BTS working on next album! Release date, MiniMoni, Ariana Grande collab and all you need to know
Following the monumental success of their previous album 'Map of the Soul: 7' released in February this year, BTS' leader RM has confirmed they are already beginning work on their next album, and ARMY has already begun speculating on what we can expect from the record.
RM held a live where he stated BTS were "in the processes of planning for their next album" and that they will do a YouTube live each week trying to show us their process of making the album. Fans believe this means they are still in the discussion phase, tweeting "we have to wait several months for a new album, but most likely another album by the end of the year."
"I have a feeling this new album will link strongly to the bts universe, ready for the same day over and over," tweeted one fan. If you're unfamiliar with the BTS Universe, also called the 'HYYH Series', let us be the ones to initiate you into this new world.
The BU is a recurring theme that has featured in several of the group's music videos, beginning with 'I Need U' in 2015. It has also been featured in a webtoon as well as a book titled 'The Notes: The Most Beautiful Moment in Life'. In this universe, each BTS member has their own character and a fictional story to go with it. The backstory of each character is fully developed and is used to create stories for the group's songs and music videos.
Besides the BU, fans are also tracing patterns in their releases to make predictions. One fan said, "wait if bts are making a new album now and if they follow pattern, that means we're gonna get a jimin intro !!!" Other fans are hoping for some part two versions of BTS songs, tweeting "After Fake Love we need Real Love in the new Album, For #BTSARMY Love... Whenever my non-army friends tell me that I'm in a phase and won't be a fandom of @BTS_twt one-day I sing to them 'I am so sorry but it's a real love real love'."
Others joked about the concept for the upcoming album, tweeting "oh this is so the bts sign from there new album im 100% sure!!" in response to an image of a pride rainbow flag.
Many ARMYs have also begun predicting a specific date for the album's release. At the end of Day 2 of BTS' event 'Bang Bang Con', a message was shown that read "In June, @BTS_twt will visit ARMYs rooms again," leading many to believe the album will drop in June. Fans noted that this is the same time period as BTS' 'Festa' event, which is when the group usually celebrates their anniversary with the ARMY. 'Festa' generally takes place over 10-14 days at the beginning of June every year.
One fan said, "In the room of ARMY in June ... The 6/13, 6/14 question mark on the tour site was suspicious? Two days was a question mark, not a day, but it's also a debut anniversary in the Festa period," while another stated, "If this is BTS Festa and release of new album, I'll be the happiest." These tweets make reference to the dates June 13 and June 14 being marked with a question mark on the band's tour website.
Fans also speculated on the promotion schedule the band will follow for the new album. One fan stated, "What if they drop a trailer like BTS' Prologue for the TU instead of a teaser for the new album name and [comeback] date??"
Some also noticed an odd upload to BTS' BangTanTV channel on YouTube — two tracks, titled 'Iron' and 'Go' which featured bass-heavy audio and cover art of a psychedelic battery. Neither video is currently up on the channel. One fan asked, "After sleeping almost 6 hours I go back to youtube and find this, can someone explain to me what it is? I remember nam saying they were working on a new album but I'm not sure if this will be. #NewSong #Iron@BTS_twt."
Other fans also wondered which artists would feature on the new BTS album, tweeting "Sitting here finally listening to @5SOS new album and thought what if @5SOS and @bts_bighit made a song together." Another fan stated, "let's not forget that ariana is in the studio and bts are working on their new album..." While this could simply mean we're getting new music from both acts individually, it could also imply we might get the long-awaited BTS-Ariana Grande collaboration.
Fans also pointed out that we might get another BTS song with Steve Aoki, tweeting "Let me remind you that @steveaoki had said back in Nov that on his new album we will get a new collab with," while other fans were more interested in a subunit, stating "waaait bts are working on a new album which means we can still get that minimoni subunit... im thinking." 'MiniMoni' is the name fans have given to members Jimin and RM (which stands for 'Rap Monster'), and fans have long hoped they would get a song featuring these two.
Needless to say, fans are over the moon knowing a new BTS album is coming and are already predicting it will be a hit. One fan said, "with bts being quarantined I know this new album is going to slap."