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On September 7, 2024, Kim Taehyung aka BTS' V bagged the Best Music Spring Category at the Fact Music Awards 2024 for his digital single FRI(END)S. The pop-soul R&B song, released on March 15 of this year, is an all-English track that was accompanied by a visually intricate music video that came out on the same day, starring British actress Ruby Sear.
The Fact Music Awards 2024, taking place on September 7 and 8, will acknowledge and celebrate significant contributions to the Korean Wave or Hallyu. The program's list of winners on the first day revealed FRI(END)S by BTS' V as the winner of the Best Music (Spring Category).
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Announced on March 3 by BTS' agency BigHit Music, FRI(END)S, described as a "love song," is about transforming a longstanding friendship into something more. As the phrasing of the title reveals, this desire comes with the wish to "put the 'end' in friends," as disclosed by its promo poster.
ARMYs (BTS fans) have been gushing about the Love Me Again crooner's massive win ever since the news arrived, dashing to their socials to congratulate "KING TAEHYUNG" on his victory in the category.
"Congratulations KING TAEHYUNG"
While V himself is still completing his mandatory duty in the South Korean military, he is expected to receive a physical trophy during the year-end award ceremony. Following the news, the BTS vocalist began trending on X under multiple tags like 'CONGRATULATIONS TAEHYUNG,' '#FRI_END_S_TMA_WIN,' and more. Meanwhile, fans wasted no time in sending V heartfelt messages:
"SO PROUD OF YOU TAEHYUNGIE," wrote an ARMY on X.
"Huge congrats to #V for winning the Best Music Spring Award at the Fact Music Awards 2024 for #FRI(END)S! Your talent shines bright!" another post read.
"I LOVE this song!" stated an X-user.
Fans also chimed in on how the 28-year-old "deserved" the prize.
"Congratulation V , your deserve the prestigious award," another comment wished the idol.
"Well deserved," a netizen added.
"Yeah his songs are like spring breeze so deserved," agreed another fan.
Taking a look at some of BTS' V's achievements with his solo single FRI(END)S
Ever since the Grammy-nominated K-pop group's Taehyung launched FRI(END)S in mid-March, the song has received widespread adoration from ARMYs worldwide. The same was evident when the MV entered at No. 1 on YouTube's Global Top Music Videos chart not long after release.
Meanwhile, the promotional content for FRI(END)S was rolled out full steam ahead in line with its release earlier this year, including concept photos and official teasers, with an intriguing short film and a flash video thrown into the mix to raise curiosity.
Furthermore, renowned figures joined in to react to the MV, including names like actor Lee Jung-jae, PD Na Young-seok, and LE SSERAFIM, among others. Even Taehyung's close friends from the WOOGA Squad—actors Park Seo-joon, Park Hyung-sik, and Choi Woo-shik—reacted to the same.
The MV amassed 10 million YouTube views soon after release. Additionally, on April 20, it became the first and fastest track by a K-pop act in 2024 to reach the 100 million Spotify streams milestone. FRI(END)S also became his seventh song to acquire 100 million streams on the popular music platform.
Besides that, it went on to sell over 100,000 units in the US three weeks after release, making it his eighth song to hit this mark. It even debuted at No. 65 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart on March 25, making it his fourth solo entry on the chart outside of his work with BTS.
The song's groundbreaking global reception was further cemented when on May 11 it clinched the No. 1 spot on iTunes in 100 countries, the first song released in 2024 to accomplish this feat. After Taehyung's solo hits like Sweet Night, Christmas Tree, Slow Dancing, and wherever u r, FRI(END)S became his fifth track to achieve so.
Meanwhile, BTS' V's Layover (Vinyl) version is sold out in several stores worldwide, including in the US, the UK, Canada, and Japan. It is set to be retailed from September 20 onwards, while pre-orders commenced on August 20, 2024.
