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The Cultural Frontline: BTS ARMY: Inside the Fandom

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BTS ARMY: Inside the Fandom

09/01/2021 GMT

BBC World Service - The Cultural Frontline, BTS ARMY: Inside the Fandom

How BTS ARMY is changing the music industry and pop culture

How the fans of BTS, one of the biggest bands in the world, are changing the music industry and pop culture

BTS are one of the biggest bands in the world. They’ve sold millions of albums, their music has been streamed billions of times online and tickets to their tours sell out instantly.

The seven members of BTS, RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, are history makers. In 2020 they became the first all-Korean pop act to top the American Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and they set the world record for attracting the most viewers for a concert live stream during the coronavirus pandemic.

At the heart of their success are their fans – BTS ARMY. ARMY is unlike any other fandom and has mobilised not just to celebrate BTS but also to support each other through social engagement, community building, education and charitable acts. In summer 2020 ARMY hit the headlines for matching the band's $1million donation to the Black Lives Matter campaign in less than 24 hours.

Camilla Costa explores how this fandom is revolutionising the well-established rules of the music industry and changing the way we think about the power of art to build community.

Our interviewees are Nicole Santero, Carla Postma-Slabbekoorn, Jiyoung Lee, Adaeze Agbakoba, David Kim and K-Ci Williams.

Our voices of ARMY are Areeba Sheikh, Brenda Ágatha,  Michael Dürr,  Monika Košťanyová,  Snigdha Dutta, Yassin Adam, and Tagseen Samsodien.

With additional content from Waleska Herrera, FO Squad KPop, Amy & Bri and BTS Vlive.

Plus contributions from Nan Panunzo,  Cathi Smith and Shelley Hoani.

Presented by Camilla Costa


(Photo: BTS. Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images)

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