'Korean, not K-Pop sensations': BTS Army demand change after new Guinness World Record for most live viewers
Popular boy band BTS has added another feather to their hat. After achieving spots for multiple Guinness World Records titles including the first K-pop act to reach number one on the US album chart, best-selling album (South Korea) and most Twitter engagements, the group has entered the records again for most viewers in a music concert live stream.
On July 22, Guinness World Records announced on their website about BTS' latest achievement. This was achieved through their online concert 'Bang Bang Con: The Live' which streamed live on June 14. According to reports, the concert had around 7,56,600 people from 107 different regions around the world logging in to enjoy it. The pay-per-view concert was made available through Big Hit Entertainment’s platform WeVerse and US-based live streaming company Kiswe Mobile.
The online presentation was delivered through six multi-view screens playing simultaneously. Fans, who fondly call themselves BTS Army, were able to choose from video call-like close-ups to full shots that encapsulate the group's highly synchronized choreography. Quite naturally, fans were ecstatic. One Twitter user said, "Congratulations, @BTS_twt! Happy to be part of your successful journey. We'll always be with you untill the end.. I love you more than love."
Another user wrote, "2020 legit has been the year @BTS_twt has been making and breaking records!! #MTVHottest for BTS." However, they had an objection about the band being referred to as K-pop sensation. A fan wrote: “Awesome! We will always be there for BTS! Hopefully, they do another one soon. But can we skip the whole 'K-pop' why not say Group BTS or Korean Group BTS or Superstars BTS or Sensational Group BTS so many options." Another wrote, “Worldwide sensations @BTS_twt have once again flown into our record books with the most viewers for a music concert live stream! BTS are Korean artistes and WORLDWIDE SENSATIONS.”
What irked fans even further was the announcement at the end: "Most recently, they have been trading various K-pop and YouTube records with girl band BLACKPINK, who overtook BTS' 'Boy With Luv' record for most-viewed YouTube video in 24 hours with their song 'How You Like That'." An annoyed fan wrote: "There was no need for that last part about swapping records, but at this point, we're not surprised at people undermining BTS achievements even in the smallest ways." Another fan concurred, "The last sentence was unnecessary, since it served no purpose at all, except to minimize their accomplishments. Wonder why you added that dig? I still RT'd it cuz it was good till the last line and either way no matter what, BTS PAVED THE WAY BTS WORLD DOMINATION."
The concert, in particular, was held as part of their 7th-anniversary celebrations before the release of their fourth Japanese language album 'Map of the Soul: 7 - The Journey'. They performed popular hits such as 'Boy With Luv' and 'Just One Day'. The concert had a 12-song setlist. As mentioned in the official statement of the Records’ website, band member Jimin had stated: "Though we may not be able to see each other at this time, we’ve been constantly striving to grow as a group. We are coping up with it pretty well so hope that you too can overcome this time by finding the small joy within."