10 Years of BTS: Behind-the-Success of One of the Biggest Groups in Music

As we wrap up our celebration of BTS’s 10th Anniversary, it is time to highlight their achievements and impact on the music industry. We’ve shed light on the members and their successes with solo activities. Today, let’s celebrate BTS as a whole in celebration not only of the talented group but also of Army!

In 2005, Big Hit Entertainment was founded by producer Bang Si-Hyuk to create a successful K-Pop group. Despite previous attempts, the company faced challenges promoting collaborative groups with other entertainment companies such as JYP Entertainment and Source Music. However, Bang Si-Hyuk remained determined to find their breakthrough and decided to start a boy group. With the first member, RM, already signed, the company faced financial struggles, and the new group had to overcome obstacles and make sacrifices to achieve success, much like other groups in the K-Pop industry.

BTS is a renowned South Korean boy group that helped grow HYBE–formerly known as Big Hit Entertainment–into one of the top 3 entertainment companies in the country. Debuting in 2013, the group is composed of 7 members. RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook.  BTS is the acronym for 방탄소년단 or Bangtan Sonyeondan, which translates to “Bulletproof Boy Scouts.” In recent years, the group decided that BTS stands for “Beyond The Scene,” bringing the group into its new era. No longer the young Bangtan Boys, they started writing lyrics showing their adulthood growth. 

Music often serves as a reflection of an artist's life journey. Through their songs, listeners can witness the range of emotions and experiences that have shaped their story. This year marks BTS and ARMY's 10th anniversary, a milestone that celebrates the group's growth and the memories and moments shared with everyone who has supported them. Let's take this opportunity to explore BTS's discography together and commemorate their remarkable journey.

BTS' LOVE YOURSELF Era marks a significant turning point in their journey in adulthood. It showcases the importance of self-love and highlights the thrills and pains of falling in and out of love. The various album titles represent the different facets of love. 

The final album of the LOVE YOURSELF Series, LOVE YOURSELF結 ‘ANSWER,’ is a repackaged studio album that emphasizes self-love. Its title track, "IDOL," is a clever play on words, as the members are quite literally K-Pop idols. This album features all the previous songs from the series along with new tracks that showcase the individual talents of the members like Jungkook's "Euphoria," J-Hope's "Trivia 起: Just Dance," Jimin's "Serendipity," Jin's "Epiphany," RM's "Trivia 承: Love," V's "Singularity," and Suga's "Trivia 轉: Seesaw." The album includes subunit performances from both the vocal and rap lines. 

Released in 2020, "Dynamite" marks the entry of BTS into the Western music market. It is the group's first track fully in English. The melodic Pop track is reminiscent of Disco, not only in the sound but the M/V and stage outfits as well. It continues the story of MAP OF THE SOUL as they talk about their perspective as artists and the connection they have with the community: energizing listeners all over during the pandemic. 

In the wake of the pandemic, the world experienced a shared sense of apprehension about the future. BTS' 2020 album BE, serves to convey their personal sentiments regarding the crisis and their aspirations for overcoming it with resilience. The lead track, "Life Goes On," offers reassurance that despite the challenges, life goes on and everything will eventually be alright. The album serves as a bridge between BTS and its global audience, connecting with those who share similar emotions during these difficult times.

In honor of their devoted fanbase, PROOF is a collection of their greatest hits and the title track “Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)." This three-CD set includes a total of 48 tracks and was released along with the announcement of BTS' temporary break. The title track, "Yet To Come," combines calming vocals with upbeat pop beats, offering fans a reassuring sense of comfort. While the hiatus may give the impression of a farewell, it's important to note that the group members remain active and engaged.

One of the reasons for their immense success lies in their vocal prowess, intricate choreography, creativity, and passion. BTS's songs and music videos depict the characters' growth within the storyline, which the group has carefully curated. Just like Taylor Swift's fans who enjoy analyzing the meanings behind her songs, ARMY members dedicate their time to understanding the world of BTS. This has resulted in BTS WORLD, a video game based on the world and reportedly, a drama based on the story.

Apart from their impressive talents, the messages conveyed through their music make BTS relatable to fans. As previously stated, earlier discography resonated with fans going through the ups and downs of young life, as their songs touch upon the pressures and expectations that weigh heavily on the youth. From academic studies to societal issues that Korean youth face in their work life, BTS's music reflects real-life struggles.

It's no surprise that many fans describe their music as a beacon of hope amid darkness. Music has the power to heal and support listeners during both the happiest and saddest moments of life.

It's impressive how BTS has shattered world records and broken barriers in the Western music industry. As the first K-Pop group nominated for a Grammy, BTS paved the way for Asian artists and created a ripple effect for global music to be included in a Western-centric industry. Today, we see K-Pop groups performing at Coachella, Latin artists being recognized at American award shows, and global genres gaining widespread acceptance in the US.

Additionally, the Bangtan Boys played a pivotal role in the rise of Big Hit Entertainment. Under the leadership of Bang Si-Hyuk, the company acquired several South Korean entertainment firms like Source Music, KOZ Entertainment, and Pledis while expanding its reach into Japanese and Western markets. HYBE America, a company division, even acquired Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings, which includes Big Machine Records and high-profile artists like Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, and Justin Bieber. 

HYBE is also reportedly looking to acquire Quality Control, the Atlanta rap label behind Migos and Lil Baby, to expand its presence in the American music market. In addition to BTS, HYBE is now home to a rising roster of talented groups, including SEVENTEEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, New Jeans, LE SSERAFIM, ENHYPEN, and many others. BTS and HYBE have become significant contributors to the music industry.

The 2023 FESTA, a beloved tradition between BTS and ARMY, is in progress. This 2-week celebration leads to the group's debut anniversary, and HYBE has released a schedule of all the content that BTS will release in anticipation of the concert for ARMY's. This year's theme is "BTS Presents Everywhere," the countdown will occur from June 2 to June 17. 

On June 8, BTS released their most recent single, "Take Two," as a part of the FESTA celebration. Adding to their accomplishments, the newest single has already topped American charts and debuted as number 1 on Spotify's Global Chart. This is just a taste of what's to come! The finale will be a festival at Yeouido Park on June 17, commemorating the day it started. The event will likely be live-streamed so the BTS community worldwide can join in the celebration.

BTS fans were initially worried when the announcement came out that the group would be on hiatus as all members were serving their military duties. However, this "hiatus" has been filled with successful solo activities for many members, which has kept fans entertained. All members have worked on solo music, with Jin, Suga, RM, J-Hope, and Jimin already debuting successfully. With Jin and J-Hope currently completing their military service and the rest of the members to follow, BTS will still be active. V and Jungkook are expected to debut solo later this year. With all seven members expected to reunite soon, ARMYs can continue to enjoy their music and support the group as a whole. It's exciting to anticipate the day when BTS will perform together again.