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On November 4, 2024, BTS became the most-streamed Korean act on Spotify Global Artist Chart, despite being on a two-year hiatus. The K-pop juggernaut announced a temporary sabbatical due to their members' military enlistment during their FESTA dinner Weverse LIVE on June 14, 2022.
According to the official website of ChartMasters, the Dynamite group ranked at no. 12 with 40 billion streams (40,378,514,648) on Spotify. The list was topped by Taylor Swift, Drake, Bad Bunny, and The Weekend.
Fans were stoked to see BTS chart among the Western heavyweights despite having no group releases since 2022. One fan wrote on X:
"Can't wait for for these legends to come back & rewrite history once again"
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The BTS ARMY took pride in the Grammy-nominated group's accomplishments.
"We can be proud! We have so much music even during military service and hiatus. No one does it like @BTS_twt," one fan wrote.
"Well get ready to lay the red carpet in 2025," another fan wrote.
"KINGS ARE BACK," another fan stated.
Others highlighted their global prominence and emphasized BTS "paved the way for whole Asia."
"Their last release was in 2022 and still they are the ONLY K-pop act to be most-streamed on Spotify Global. How can people call this inorganic? The group is literally not promoting anything and still WINNING. No wonder antis are so furious," one fan commented.
"It would be sheer absurdity to not admit BTS’ global prominence. No1 has ever done it like them them. They paved the way for whole Asia and it’s a fact. Nothing to feel angry about it. The group is phenomenal. Their legacy speaks for itself." another fan wrote.
"CONGRATULATIONS BTS. BTS PAVED THE WAY," one other fan said.
BTS continues to make history
BTS' albums, including Love Yourself: Answer, Map of the Soul: Persona, and Map of the Soul: 7, have sold millions of copies worldwide, breaking records on platforms such as the Billboard 200.
Notably, Map of the Soul: 7 became the first Korean album to reach the No. 1 spot in over 20 countries, including the United States. The group became the first Korean act to score multiple Billboard 200 chart-toppers.
In 2021, they received a Grammy nomination for their 2020 hit single, Dynamite. They made history as they became the first South Korean act to be nominated in a major Grammy category.
Here is the list of all the Grammy nominations earned by the band:
- 2023: My Universe — nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video
- 2023: My Universe — nominated for Best Album (SUGA, RM, j-hope credited as songwriters)
- 2022:Yet To Come — Best Music Video
- 2021: Butter — nominated
- 2020: Dynamite — nominated
Their list of accolades spans several major music awards globally, including the American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and Billboard Music Awards. They also won the Top Social Artist award at the Billboard Music Awards 12 times in a row.
TIME magazine named them one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World" in 2019 and even crowned them "Entertainer of the Year" in 2020.
Their collaboration with UNICEF’s “Love Myself” campaign raised millions of dollars, advocating for self-love and supporting young people globally. The group also addressed the United Nations General Assembly in 2021, discussing climate change and the importance of youth activism.
Their hits like Dynamite, Butter, and Permission to Dance (co-written by Ed Sheeran), which feature English lyrics, have topped the Billboard Hot 100.
Exploring BTS members' military enlistment and solo album releases
The group's eldest member Jin enlisted in the military to serve his mandatory service of 18 months on December 13, 2022, while others released their respective debut solo albums and enlisted subsequently. j-hope released his debut solo set, Jack in The Box, in July 2022, and enlisted on April 18, 2023.
SUGA released his solo album, D-DAY, on April 21, 2023, and enlisted on September 22, 2023. Group leader Namjoon released his debut album, Indigo, on December 2, 2022, and enlisted on December 11, 2023, alongside bandmate Taehyung, who released his album (Layover) on September 8, 2023.
Jimin dropped his album, FACE, on March 24, 2024, and enlisted on December 12, 2023, alongside bandmate Jungkook, whose debut solo album, GOLDEN, was released on November 3, 2023. Post their enlistment, the members released several pre-recorded albums and content.
Taehyung featured on UMI's single, wherever u r, released on December 30, 2023, after his enlistment. j-hope released his second album, HOPE ON THE STREET VOL. 1 on March 29, 2024.
Namjoon's second album, Right Place, Wrong Person, was released by BIGHIT MUSIC on May 24, 2024. Jimin dropped his second solo album, MUSE, on July 19, 2024.
BTS' Jin and j-hope were discharged from the military in June and October 2024, respectively. Namjoon (RM), Taehyung (V), Yoongi (SUGA), Jimin, and Jungkook will be discharged in June 2025.
