presence anew on charts around the world. No. 9 on the Billboard 200 — the Week's Biggest Gain On the latest chart released by Billboard on July 28 (dated August 1), "ARIRANG" rose to No. 9 on the main album chart, the Billboard 200. That's a jump of a full 17 places from the previous week — the largest gain on this week's chart. With this, "ARIRANG" has now spent a total of 13 weeks in the Billboard 200's Top 10, breaking its own record for the longest Top 10 run by any Korean artist's album. This week, "ARIRANG" sold roughly 40,000 units, up 62% from the previous week, a jump attributed to the release of a special vinyl edition adding two tracks ("Voice Message: Love Song" and "NORMAL"), which drove sales. Billboard also credited BTS's performance of "Dynamite" at the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup Final halftime show on July 19 (local time) as a positive factor in the album's rise. The globally broadcast stage drew in new listeners and prompted longtime fans to revisit the album, the outlet explained. "NORMAL" Re-enters the Hot 100, Global Charts Climb Too The album track "NORMAL" re-entered Billboard's main songs chart, the Hot 100, at No. 33. The song first entered at No. 41 on the chart dated April 4 and held on for three weeks, then re-entered on the strength of its music video and Korean-language release on July 17. "NORMAL" reached its own peak of No. 4 on the Global 200 and No. 2 on Global (Excluding U.S.). The title track "SWIM" placed at No. 10 and No. 5 on those two charts, respectively. Along with "SWIM" and "NORMAL," six "ARIRANG" tracks — including "Body to Body," "2.0," "Hooligan," and "FYA" — spent 18 consecutive weeks on the Global (Excluding U.S.) chart. The new song "Come Over" re-entered that chart at No. 133, and "Dynamite" at No. 140. The results stand out on component charts too. "NORMAL" took No. 1 on Digital Song Sales, while "ARIRANG" rose 17 places from the previous week to No. 2 on Vinyl Albums, reached No. 3 on Top Album Sales (up nine places), and No. 28 on Top Streaming Albums (up ten places). No. 3 in France, Too — the World Tour Effect Its overseas chart results continued as well. On the French Music Association (SNEP) "Top Albums" chart (week of July 24), "ARIRANG" rose 13 places from the previous week to No. 3. The result came right after the "BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' IN PARIS" concerts held July 17–18 at the Stade de France in Paris, showing the tour and chart performance moving in tandem. The North American Tour Continues BTS continues its world tour on August 1–2 at MetLife Stadium in New York, USA. Moving from Paris to North America, the group carries "ARIRANG" further along its global journey. With the album still showing staying power across the charts four months after release, attention turns to how it performs through a second half of the year filled with tour dates.

BTS Won't Submit to the 2027 Grammys — Divided Views on the New "Best Asian Pop" Category

BTS has announced it will not submit music for next year's Grammy Awards. Coming amid the debate over the Grammys' newly created "Best Asian Pop Music Performance" category, the decision is being read as a de facto objection. Here's a rundown of what happened. What BTS Said On July 29, all seven BTS members posted an identical message to their Instagram Stories: that they had decided not to submit to the Grammys this year. The members added that they hope music can be heard and loved for its own sake rather than being distinguished by region or language, and thanked ARMY and everyone who is always by their side. In the message, BTS did not directly mention a "boycott" or any specific category. Still, the line pointing to distinction "by region and language" is read as aimed at the newly created Asian pop category. Their agency, HYBE, drew a line by clarifying that this is not a company-wide, blanket boycott. What New Category Was Created The trigger was a new category announced in June by the Recording Academy, which presents the Grammys. The Academy said it would add five categories, including "Best Asian Pop Music Performance," starting with the 2027 ceremony. The category covers popular music that originated in or is widely recognized across Asian markets, such as K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop. A song must make meaningful use of one or more Asian languages, and songs sung entirely in English are excluded. The Academy explained that it created the award in recognition of Asian pop's growing influence on the global music industry. "Recognition" or "Separation"? Split Views Reactions to the new category divided sharply. Those who view it positively call it official recognition of Asian pop's global impact. There was also hope that it could open new opportunities for K-pop artists who had yet to win at the Grammys. Indeed, right after the category was created, several outlets named BTS as a leading contender for it. Those who raise concerns , on the other hand, criticize grouping the distinct musics of Korea, Japan, and China within a single "Asian" fence of region and language as a Western pop-centric view. The point is that cordoning off Asian artists — who already lead the global pop market — into a separate category could actually distance them from the main, all-genre categories. Concerns were also raised that the criterion excluding English-language songs could work against certain works. Rather than declaring either side right, it's more accurate to see this as a matter where two readings — "inclusion" and "separation" — are locked in tension. BTS's decision has, in effect, amplified that debate. BTS and the Grammys: The History So Far BTS was the first K-pop act ever nominated at the Grammys. They were first nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with "Dynamite" at the 2021 ceremony, earned another nod with "Butter" the following year, and in 2023 landed three nominations — setting the record for the most by a Korean act. Across their career they've received five nominations, but have yet to win. The Grammys, for their part, have long faced criticism for being conservative toward non-white artists. At the 68th ceremony this past February, "Golden," from the soundtrack of "KPop Demon Hunters" — counted among last year's biggest hits — won only one category, Best Song Written for Visual Media, while BLACKPINK Rosé's "APT." was nominated but did not win. What Remains to Watch BTS did not entirely close the door on future participation with this decision; its stance is that it won't submit for this particular cycle. Its fifth studio album "ARIRANG," which posted strong results on Billboard's main album chart (Billboard 200) and singles chart (Hot 100) right after its March release, was eligible for nomination — but the group chose not to submit it at all. With a group as globally influential as BTS taking a stance, the debate over the "Best Asian Pop" category looks set to continue in the music world for some time.