Simple answer from this ARMY. BTS music caught my attention and kept it. Other groups being from the same industry doesn't matter, because BTS aren't the same as other Kpop acts, BTS is so versatile within their discography, and I don't get tired of their sound. I don't listen to BTS because they are Kpop, I listen to BTS because they make music I enjoy listening to.

the promotion? no, we just genuinely love BTS' music. we can stream and listen to their music all day, because their message helps alot. ARMYs are very loyal than what you can imagine and explain and it's all thanks to BTS.

When we say the promotional approach of BTS was different, we didn't mean western collab or meeting US President no, cause BTS were already alot bigger before all of that happened. We simply mean BTS approach of finding their own way to communicate with ppl. Such as vlogging their journey, doing live streams, their own varitey shows, BTS introduced us to their most authentic selves and let us explore their personalities and them as an artist. It's their genuine love and sincerity for music and arts and to their fans that ARMY begin to grow. Also ARMYs are open minded. We explore through all type of music. We do listen to other bands, songs and genres. You are misundertanding if u think we ONLY listen to BTS (which if u ask me is nt bad even if one does it cause 300+ songs with variety of genre are nt easy to catch up anyway lol) but yeah ARMYs do explore and listen to other artist, give them a chance inside and outside kpop. But liking or nt liking a song is up to them the listeners cause at the end everything comes down to taste and preference and it's different for everyone.

Also, they're bigger than kpop because they're better than kpop. BTS didn't have a network. They didn't have industry support. They connected with fans and "ARMY raised them." We sent their music to radios. We put up flyers promoting their music. We engaged with their social media so much they got nominated for their first Billboard from it. We bought their music and streamed their MVs to a degree that their name HAD to be on the charts and people HAD to see them. That's why they're so loyal to us. And they had all the talent and magic we said they did to back it up. They used the platform ARMY gave them and shined.

There’s a video called “BTS vs K-POP: a video essay” that is also really good. Their conclusion is different than boracity magazine, BTS IS a K-pop group, but with a much more nuanced and well presented argument for it, than most ppl have when they classify BTS as K-pop (because they sing and are Korean and their music is popular). I think it brings a lot of good arguments and knowledge to this sensitive conversation. BTS didn’t succeed bc of the K-pop industry, it was despite of it. Despite all the sabotage, downplaying, jealousy from big K-pop companies, networks and journalists they surpassed all of their pears bc of their dedication to their art and their fans. Their ability to market themselves (as in: BIGHIT promoting their stuff) was nothing compared to the resources other companies had, what BTS had that other groups didn’t was ARMY, armys elevated and supported BTS, they are their promotional vehicle. And that is acknowledged by BTS in countless songs and speeches. I don’t think calling BTS a K-pop group is a problem, their song IDOL is their anthem of self acceptance of the label “idol”, the problem is when you (universal) reduce their musical and personal identities to K-pop when they are so much more than that.

BTS' book about their 10 year journey just came into stores today. They also got candid about their first years in the Kpop industry. Other Kpop singers would openly disrespect and bully them in the backstage of shows, and it went on even to the point where the BTS boys were crying in the carride home. Mind you, some of the BTS boys were just young teenagers at the time. ARMYs have always known that BTS had it hard, but there's so many stories that just leave us speechless and heartbroken.

Kpop is K-pop. BTS is BTS. Sure, we listen to other music, but our loyalty is to BTS. If you've actually listened to Kpop during the years BTS was struggling and finally made it , K-pop music sounded hollow in comparison. Not only the music but the whole K-pop industry. Yes, there are some groups who had good sings but not a whole discography of songs you want to listen to again and again and again. BTS if you appreciate their work is about the art not about the hype. That's why they appeal to a wide audience that include a mature and professional audience. There is nothing wrong with KPop, but the music is not something this audience wants to follow and remain following for life. So you have to ask yourself why the millions! of ARMY follow them. We listen to other music, including K-pop and Korean pop bands, but BTS stands miles above them. If you don't get it, you don't get it. BTS is a personal thing. About the promotion and collaboration, I don't think that was the crux of it. Maybe it contributed very little. They were already big before those real big collabs came about. ArMY grew from the stories of their struggles and yes to sharing their journey and, most importantly, the quality and professionalism and dedication all done with sincerity and appreciation of their fans. There is no "superficiality" they put their work in they were transparent, they are real, and it's all in their lyrics and music.

First--kpop is a fan-based music culture. So being a fan is part of the expectation. In reality, many ARMY have said that they were not fans of kpop before discovering BTS. Me included. I was familiar with Kpop (from k-dramas) but did not actually like kpop music. But once I discovered BTS, I fell in love with their sound and message. BTS basically came just at the right time in my life. Ever since I discovered AMA 2017 performance, I have been hooked. Before BTS, my favorite band was Muse (prog rock), but I also listened to a variety of rock, alternative and punk music. When I was young I liked hip hop, R&b, classical & jazz--so I was all over the place. Many ARMY have similar stories to mine. All that said, I have a lot of respect for other kpop groups--especially Big bang, 2NE1, TXT, Hwasa, Mamamoo, etc. I just would not call my self a fan. I don't consider myself a fan of the genre, To understand why many ARMY reject Kpop in generally, you should understand we have had issues with "kpop" for years. The story about being ejected from Kpop is a real issue, Kpop in general is extremely fanbase-oriented. Fan support is critical to the success of the idols, and the companies take the time to cultivate that support. From my perspective, certain kpop fanbases have seemed to hate on both BTS and ARMY over the years. So there has been a lot of negativity and vitriol directed towards us. For me, once I got into BTS it was hard for me to get into other groups when the fans were so hateful. Also, once you learn more about kpop and the other companies it becomes obvious how BTS was treated like a kpop outsider by the industry for so many years. That only really stopped once they became too big to be ignored. For that reason, it is really frustrating to ARMY when other kpop fanbases try to attribute BTS' success to the kpop industry-the same industry that rejected them. This is an industry that questioned and sabotaged BTS' success at every opportunity.

I listen to different songs too but I don't really care about the artist who sung the song. With BTS I watch their contents, join steaming parties, buy their merch n albums, attend ARMY related activities.. watch reaction videos every night. I'm 42 n being an ARMY makes me feel that I'm part of a community.

I found BTS without even being a K-Pop fan. I am a 49-year-old ARMY and the music I listened to prior to BTS were classical music, traditional and smooth jazz and a little bit of '80s music. The reason why BTS' music resonated with me were their musical artistry, the various genres and their message. I listened to some hip hop but not really rap but now I enjoy all of BTS' music including all the individual members' music. When BoraCity released this video, I found other ARMYS were similar to my tastes in music, so she does have a point in her video.

7:56 It’s not about the network and promotion, it’s the connection that they have with people and their love for music and art.

I laughed out loud when it was suggested BTS had more money behind them than Big Bang. BB are definitely respected kpop veterans who BTS looked up to and have since been more interactive with. BB were the big dogs from a big company YG) and BTS were the underdogs from the nobody agency BigHit. It wasn't about money but about the authenticity and fan interaction that BTS naturally had, and which the west found more appealing.

I'm ARMY and I don't see myself as a Kpop fan, but I do listen to some Kpop songs. However, it will never grow further than just listening to the songs. BTS is special to me. They helped me when I needed it the most. I started collecting their albums first three years ago and then slowly started collecting more and more of their merch. I stream as much as possible when I have time. I try to support them as much as possible. I don't feel the same about other groups or artists.

I personally find BTS music so relatable, their lyrics...I smile and cry listening to them.

Being an army does not have to be a KPop fan who has to know or embrace all of the artists in KPop industry. I myself do not know all artists from my own country.

One last thing on the numbers. The streaming disparity has become even more pronounced since those charts went up and you should see the different in other metrics too. For example Daesangs (Grand Prizes at award shows like Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year). BTS has 73 career daesangs. The next closes is Exo with 23 (all before 2017). Twice has 18, Blackpink has 0. For 2019, 2020, 2021, BTS SWEPT all of the Daesangs at the two biggest Korean Award shows (MAMA and MMAs) earning them the MAMA Platinum Award (a new award just for them for this tremendous achievement) this last year. And that's not counting all of the smaller category awards they take home. BTS also has 12 Billboard Music Awards, several American Music Awards including Artist of the Year at last year's awards, and 5 Grammy nominations. Kpoppies and the K-media always try to make it look like kpop is huge and there are so many groups right there with BTS but the gap is huge. Because BTS isn't just the biggest artist of now...they're a once-in-a-generation act. There is no "next Michael Jackson" or "next Beyonce." They were standalone, iconic artists. There will be other big kpop groups. But BTS is an industry anomaly and a bona fide phenomenon. We'll never see their like again.

Easiest to think in these terms. K-Pop is an industry . It covers most genres and includes soloists and groups and is a term used mostly in the west to indicate that the artist is from Korea and has music that is popular. In Korea they don't really use the term K-Pop cause they call therm Idols (or Idol groups). It is not common for Idol groups to write their own music or be so involved in their art. BTS has broken thru the barriers that come with being called "KPop Idols" and have become "Global Artists" instead. That said they are extremely proud towards their country of birth so being referred to as KPop stars does not bother them.. The reason so many ARMY get upset is that it is usually used in a derogatory manner when people just dismiss BTS as some little KPop boyband. As you will find most (not all) of KPop is innane lyrics to boppy tunes and no real substance. (Mamamoo is another "KPop" group that are incredible "Artists"... and you like rock so check out The Rose - a KRock band) BTS bridges generational boundaries - for instance 5 generations of my family adore these 7 humble young men (from 90 yo grandma to my 2yo grandson) - I almost see BTS and ARMY as a grassroots social movement that is moving to the tune of "Rise of Bangtan". I've been ARMY since 2016.

Big Bang did pretty well with concerts in the US in 2015-16 but their music didn't do what Psy and BTS' did. I doubt their label put any real effort into the US because past attempts from other Korean artists didn't really do much before or after Psy. So the Big 3 tended to stick with the markets they had already cultivated: Japan and China (Hong Kong). BTS had continuous growth from the US market starting in 2014 with their show American Hustle Life, then 2015 with their album HYYH (The Most Beautiful Moment in Life part 1) and the song Dope and lastly KCON 2016 where they were the headliners. Because they were from a smaller company and didn't fully get the same notice like the Big 3 groups did, they decided to take a chance. They had nothing to lose and like I said they were seeing great results from the US fans. I'm going to try and explain something based on what you both said using myself (I'm ARMY) as an example. You both said that you don't "attach" yourself to things because things end/die and yes of course they do, no one has ever doubted that. For me, I find it sorta sad that you don't have something that you're "attached" to. In my mind, being "attached" to something is being a big fan of something or having a passion for something (outside of humans ie fam etc). I'm a big fan/passionate of Star Wars, Star Trek, horror movies, kung fu movies, the Buffalo Bills, the NY Knicks, Comic Books/Movies and BTS. Now in the same way as what Bora said that I think you both sorta missed: I watch and like tons of movies in Sci Fi that have nothing to do with Trek or SW BUT I'm not a fan of say the Dune series like I am of the previous 2. I found BTS because I'm a rap fan. I've listened to many other idol groups especially ones who have IMO rappers and not idols who rap. I find I only like a few songs because their lyrics and cadence aren't to my liking. Never have I been asked to support a genre/industry until now from some kpop idol stans and most ARMY find it crazy because we listen to TONS of music. In my GC I have rock, indie and hip hop/R&B fans and we all are ARMY. We've listened to other groups, may like a song or two but not enough to support them and that's what being a stan/fan is. So what Bora was saying is that ARMY are music fans and that most of us have tried other idols and we don't like it. We find it odd that some kpop stans get mad at that. Going back to another thing you said, many ARMY are very open when it comes to different types of music because many of us aren't under the US industry. ARMY are from all over and western music isn't necessarily the music they grew up with and loved first. I am US ARMY but I listen to a multitude of genres like rap, R&B, opera, classical, jazz, blues, bluegrass, country, pop, musicals, drill, reggae, reggaeton, ska, rock, metal etc etc etc. This is something ARMY talk about all the time. We're forever asking about what else do you listen to besides BTS and the lists of artist is so varied. Many of us are very open to music and that's another reason why it's weird to us that some kpop stans could think we haven't tried other idols or listen to nothing but BTS. We are MUSIC FANS and the industry of kpop doesn't hit many boxes for some of us. Have you done any of the videos about BTS and their history besides Taylor's video? Maybe a little more background in their music and journey could be helpful when understanding them and ARMY. Have fun on your exploration of BTS.

I listen to a LOT of other music - from classical and chamber music, 70s and 80s classics, jazz/swing, and much more. But from the ‘k-pop’ idol group area, only BTS has caught and kept my attention.

I have never been a fan of anyone before BTS. It was a genuine, unexpected and surprising relationship. There is a saying between ARMYs that go like 'you find BTS when you need them the most', and that was true for me. It's only BTS for me, they're my life's artist. Also it is not just about listening to someone, it's about supporting them. I do listen to good music no matter the singer or language but I could care less about the artist. I only buy and stream BTS music and albums, I only vote for them, or keep up with their life, content, works etc. I don't care about other artists like that at all.

I do listen to other kpop songs but what kpoppers expected us, ARMY, to do was to put the same effort (and money) to help other groups grow in USA. No way, we're ARMY for a reason, we use our time, energy and money to promote BTS only. Thats why we're called BTS ARMY, not kpop army 😂 BTS got promoted by ARMY in the US that time by asking (begging!) radios to spin their songs, and once a DJ spinned it, even just a single spin, some ARMY would send some flowers, or cupcakes, as a thank you. So no, it wasnt because BigBang didnt put more money for promotion as at that time their agency was actually way bigger than BTS' agency so money shouldn't be a problem for them, but it was because the BTS US ARMY put a whole lot of energy, time, effort and money to promote BTS.

The recently released BTS book or memoir has chronicled their story with members revealing more in depth detailed back stories. One in particular is an incident during a music show where BTS was told they were in the running for first place so they had to perform, only to find out that it was a lie. That was not what hurt them. It was how the other idol groups (seniors and juniors) mocked them, insulted them and rudely ignored their respectful greetings which BTS always does for their seniors and juniors. After the show, they were all in the car - some were crying, others were angry and a few were silent. There was this deep painful sadness and then they vowed that they will make it so big that no one will ever dare ignore them ever again. The rest is history. That is straight from the horses' mouths.

The way i choose music is totally depends on my ears. If i like it, then i like it. My playlist consists of songs from the 60's until now. Multiple genres, multiple languages. When my kids start listening to kpop, i also listen to multiple groups but somehow only BTS music speaks to me so i stick to BTS. I don't hate other group but i just don't find their music appealing to me. Everytime there's new release from other group, i will listen to it but usually that's the only time i listen to it. I don't understand why people question my choice of music. It's my preference.

I was first introduced to South Korean variety shows, then Kpop and Kdramas, and finally to BTS. Kpop as a whole is like having an assortment of appetizers. BTS is like having a smorgasbord that includes appetizers, soups, salads, entrees and desserts. Although I hear other artists and love other artists, BTS nourishes my soul. That is why I spend my time and money at the banquet created by Bangtan Sonyeondan. BTS and ARMY - satisfying and nutritious! Good for the soul.

As someone who has analysed their music inside out, listened to multiple artists within and outside kpop, and have analysed the psychological impact as part of being a psychology graduate here is what I have figured. BTS has a profound capability to articulate what they introspect. And what they introspect is very often beyond the boxes set by the society. I disagree to those saying all of kpop lacked essence. The kpop industry in itself is extremely nuanced. From its origin being a total inspiration from the western music scene to certain contreversies blowing up that would have been normal among the western celebs but was unacceptable to the conservative korean public to then labels cultivating the idea of 'idols' that in its literal sense was meant to be as perfect and godly enough to be idolised. And that meant no sociopolitical opinions, behaviour that was even minutely angsty etc. That segregated the industry into khiphop, kpop and more. Where khiphop didnt have to fit into the regimental ideas of idols. BTS was the first to be the oerfect in between. They were vocal, stood by their morals, were inherently respectful, but would call out anyone mistreating them or the double standards of the society. While in the kpop scene some groups tried to voice themselves but their labels shut them out, others just werent musically inclined could only do what was spoonfed to them. But there are groups aside bts that do make meaningful music. But one thing that remains unique even from a global standpoint is that bts broke the moulds of all industries. From questioning the one dimensional macho culture that seemingly defines hiphop culture according to some, to questioning those who claim to be rappers without writing their own lyrics (most idol rappers are like that). Their commentary falls under a spectrum. They proved that being vulnerable and acknowledging your lows only makes you stronger. Their lyricsm touches upon the growth and progression from school boys, to teenage angst, to adulting difficulties, to adulthood temptations, from flurishing to failing as an adult, to finding love for oneself, to finding the true essence of one's inner self, to the effect of the pandemic.....they do not present or box themselves into any mould that could possibly please certain crowds based on each ones values, but shows the natural ways of a human to keep evolving. They have been vocal about how certain lyrics from the past are not ones they resonate to now because they have evolved over the years. That normality and the poetic ways they make this normality audible to their audience via their music is what makes it tough to feel a personal connect to anyone else. I have listened to more artists than one can imagine coming from a musically inclined background myself, but never found myself so called 'stanning' anyone. I still listen to music from all over the world including many korean artists. But only bts has changed my life to the levels of that which usually only close family members are capable of!

BTS had to use different promotional projects when they first started because the Korean music industry was not supporting them. In fact, they kept them off broadcasts, ridiculed them, looked down on them, etc. When they started gaining traction in the West, they started to grow bigger and bigger ORGANICALLY. They didn’t pay to be on radio, they didn’t buy awards, they didn’t succumb to the corruption of the music industry whereas some of these other artists did, and still can’t beat BTS. And that’s one of the reasons why the music industry and these labels dislike BTS, because BTS is so big without the support of the industry. Meaning the industry is not making money off of BTS. Also, they don’t want other artists to realize that they can achieve success without the support of the industry. If artists figure that out, then there will be no need for all these labels to exist anymore. Furthermore, BTS didn’t intentionally break into the West. It just happened because they put their content on KZfaq and fans discovered them organically. Organical growth will always be more sustainable than promotional growth. Back to the BTS not being K-pop thing. I don’t care. I didn’t care whether or not they’re considered k-pop. What does it change? Why does it matter? But I now understand why Armys care and why I should start caring. BTS doesn’t fit the k-pop mold. BTS is getting sabotaged by the music industry. The Music industry is trying to suppress BTS’s success. These are facts. The reason why I think this is a topic is because since the music industry is trying to suppress BTS, they are coming out with tactics such as creating charts/playlists etc that are for “K-Pop”. By doing this, they can put BTS into these categories so that the general public will have a smaller chance of discovering BTS. Because k-pop fans will seek out a k-pop playlist to listen to, but the general public won’t. And if BTS wins any awards or charts under the ‘k-pop’ category, they are taken less seriously and the general public won’t care. This is why Armys don’t want BTS to be shackled by the k-pop label. BTS can hold their own against Western artists in the main categories. It’s like if a foreign movie won “best foreign movie of the year” versus “Best movie of the year”, which one has the bigger impact? Which one is more prestigious? (Hell, it’s like back in the day when I used to watch the Oscars, when categories like foreign movies are on, those are my bathroom breaks). I think in 2019 BTS’s album had the most sales in the WORLD. Meaning they beat out all the Western artists, but putting them in the “k-pop” category grossly undermines their success and achievement. I think that’s the real reason this whole “is BTS k-pop” conversation is being had. I think you missed her point. Her point was as Armys, we DO listen to other music. But only casually. Meaning we may listen to a song here or there from another artist, but we don’t follow them like we follow BTS. And here’s my take on that: I listen to everything depending on my mood. Morning drive to work is probably EDM. If I'm looking for something upbeat that will get my energy up, I listen to rock. If I'm reading or about to go to sleep I might listen to classical or really chill r&b. If I just want to put something on, I usually listen to Hip Hop and R&B. etc etc. (Nowadays, it’s all BTS because they fit the bill =D). But I don’t dive deep into what I'm listening to. Many times I probably don’t even know the artist or the song title I’m listening to. Even if I go back to my classics (90s hip hop), I don't know the entire discography of the artists I like. I just pick out the few songs I like from that album and listen to them. Most of the other songs are skips. Honestly, when I first started listening to BTS in Jan 2022, it was like that too. I only listened to them casually. I listened to BigBang back in the day, and prior to BTS I listened to Blackpink casually as well. I think what changed in me was that BTS really is different. Prior to BTS, as Boracity mentioned, K-Pop artists didn’t really have an identity. I think k-pop was very refreshing compared to Western music because of the visuals, production value, choreography, styles, etc. But after a few listens, they kinda all start to blend together. I noticed that all the groups kinda sound the same and look the same too. And don’t try to pin this on being racist or anything, because I’m asian, so I can tell my Asians apart. But the feeling I got was kind of where those Marvel movies and Fast & Furious are going. They’ve become try-hard (in a bad way). Meaning they focus on coming out with a crazier concept than before, more lights, more outfits, but not from a musicality or artistry standpoint. So there’s no growth. No evolution. It just remains stagnant. Like Boracity mentioned, if you pulled up a song from a k-pop group back in 2010, and play one now from 2023, the sound hasn’t really changed. The “formula” hasn’t changed. So it took me about 9-10 months to fully understand what BTS was all about. Honestly, they go beyond music. Their work ethic, their drive, the message they convey, all of that contributes to their success. But if we’re talking musicality only, here’s what I think: Based on casual listens, and not knowing their back story, they weren’t mind blowing. And at first, it can be a little underwhelming. Because when I think about K-Pop, I’m thinking of catchy beats, crazy outfits, in your face choreography and crazy MVs that cut from scene to scene every 2 secs. So when I first saw BTS, they weren’t like that and that caught me off guard. I attributed it to BTS probably just not being as good as some of these other groups and it’s all hype. Because other groups do it MUCH bigger. But as I began to go further and further down this K-pop rabbit hole, I realized they’re different because they don’t need the smoke and mirrors. Other groups are using smoke and mirrors to hide the fact that there’s really nothing to their music. There’s no foundation and they use all these bells and whistles to hide that fact. BTS writes most of their own music, so the majority of their songs and all their albums tell a story. They are relaying a message or using their music to share their thoughts and what they’re going through at the time they wrote their music. So there is a flow, there’s an evolution with their music. And you get attached to it on a more personal level. After learning about their journey, I find myself going back to their discography, and now loving songs from them that I didn’t like in the past. Because maybe from a sound point of view, it wasn’t my cup of tea. But now that I understand why that song was made and the purpose it has, I found an appreciation for it. And these songs that used to be skips are actually the songs that I have on repeat more than the songs I gravitated towards more in the beginning because those were just based on sound. It’s like finding your significant other based on looks versus based on their internal beauty. Which relationship do you think will last longer? Which relationship will you put more effort on? All-in-all, I think BTS has set a standard. When they set this standard, I don’t want to listen to other k-pop groups. They don’t do anything for me anymore. I do have a few songs from other k-pop groups in my playlist, but I end up skipping through them when they come on. Also, I took music from like 5 years old to university. Not as a major, just classes here and there. But I never truly understood the layers in composition etc. It’s so crazy to say that BTS has taught me the architectural structure in music. Like why certain sounds placed here are better, why singing a part with a breathy sound is better, things like that. They’re basically training my ear for music, and that’s another reason why other k-pop groups aren’t cutting it for me anymore. Many times, they just sound like loud noises. I do give them a chance, but I end up turning it off before the song even ends. I do hope that you will continue this BTS journey. It took me 9 months to realize they’re different. Hopefully you’re smarter than me and can realize that sooner. Especially with all these Armys guiding you.

I think Army would have been open to more Kpop, if other K-pop fans hadn’t worked tirelessly to bring BTS down. Nowadays Army does listen to other K-pop groups. You mentioned something about BTS having better promotion, but they didn’t in the beginning, but they still progressed because of the music. You will find the BTS Hardships video interesting. They are a dream team so it will be difficult to duplicate.

My take I appreciate your reaction. Thanks for your honesty that u cant relate and u found it complicated. Yes. I tell u before being an army im jist like u, a casual fan, a casual listener. U wont really understand the drama and meaning of this video unless u become a so called die hard fan of someone. Being an army is investing ur emotions towards bts. This video was made because of all the issues bts endured in 10yrs. All these complicated issues are still on going. U cant really understand the sentiments until u really devote ur time being an army. Loving and protectinf the artist u love is different. It's kinda hard to explain but bts is different, it's not just the music and facade u love. U embrace their life as a human and musician all in one. Like u wanna be a good person bec bts is a group of good people. U cant reallt grasp that mentality until become an army/solid fan. It's not that armys dont listen/follow other artists. But bts is their ultimate idol, something like that. There are many kpop fans who are also armys, no lies about that. And im pretty sure all true armys who likes other kpop artists too would attest bts is way different than any other kpop artists. And when u see the complete data with numbers u really know y. Ps: im a 32yo army hu has an 8yo army daughter. And it's really fascinating bts attracts many ppl of all ages!

I'm 63 and music has always been a part of my life. I listened to all genres from various artists. However I only care about BTS that I would stream their songs all day. I honestly have tried listening to the music of other KPop idol groups but each time I ended up turning it off after a minute. By the way you're wrong to think other groups just have to study BTS' blueprints to be successful. The success of BTS is not from their marketing or promotion. It's their talents, authenticity, genuine love for their fans, message of their music, and personalities that attracted millions of people.

Im army since 2018...im 62 and have a lot of favorite music groups but none of them are kpop. Bts stands out, in every way in comparision. Their music has substance. The lyrics is meaningful. And beside that they are precious humble humans.

I’m a 59 year old Army that discovered them in 2017 . Since then I have watched everything I can find on them! I was amazed at how narrow minded the K-pop scene to where you could only Stan one group! I actually started liking the music from kdramas ! Even though I didn’t understand the language the music was beautiful and that’s how I discovered BTS they are my Bias! That being said I also love TXT, Shinee, Astro, Monsta x, Enphyen, Twice, Mamamoo, IU, New Jeans, &Team, EXO ! It’s about the music!! I think we here in the western culture don’t give into that theory you can only love and support one artist or one genre! I love all types of music and genres! What amazes me about BTS is their individualalty ! I can distinguish their voices in their songs! They each stand out on their own! But in the other except Shinee I can’t tell who is singing unless I’m watching their videos! So I can only suggest you check out more guides to BTS ! Though Taylor’s was good she didn’t get all the information out there! X Celeste has three really good videos and The Rice Squad has The Most Beautiful Life Goes On that’s really good and you don’t have to read! Good luck going down this rabbit hole!

i listen to a lot of music, man. i am forever army, but it doesn't mean that my music world ends on bts. i have chinese, portuguese, italian, russian songs in my playlist, from folk metal to hip hop, so many artists, genres and cultures. if you ask armys, our musical horizons are very diverse. which still coexists well with out loyalty to bts. boys themselves always encourage to explore music but ppl just shove kpop into us like it's what we are expected to listen if we love bts. we are not. i don't listen to all those diverse songs in my playlist because they are close to some of my interests, i listen to those because i simple love how it's done. well, if i don't like the nature of kpop... if most of kpop music doesn't appeal to me after i give it a chance time and time again as i do with other music... why would i listen to it? but it's always expected from me as an army by media, by kpop fans, by gp. they all view kpop as a group project. "if you support these, you also have to support those" nah thanks let me also say that armys were NEVER friends with kpop community. bts coming from a struggling agency with no connection faced a lot of....awful things. their peers - those same other kpop groups - looking down on them, fandoms of those group organizing whole campaigns to sabotage bts, fandoms bullying armys for liking an outcast artist. bts rose not thanks to kpop but despite kpop and armys never were in one family with kpop fandoms. and the bigger bts grew, the more resentment there was towards us. so the history also doesn't make it enjoyable for some people to support kpop

A couple of things I wanted to say. First, many ARMYs will listen to a couple of songs from a couple of Kpop groups but not become fans of those groups. Secondly, BTS' got big by letting us in and showing us who they are. What made them big is their authenticity and connection with their fans along with the sound and message of their music. And the message of the music is another way that most Kpop tends to lose ARMY as listeners because with most kpop, there is no deeper message or meaning. And third, because of the way the kpop industry treated BTS, and in some ways still does, a lot of ARMYs were turned away from having anything to do with the rest of the industry. And when I say the Kpop industry, I mean the fans, the companies, and even some of the idols.

You have to remember other K-pop Groups like EXO and Blackpink came from BIG companies in Korea. Although BTS and their company is now a mammoth, they weren’t when they started. All the big K-pop companies had extensive marketing and promotions for their stars but not BTS. BTS was the underdog. BTS grew organically and they have loyal fans because of their music. A lot of reactors on KZfaq listen to BTS music but don’t really try to understand what their music is about, the references in their music, the wordplay. It is art. That is why BTS have many loyal fans. It’s really not surprising if you truly grasp what their music, their message, and their personalities are all about. Most Kpop music center on superficial stuff and songs and beats are very similar to each other. BTS music is so different from the regular K-pop music and also very different than most western music. They have different genres in one song. Their wordplay and the depth of their songs are on a whole different level. I hope you get to experience that. That is why BTS created a movement, of ARMY spreading their message and love all over the world. Only ARMY understand fully. It’s not blind fanatic love for good looking men who can dance and sing. It’s way more than that. Also, even if other groups copy and paste BTS’ path to stardom, they won’t be able to achieve what BTS did. Yes, they will be very popular but the kind of reach BTS has across different cultures, religions, political and social views, etc. can never be replicated. They are a phenomenon that has never been seen in the music industry ever. Yes, there were extremely popular geniuses like Michael Jackson, the Beatles, etc but BTS is in a different category altogether. It’s almost a social phenomenon. That’s why I love BTS but I am not a Kpop fan.

other companies have tried to do the copy+paste thing, but still failed...so it's not about all the promotions as other comments have mentioned, it's BTS's authenticity in their music and personalities that have really connected to people

The acts of the fans of other groups are why I listen to very few other k-pop groups as the toxicity is overwhelming. BTS are different their connection with their fans is something like I have never experienced in my life with any other group and other groups have tired the "blueprint" as you put it and they havnt succeeded so far.

4:10 I think you misunderstood what boracity meant. We love music. I don't listen to just BTS, I have hundreds of different artists followed on Spotify and listen to many different genres like orchestral music, indie pop, hip hop, trap, alternative rock and sometimes even heavy metal depending on my current mood. But I'm not a kpop fan. It honestly feels super weird for me when someone call themselves that because kpop industry consists of thousands of different groups and soloists, how can you stan ALL of them and call of them amazing? I've been an ARMY for only 4 years and during all that time I've been exposed to k-pop a lot and got to know different artists. I have some songs saved on my playlist but honestly speaking, I'd never called myself a fan of those groups because most of their discographies is totally not my style and I won't be pressuring myself into liking it. For me music and my connection to it and the artist comes first before the visuals and funny clips. The latter two are just nice additions. I can't understand the whole "kpop having beef with armys because of them only stanning bts" thing, it's not a group project. Let people like who they like 💁‍♀

I've seen questions before like "When and what songs made you a Bts fan/Army?". And that question made me confused for a while since I myself don't really realize when I became a fan of them in the first place. At some point, I was like.. "Well damn I guess I am a fan". Yeah I listen to multiple songs and artists. And I most definitely am not a kpop fan. Yes I vibe to some kpop songs too. But Bts was the only artist that I genuinely followed or what people nowadays called, "stanned". But I'm not obsessive in a bad and creepy way like "Stan" in Eminem's song. I most definitely don't like ALL their songs. They have made mistakes that I didn't tolerate. I'm not "worshipping" them like the misconception people had over kpop fans. Bts' songs are most definitely not the best in the world. But to me, at least, it is. And music is subjective. What I like may not be the same for others. What I think is meaningful might be trash to others. And that's fine. I don't care coz at the end of the day, Bts made me happy. I am excited to know what they're releasing. What they're playing in their next episode in their own variety show. I am excited to know what random things they will do in their unannounced livestreams. Or what accomplishments they'll achieve in the future. There are so many amazing artists out there. But if any of them was the one who released some of my favorite Bts songs, I don't think I will follow them like I do with Bts today. I think I speak for every Army when I say we love Bts for themselves. Their music has a significant importance to us since Bts put their heart and soul into it. Because Bts made it. Some songs might not be my favorite, but I can assure you I can listen to a song and feel emotional. And I think, having a song that a person can relate to despite it not being the person's taste, then isn't that an amazing thing? For an artist that wants their songs to reach the listeners hearts, having someone who doesn't like it, still say they feel emotionally connected to a few lines in your song, that must feel like an accomplishment for that artist. Edit: Btw, there's also a misconception that kpop fans only liked kpop idols coz of their appearance. Although for some, that might be true. But I don't believe the majority Armys followed bts coz of their appearance. I've met so many Armys who followed them coz of their authenticity and their music. I myself most definitely didn't stan Bts coz they're handsome. Yes, they are handsome. My manly ass would never deny that 😆 And there's a lot of other male Armys out there too.

The reason BTS is bigger and better is not just marketing, they are a group of sincere musicians/singers/rappers who not only write and produce their own music according to their true perspective as human beings (which makes them uber relatable), but who show compassion and love to their fans and each other. We love that sincerity and their true hearts. Kpop groups in general are not that “real” as well as their music. It’s catchy, yes, but it’s superficial. BTS has a way to enter your heart and make you feel whole again when you are down and out. That’s their power and goal. And that’s why they are different from your typical Kpop. The 3 major Kpop labels in Korea hated them because they made it bigger than their own groups without needing their tactics or influence. That was what some other fan bases hated too. Their groups had now less clout than that small company group and they couldn’t stand it. Sad but true. That’s also the reason that many BTS fans do not care to listen to other Kpop groups. They got hated on and mistreated way too much by them, so we would rather just stick with them. 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

I used to listen to k pop songs from many groups even k drama ost since 10 years ago. Just a casual listener. I don't stream or download any of their music UNTIL BTS LOVE YOURSELF TRILOGY albums came out. BTS made me cried, laughed, think and grew, be a better person who learn my values and life which other k pops songs didn't. I don't know maybe because I can feel their sincerity and authencity.🤷‍♀️

They have the biggest fan base world wide. Loyal devoted. Biggest Army in the world. I’m 75 from Southern California BTS saved me came in my life when I needed them most. I’m Army and will be for life!

I insist, I’m the one that not a K-pop fan who love BTS but I’m Army who love BTS. That’s mean I don’t listen all K-pop songs, I listen just the song I like. Thank you for your intentions to understand ARMY. 😊

Like so many, I have listened to other Idol groups (emphasis on Idol groups) and I've enjoyed a few songs here and there. Most of the songs do not appeal to me especially if the lyrics are repetitive and talk about materialistic stuff. I cannot relate to these types of songs. I have dug a little bit more to learn about a few 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation idol groups to understand the Korean Idol industry. Largely this stemmed from BTS' story and learning that our beloved Bangtan Sonyeondan admired some older idol groups and have genuine friendships with some members of Shinwa, Bigbang, SHINEE, GOT7 etc. A funny story is from an episode of a quiz show that had RM and Jackson Wang of GOT7 together. Those two are good friends. They were both asked to rap and Jackson so honestly explained that he is not a rapper, he was simply assigned to rap in his idol group. He jokingly was telling RM not to diss him and to go easy on him. Jackson is a talented artist too yet one can see the tremendous respect he has for RM's authenticity and exceptional abilities as a rapper. Jackson does not see himself as a true rapper because although he may have rapping abilities, rapping was just what he was told to do. I like a few Korean ballad soloists and other Korean rappers like Epik High, Tiger JK and Yoon Mirae. Do I invest my time and money in these talented Korean artists? No. Only with Bangtan Sonyeondan. That's the magic of BTS. 😊 Come from a non English speaking background - passionate about classical music, Broadway musicals, Motown music, world music (tango, flamenco etc), indigenous music, opera, jazz. Grew up with parents who loved all the above plus Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Jo Stafford, Shirley Bassey, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Beatles, Bee Gees, Queen, Jackson 5, Michael Jackson etc etc etc

Thank u for ur reaction guys..💜 When l first listen to bts ...it was in 2020 when their song dynamite came .. actually it is pretty much catchy song..so i liked it...but it really didn't meant i became their fan because of that...but i definitely paid attention to their songs after that .We all knew their music involves so many geners ...some of their songs may be u don't like it first , but when u understand their meaning behind the lyrics & all ...u will keep attached to their songs ...those songs u can enjoy in ur daily life ...which other kpop group doesn't have ..i love bts because of their music & their loving personalities not bcz of their mvs or dances , but that are also awesome...& I do listen other kpop groups ..but I can't really enjoy their songs forever....but for bts it always 😊 💜

I think I am a bts fan mainly because they write and produce their own music and the fact that BTS has written multiple songs and produced for other groups like TXT (kpop group), GLAM (kpop group) Halsey, max, IU, heize, Crush, Suran, Sora, Jo Kwon, Yankie, PSY, Primary and more etc. Not many people know bts do write songs for other artists and it is true that most kpop groups do not write or produce their own music and they cannot even pick songs they like (there is interviews of them openly saying they don’t like the song) but it’s the company who produce it for them. But actually after bts, some artist have a say in their music now (before bts there were too but not nearly enough in fact even now 90 percent of time, (yes 90 because if you look it up the kpop songs you just listen to, 90 percent of kpop songs is not written by them or picked)/ have any artistry and I think BTS has this freedom as the 3 rappers write mainly all their songs the vocal line of bts do too but it’s mainly the rappers and even before debuting, RM and suga were in the underground hiphop scene and suga used to sell beats and makes songs for other artists (tho he said most of the time, they scam him and don’t pay him back as he does not have any label he is just writing songs and making beats and selling them for other artists in fact back then a more well known korean rapper used suga’s beats he produced in a song).

I'm a metal head. My playlist is a healthy mix of metal and BTS lol

Music is a small percentage of our lives. Realistically most armys are listening to playlists while driving to work, working out, cooking, cleaning, etc. We keep up with their content and related releases but a lot of armys have other hobbies and work and families.

Thanks for the reaction. I found Korean music after watching the series, Boys Over Flowers, and became a fan of Kim Hyun Joong and SS501 songs several years ago. Of the current "K-Pop" groups, I am BTS ARMY and also listen to other groups, too. We're a generational ARMY and K-Pop fan family (me being the oldest), but BTS is always number 1. They're so relatable and their work ethic and the meaningful lyrics that they write themselves touch your heart.

Hi. Thanks for your reaction. In my case, although I listen to some k-pop, I only follow BTS for all that it has fully contributed and contributes to my life. At 52 years old, it is the first group that represents my mentality and ideals of life. It cannot be forgotten that thanks to the fact that BTS opened the international market with their own pain and effort, K-pop managed to enter after it. Before there was only fleeting income. Perhaps the mystery of ARMY and BTS taken out of context is not understood, but neither would exist without the other and it is what led each one to the place where they are, not marketing and money from promotions but the close bond of affection between BTS and ARMY where together They traveled a path of much pain and work, marginalized, belittled and hurt by the media, other fan groups, other music groups, record companies and many others who fought to stop these seven boys who love and respect music and their followers. Sometimes it's not about whether ARMY loves k-pop, but that they love BTS beyond all gender for what they stand for, and no other group has done that. The music, lyrics, performance, presence and message of BTS is invaluable. I love music and I listen to everything but I must admit that I love BTS whom I found like many others in one of the worst moments of my life and literally saved me and continues to help me every day.

and just bc we are ONLY ARMYS doesnt mean we cant be casual listeners of other groups. but being a fan FAN? and like vote, help, buy stuff and more? lots do it just with BTS. i have been an ONLY ARMY since 2016 but i have bough some other kpop albums, just bc i just stan BTS doesnt mean i ¨ only eat pizza¨ or in this case i just listen to bts and no one else, it is more about actively supporting to the fullest while only being a casual listener of other kpop or/and western acts

ARMYs are known to be loyal and extremly protective of the boys 💜 BTS made their company HYBE one of the biggest companies in South korea Also Most of the popular groups you see nowadays are from the big 3 companies YG/ SM/ JYP Big difference🤌🏻besides that BTS give us so much content that we can't look to others💜

Bts' discography provides us w so many options we literally never get bored also most of the kpop songs are just one time listens except for some whereas bts' discography never gets old and almost ever 2-3 months smthing adds new and refreshing, bts are artists that always bring smthing fresh to the table. Period.

One suggestion for when you are listening to these documentaries. Start with a blank slate and no preconceived ideas. Really listen to what is being said instead of making it fit with what's already in your head. Doing that may unintentionally cause you to misunderstand. Enjoy your journey of discovery!

The thing is...ARMY was the promotion in the beginning (and now with assistance)...the boys music is amazing, they have so much talent and passion and we as fans wanted to share this so we worked, we as fans worked hard. We used to send gift baskets to Radio stations in the hope they would play BTS songs. BTS albums never used to be sold in U.S stores until ARMY kept calling requesting and now all Kpop groups benefitted and their albums are in store. Other groups fans could have worked as hard as ARMY, but they didn't. This all stems from genuine love for the boys and their music, it's our way of paying them back for sharing their art with us. Now we have better promotion only after maybe 2016/2017 but it's not from the Kpop industry. The Kpop industry...the Big 3 do not like BTS, so why would we like the Kpop industry. I personally listen to many music artists (Kpop included) but I'm only a dedicated fan of BTS.

Thank you for reacting 4:10 - Among the K-pop industry (this is not a genre, is an industry) we only listen and support BTS (and a few exceptions). But outside of that, we listen to many other genres and artists. Why only BTS? Because the industry (companies and artists and media)and their fans tried their best to humiliate, destroy, make fail, sabotage, and bully BTS members into nothingness, just bc they were poor and came from a poor/small label. 7:50 - Is not about "crazy promotions". BTS was put down by the industry. What they did was being connected to their fans and the fandom promoted them. AFTER they became HUGE came invitations to award shows, shaking hands with presidents, etc. But this was the result of their success obtained by being good people. amazingly talented, not sell-outs, and a huge and amazing work ethic. 19:27 - The fandoms from the other kpop artist expect armys to listen to their music and become fans. As you say, that's not how it works, you might just casually listen and move on. But Army is attacked because we just don't like the other artist's music, or just like ONE song and move on. Most if not all of those other kpop artists don't offer anything beyond ONE or 2 good songs or MV. But Army becomes fans of BTS because song after song, MV after MV comes with high-quality standards, and once you know what the boys stand for, you get behind that as well. And the kpop fandom hates us and BTS bc of that. Crazy, right? In conclusion: Armys are fans of BTS, not all the other 1000+ kpop artist. We love BTS's music. And nobody can force us to be fans of all the other artist, just like nobody should try to force anyone to love ALL the USA's artists just because they like Beyonce or Metallica.

You should really watch The Rise of Bangtan. It's 21 chapters but takes you through the history of K-pop, and shows the BTS journey from before debut to today. A lot of your questions will be answered if you watch this series.

Kpop sounds so similar it's boring with no real lyric's that mean anything. It's all about pretty looking people dancing it's not really about music. BTS are true muisicans who write, compose and produce, with lyric's that have real meaning. They'll use different genre's and mix them as they see fit. If you like different genre's of music with real lyrics you'll like BTS. If you like a flashy MV with pretty people you'll like kpop. Bascially it's their music that set's them apart.

Yes I am a rock lover who fall in love with BTS. I genuinely tried to listen to k pop cause I am never closed to listen to new music but no. Nothing caught my eyes or ears or heart as BTS´s music. I listened and I didn´t like it, that is all. It is like saying you have to like all country music, when in fact you like some country songs and you don´t like others. Of course they came from K pop industry but they have outgrown that. I think they are on a category of their own cause they are so unique music wise. They do all genres and are such fantastic writers, producers, perormers, singers, rappers..... they have such a huge catalog that it fills my entire quota of listening to music. Of course I listen to many other singers and groups from around the world but nothing compares to listening to Bangtan´s music.

The difference? It's the connection between BTS x ARMY with the art they create through their music and so much more!! This connection goes beyond their music because so many people arouthe world resonate so much with their message as artists, as people, etc. 💜🎶

BTS gained organic growth especially outside South Korea. The sad part is that a lot of attention was not given to their achievements at that time in their home because they belonged to a small company. Their company at that time was literally almost in bankruptcy in 2015 and they received a lot of hate and mocking. (k-media even nowadays doesn't mention BTS a lot compared to other artists from the "big 3". That's why some koreans still get surprised of how huge they are around the world.) I used to listen a lot of 2NE1 and Big Bang song way before discovering BTS but that was it. I just got interested more kpop after discovering BTS in 2016 and let me tell you I liked te songs and I even considered myself a fan of other groups but with the time I just lost interest in them and I found a lot of songs and concepts repetitive or similar with A LOT of others idols so yeah.. .it's true that the kpop industry follows a trend and they don't have much artistic identity but it would be a lie if I say all the songs are bad just for that because even in the western industry there's tons of songs that the company just gave to their artists. (but it seems the last years this have changed a little bit since some have the freedom to participate in their own music) Anyway, It seems that you can't really understand this since you guys mentioned that you don't get attached to things a lot but people who are passionate fans of artists will fully understand that. Some of us may listen to kpop and some don't but it's true that the majority of armys are not multifandom because we found them really special and unique, we feel a strong connection with them and resonate a lot with their personal lyrics, messages and diverse artistic expressions. They are so good that honestly makes a lot of other artist not interesting or at least to become a fan of them. This video is not trying to make things complicated but to explain why we armys are not fans of a lot of groups or whole kpop industry lol (it's probably directed too to that people who are complaining about that) Not to explain why we don't want to listen to kpop because we DO give them a chance and if some don't want to then it's on them 🤷‍♀🤷‍♀ Sorry for my long comment

I for one only listen to BTS' songs.. Not that I have anything against kpop, it's just that I can relate to BTS song n it gives me comfort. Plus BTS' is for general listener, I encourage my daughter, nieces n students to listen to their songs.

Thank you for reacting to BTS and for giving them a real chance. I listen to many different artist but BTS is someone i can listen to all day and never gets tired off because they have so many different genres and messages in their songs. When they first started they did not have a lot of money and Big Hit was almost bankrupt i their early years and didn´t have the money to promote BTS so BTS did something different and went on KZfaq to do Vlogs where they shared their thoughts both good and bad and they created a lot of contend that showed their personality like behind the scenes and shows that the small company created them self because they didn´t have the money to get them on the real shows and if they went they would be looked down on. like in their I Need You MV the extras is their managers and the car is owned by staff and some of their first music is recorded in a garage. If you wants to know more about the K-Pop industry, South Korea and BTS i really recommend you to watch The Rise Of Bangtan. Its incredible and we don´t mind long videos and you pausing to tell about your thoughts. To know more about BTS and what they have been through i recommend you to watch BTS Hardships by Xceleste 2013-2021 and The Next BTS" Why they fail every time by Boracity Magazine. I really look forward to your next reaction and i am a new subscriber :)

You gotta understand, I've been a fan of bts since 2015, and trust me I've given so many kpop grps a chance but at one point it's just gets tiring. Not liking kpop doesn't mean we don't listen to korean artists, iu,heize, chungha, sooyeon,...... Plus, i listen to different genres of music, i like rock,I like pop,rap, rnb..... Plus there's a difference between being a STAN and a casual listener. I stan bts cuz i do keep up with them on a personal level, but I'm a casual listener to a lot of artists

BTS has so many hater i know after this video many kpop fans in comments will hate bts or say something about them i hope you keep reacting to this kind of videos to know bts more.

Love BTS! Hate contention. Favorite line from this reaction: Why cant we all get along? Also i think a key point of this discussion is inconsistent terminology usage. For most people new to listening to korean artists, the only term we have ever heard is kpop and we take it to mean any song by a korean artist that sings in korean. I am a 6 month old baby army with i year plus into kdramas as my point of reference. As korean dramas of ANY genre are called kdramas i thought the term was crossover to kpop and included all the amazing soundtrack songs from those shows. Of course, longtime army understand the background and history of the idustry and all the hardships that BTS went through and it is personal to them, which is understandable. But to expect everyone to understand all that complicated history and drag in the politics when simply trying to enjoy some great music and find new artists is unrealistic and unfair. Music shouldn't be required to come with a history lesson. If the person likes the music and has a tendency to dig deeper and wants to know more, then great! But if they want to simply enjoy good music then that is great too. It shouldn't come with political baggage. One additional note. I think the main reasons for BTS's success are their passion for music as artists, their sincerity, willingness to show vulnerability, extreme work ethic, relatable messaging, humilty, huge range of music styles, talent, and gratitude to their fans.

When you start listening to more BTS songs you will understand. Most other K-pop bands are performing what their company tells them to and the group has no input on lyrics or music. You will find that BTS' songs are very deep and they write and produce their own music. Other K-pop groups' lyrics are typically very shallow.

12:30 The correct metaphor is not with pizza, but still. If you are a Red Sox fan and someone comes and tells you "there are amazing teams out there! and players! check them out, maybe you find your next favorite team!" We are talking about a hobby and something you do because you like it, not nutrition... And also, just because you like 1 Korean band, do you have to like all? Mind you, most ARMY don't listen to ONLY BTS breakfast, lunch and dinner. We all come from so many different cultures and wakes of life... I am a metal head, who loves Hisaishi scores and classical music with a passion, as well as MJ and many pop divas/icons like Mariah and Whitney, I love old 50s, 60s music as well. And rock bands such as Aerosmith. So liking BTS, does not mean "now I have to LIKE everything" I can still try and not like or find it "meh" or ok enough not to visit it again or to check next time. Mind you, I've been listening to Japanese rock for 30 years now and to Korean pop/rnb for 20... I do listen to other bands here and there, but that's it. And that's me because of my background. Not everyone has to do that.

2:13 as someone who grew up with bigbang and went to their us concerts back in the day, no, bigbang didn't really hit main stream. they were still niche. they had some greeaaatttttt songs though. but it's just so hard to break into the us music industry due to push backs concerning language, money, racism/xenophobia, etc. BTS is the only one who has broken thru and has longevity.

7:35 방탄은 특별한 프로모션으로 커진게 아니에요. 오히려 역순이었죠. 물론 프로모션이 아주 없는 것은 아니었지만 이미 프로모션을 넘어선 팬덤이 먼저 있었고, 오히려 그 팬덤과 방탄을 이용하려는 프로모션이 붙을 정도였으니까요. 방탄은 특별한 노래를 가지고 있어요. 여러분은 아직 여러분에게 전하는 소리를 듣지 못한 것 같이 보여요. 그 52hz를 듣는 순간이 오면 진짜 인생의 단 한 번 뿐인 방탄이 될거에요.

BTS came from a small almost bankrupt company and the rest of the Kpop Industry looked down on them and blocked them at every turn. They are still doing it in the SK Media today. They down play BTS achievements and up play the tiny achievements of the groups from the Big 3 Kpop companies. Even to day they do it even though BigHit/HBYE is a bigger company than the Big 3 however they still don't have the contacts because they don't have the power. Money yes power no. For year's now the kpop industry has been trying to work out what BTS do. They latch on to one thing BTS do and try to replicate it they are known as a Copycat Industry it always has been a copycat industry you just have to look at the history of Kpop. It only started in the 90's

I'm an ARMY and even though I wouldn't call myself a "fan" of any other Kpop groups, I listen to other Kpop group songs here and there if I like them. BTS exposed me to those other Kpop groups that I now listen to but don't actively follow like I do BTS. BTS will always be special to me because of how they've impacted my life. I became an ARMY because most importantly, I love their music. I also became an ARMY because of their authenticity. I don't think that ARMYs should ever hate on other groups or fandoms, I would agree that everyone should get along. As many of us say, "real" ARMYs will always be respectful of BTS and other groups.

I think you probably understand by now, but this video is coming from when you say you're a BTS fan, people assume you're a Kpop fan. As in when you say "I like BTS" to your friend and their response is "I didn't know you liked Kpop." And Boracity is saying it's a misunderstanding that BTS fans are automatically Kpop fans. Because after discovering BTS, many BTS fans often try listening to other Kpop music and find themselves not really liking them so it becomes weird to be called a Kpop fan when all you listen to in Kpop is mostly just BTS music. Not a perfect example, but "I'm a fan of BTS but I'm not into Kpop" is similar to saying something like, "I'm a fan of IZ but I'm not into Hawaiian music." It doesn't mean that you don't listen to any other music but BTS music. And in my experience, ARMY don't trash talk other ARMY who are also Kpop fans. Rather, they get defensive when other Kpop fandoms ask them why ARMY don't listen to other Kpop songs. The response is simply because not all ARMY are Kpop fans.

I'm not a Kpop fan. I only listen to BTS because of the message of their songs which I can almost always relate to. Their music is not just pop. They have a wide range of music genre. Their albums are usually a trilogy which tells a story. It's not like, they release one album and then release another one which is not related to the previous one. For example their trilogy albums Love yourself is a series. Love Yourself: Her, Love Yourself:Tear and Love Yourself: Answer. I've never seen any groups doing this kind of thing. I've never been a fan of any western boy groups such as Backstreet Boys, West Life, One Direction and I've never bought any albums physical or digital of any artist but I bought BTS's albums. FYI, BTS came from a very small company, almost bankrupt. They didn't have the support of KPop industry. They become big in the west because of their own way of promoting themselves though social media such as youtube and twitter which was not a thing in KPop. They would go live to interact with ARMY. When BTS won the Top Social Artist of the Year at Billboard Music Award in 2017, that was the time that other KPop group started to be active in social media. BTS was in fact more popular abroad than in South Korea because their company didn't have the support of the industry. BTS used to be underdogs. They were disrespected, insulted and bullied but instead of being discouraged, they worked hard to prove themselves to the industry. Their company is now the biggest among all the KPop companies.It was estimated, the BTS ecosystem accounts for a staggering $4.9 billion of South Korea's GDP," according to a case study from Harvard Business Review. South Korea's GDP in 2020 was about $1.64 trillion. That means one boy band helped produce some 0.30% percent of the country's economic output. So when they announced their hiatus due to mandatory military enlistment, there was some sort of panic because South Korea might lose 4.9 billion dollars which is 0.30%. BTS is huge. They sell out digital and physical albums without bundles. They sell out stadiums in less than an hour or sometimes, even just minutes.

I’m 46 and my favourite groups are mixed, from BTS to System of a Down and Cream, I also like old school hip hop and rnb. No other group has affected me musically or emotionally as BTS. I listen to some other K-pop tracks here and there but overall I can’t see me stanning another group like I do BTS. Also, Butters is gorgeous. ✌️💜

i myself enjoy a lot of kpop songs in general because i love music itself so if the song is good to my ears i’ll listen to it no matter what group it is and after hearing so many groups and reading so many lyrics and then coming back to any song by bts, it’s clear the difference in lyrics and emotion, bts’ musics are different in so many ways. but that doesn’t mean that other groups are bad or whatever

I’m at marker 12:41 and i’ll say this. The question is not about giving them a chance, or listening to other artists, but of dedicated support. ARMYs are lovers of music. So we listen to a lot of different artists and genres and are even fans of many - we just don’t feel obligated to listen to every K-pop group just cause we love BTS. Most of us have given chances to other groups, some found other K-pop groups whose music they liked, others didn’t. BUT we are a dedicated fandom. This means our ultimate group and priority is BTS. We put in effort to support them in ways we don’t for others acts. For me, I have not found a single other artist where I loved 100% of their discography - and I’m a huge fan of linkin park, coldplay, taylor swift, halsey, arijit singh, hozier, etc. After finding BTS, I found I like 1 other K-pop group whose music I genuinely love beyond one odd songs. Instead I discovered other Korean soloists, groups or bands that I’m loving, such as Epik High, IU, Jaurim. So many armys may be casual listeners of other groups, but we don’t feel obligated to buy all their music or listen to all of their music, learn everything about all the members, watch all interviews and other non musical content, etc. 🤷‍♀️

I identify myself as BTS ARMY. I have listened to other songs from different groups. I appreciate some of them, but I gravitate the most towards BTS, and invested my time to really get to know BTS. I am turning 50 this year. I am very particular when it comes to lyrics and the songs of BTS resonate the most to me. I think that's why BTS have lots of ARMY who are as old as me...and even older than me. I cannot understand why some people attack me just because I am an ARMY. I am not familiar with other idol groups, but I don't talk hate about them. If one doesn't like BTS as much as I do, it's okay. What is not okay for me, is to talk hate about BTS, just because you like other idol groups, and people attack me just because I like BTS. Enjoy the learnings. I also learn from you, BTW. I am a Filipina, and I think it will be interesting if you get to listen to our PPop too and react to it. Try searching SB19. You might like it. ENjoy the BTS journey.

The people snapping about calling BTS kpop are going a little overboard, imo. 😄 They aren't wrong since BTS has evolved beyond that initial label, but some people get too heated about it. BTS was part of the kpop industry -- that is their roots and their earlier focus upon debut whether or not we like it and even though they were far more musically involved which set them apart. But they survived and thrived DESPITE the kpop machine that is now riding their coattails while still downplaying their achievements.

what sets BTS apart is not just the marketing strategies - but their music, talents and personalities itself. (but of course, you know that now by watching the Rise of Bangtan series ) Thanks guys! I'm enjoying your channel!💜

Yeah, Big Bang was well-known but in kpop only and not as big as BTS now. What I mean is that only kpop fans loved them. Yet in kpop back then, there was a bigger kpop group (but let’s not talk about it, it would be too long). Regarding promotions, actually BTS only used social media (Twitter and KZfaq mainly). Fans discovered their music through KZfaq > more fans interested in them and translate their stuff > more people discover them through YT + translated videos and become fans. That’s only when they became big (charted and sold more) that they got to appear on more shows (in any country, they weren’t even well-received in South Korea). So no, it was not promotion that got them famous, but their fame (through their music) got them on bigger stages and better promotions. Btw, kpop industry tried multiple times to promote kpop groups in the us but failed. It was only when BTS became bigger and appeared on us shows, that more kpop groups appeared at those shows. Personally, I listen to kpop, but I’m not a fan. I know a lot of ARMYs that listen to kpop but don’t consider themselves as kpop fans, like myself, because we are just casual listeners (a few songs). And a lot of ARMYs will agree with me, but we don’t consider other kpop groups talentless, it’s just our taste, like we don’t listen to every genre in the world. It’s the same here. Lastly, I wanted to tell you that we are so many in the fandom because we appreciate each member as artists but also as human beings. Thanks to them and their messages through music or social media/speeches, people were saved.

After learning about BTS, I tried listening to other Kpop groups too but quite frankly I get tired after listening continuously to their music bec they all sound the same to me. My playlist is mostly jazz, soul and light rock and now includes BTS' music bec they have varying genres that you can switch to within their own discography and it would still be BTS & the icing on top for me is their lyrics. The fact that BTS puts a premium on their lyrics is their testament to quality music. Yes I'm a BTS Army but I'm not a KPop fan. Thanks for sharing your reaction to this video.

I'm at 8' and stopped just to say BTS's success is not due to heavy promotion, shaking hands with president or whatever, believe it or not BTS started as an indie act, they are the only kpop act that can chart on Indie Billboard Chart... Their success is due first and for most to their music, talent and authenticity. And by the way, BigBang was never a success in the US, but mostly in Korean and some parts in Asia... Even in 2014, A survey showed that BTS with their small company and budgets were the most popular kpop act in the US.

I'm an old woman. For me, Bts is truly different and special. I have listened to many songs from different languages, eras and genres.. I will listen to the song that i like over and over again.. until there's a time i got bored to that song... but not Bts songs.. they are still continuing running on my playlist for 8 years now. I knew them in 2016. Their songs haven't got me bored yet.. and their new songs kept added on my playlist🥰.

I’m 67 yo grandma that’s been listening to music for quite a while. I loved a few bands and artists music but I really didn’t like them as people. There have been only a few but they disappointed me. BTS is not just a musical group. They are people I can respect as a group and individuals. Their lyrics have seen me over sad and bad times. They also make me laugh watching their lives, vlogs and special programs.

If you dig deep down into the "BTS music" also called "BTS genre" since the beginning, you will understand more. It's not only the number but also the quality in every single piece of their music (and lyrics).

It should also be understood that BTS didn't start out with any marketing power. They started from the bottom and the connections grew as their popularity did. Also, BTS got big because they weren't a copy/paste group. Anyone who "follows their method" intentionally will be easily spotted as a mimic. Other groups are currently doing this, and while they're good, they are considered by a good chunk of ARMY to be merely following a blueprint to success.

Your channel stood out to me because I am a big rock music fan. Radiohead, NIN, ratm, muse, tool, APC, smashing pumpkins are my ults (and now, also BTS). I grew up knowing about kpop and never really liked it. That’s why it took me awhile to pay any attention to BTS. I regret not stanning them sooner. Their live stages are also among the best I’ve seen. I’m ARMY for life. I love your reactions to BTS. I find it genuine. Thank you!

I am just gonna lay it as it is, BTS is the best when it comes to music quality imho. Some grps may have a song or two but BTS is the only one that has an almost flawless discography

It's ok if you guys said something that many people didn't agree at the beginning like calling BTS just kpop since you didn't know the context and the whole story behind it By the way, PSY' Gangnam style was huge and we could say is the closest to BTS' hits but Big Bang for example was big more in korea than globaly and yes, they were getting a lot of global fans too but nothing compared to BTS tho BTS was already making history and being "the first korean act to chart in x" and stuff back even in 2015. like: "BTS became the first Korean Act to spend more than one week at #1 in the World Albums chart with HYYH Pt.2. The album stayed at #1 for four weeks with no official physical sales in the US and no one outside BTS reached such level yet." Billboard also stated that BTS became the Korean Act with the most overall weeks at #1 in the chart and they did that with just one album. It was also rare to see Korean albums charting for more than 10 weeks in the World Albums and BTS has been showing such strength since Dark & Wild era (2014). So yeah, since the beginning BTS had a lot of international fans but they weren't the biggest group in korea. At that time was Big Bang and then probably Exo. But it's a fact that BTS is the biggest group actually in the world right now and that they paved the way. As someone who has been for a while i definitely saw a lot of changes in the industry since BTS won that billboard award in 2017 and how the whole game changed and the global market and entertaining shows welcomed easily other kpop acts after BTS' success.

2:35 bts had no money, they started in almost bankrupt agency. Big bang started in top 3 biggest agencies, they just didn't manage to develop strong foreign and particularly US fandom🤷

There is a lot of nuance to this that someone new to learning about BTS and KPOP couldn't possible know. I became ARMY about 3 yrs ago and I still don't totally understand it all but here is my take. I think that BTS is both KPOP and not KPOP at the same time. They identify themselves as KPOP. They were formed as a K POP Idol group by a new small label that was planning on launching them as an hip hop group but then changed the concept right before debut and they debuted as a KPOP idol group. KPOP is a genre of Korean music the same way POP and hip hop are separate genres in the west. BTS stands out among all other groups because they were given the creative freedom to write and produce what they wanted and tell their personal stories and so they don't fit the typical mold of what the KPOP idol is. Their music spans genres. The big KPOP labels are more entertainment companies than record labels per say and the concept is more about the dancing and visuals than about the music and BTS is the opposite, they are the music 1st and visual and dancing second. So they transcend the genre and don't really fit in any genre really. I got introduced to BTS through dynamite and as I listened to their catalog I fell in love with them for the lyrics that really spoke to me and resonated with me. They have so many songs that uplift you and provide hope and comfort. Songs like Magic Shop and Answer: Love Myself, Epiphany, Tomorrow, Zero O'clock, Blue and Gray, Life Goes On, Mikrokosmos, etc etc... I have listened to many other K POP artists and no one else is really making music like this in Korea. Not to say I don't like any other KPOP groups because I do but not their full discography and not enough to look deeper into the group past adding a song or 2 to a playlist because it is a bop. BTS though made me want to get to know who they were personally and what you find when you watch the non musical content like Run BTS, Bon Voyage and In the soop, is that they are as inspirational in their daily lives as they are in their music. the music makes you a fan but combined with the youtube series and behind the scenes content is what makes you ARMY.

I remember watching an American morning show where BTS was being interviewed about their new album and performed. And before the interview they showed a segment about kpop as a whole barely mentioning BTS and I thought that was so strange. I have no problem showing a segment like that (if it's actually well researched) but why on a day when BTS is on? They could've easily had a video shown only about BTS and their accomplishments, history, music, etc. but instead showed one about kpop instead. Imagine The Weeknd being on a morning show and the intro video was about other pop artists over the years, it doesn't make sense. I don't think it's that I don't consider BTS kpop because I do and even BTS will call themselves kpop, but to me and to them they aren't ONLY kpop. RM has stated in the past "We don't want to limit our hearts and our music to the term kpop". I've checked out numerous other kpop artists over the years and I listen to some kpop casually but I wouldn't consider myself a fan. It's funny when BTS fans are told to like other kpop artists and not only BTS, but how many fans like kpop groups/artists more than BTS or they don't even like BTS at all? The answer is plenty. I even know people who purposely don't listen to BTS because of how big they are or because of the fandom and other times it's simply a preference of music. I will say every fandom has toxicity but most fans aren't. But of course when you have the biggest fandom in the world it's going to seem like ARMY's are more toxic just by sheer size.

I have been ARMY for 9 years, and The only artist I stan is BTS but doesnt mean I Only listen to BTS, These days I love latin music, I have always been a huge hiphop and poetry fan so BTS connects me in that thing .. I love listening to western pop, Lizzo and Billie Eillish are my fav but My go to are actually still pink floyd and nas hahahah I am all over the place, I listen to song from my native country, bollywood, latin music amd korean songs that are not just kpop,I actually live korean RnB as well, I also love some newer group's music like TXT, Le sserafim but BTS are the only artists I stan because I connect with their message and artistic personalities as a whole

True ARMYs are not K-Pop fans as we have seen the terrible things they have done to other groups, indie artists & to their own idols as well as to BTS, the artists are toxic, their fans are toxic and the CEO’s & staff of the company’s of the Big 3 especially are toxic and I for one do not want to support people who are toxic & hateful that is why I only support BTS & HYBE/Big Hit as I know they are good people and they have worked hard for everything they have, also most ARMYs are working class and lower class so we understand having to fight & work hard every single day to get the recognition we deserve. I have been with BTS for 8 years and I will continue to support them until the day they choose to retire on their own accord.

I agree J, I have never been a 'fan' person, but then I stumbled onto BTS. I still watch and listen to other artists, but I literally listen to BTS everyday!! Not just their music, but everything, simply because they make me feel happy, they always put a smile on my face. I didn't even realise the hate they got from other korean fandoms; it really is overwhelming to see what they went through, all because they surpassed the big 3 kpop companies. Thanks for the reaction.

Love your reactions and reflections. Excited to see more reactions to BTS. I listen to a lot of jazz, blues, some funk, old school rock - and BTS. So yeah, a lot of their songs are outliers from my general taste in music, but they have fully become my favorite artist. I've never been a "fangirl" or even remotely close to it before. Something about BTS is just way different to me. I like them as people, their music, their performances, their messages ... they are the first famous people where I've actually thought "wow, they seem so genuine, nice, down to earth and honest". They are just different somehow.

I have many songs that I like and many artist I enjoy, but for me lyrics are more important than the visuals, if you have good visuals but your music is not good then I will not listen, I will not care about it, BTS is totally different from others, specifically kpop groups, like they say, they dont follow the easy path, they change their music style as they want even if it has less popularity than the previous one, and I love that, dont get stuck in a single genre and explore different genres, like be experimental with your music.

I’m a 43-year old Army but am not a Kpop music fan. I just cant connect with the music of other groups.

This is the way I explain my love of BTS. There music hits all my moods. If I want something emotional, happy, hardcore, easy listening, There is a BTS song for that. Prior to BTS, I just listened to whatever was on the radio, of course I had my favorite bands, but I still listened to a wide range of music. I'd spend a lot of money going to concerts and festivals and most often would be disappointed because these artists who I had spent so much money on showed up to the concerts drunk, or had zero fan engagement. BTS was different, I feel like they love me more than I love them. I've seen the group live 3x and Suga/Agust D live solo. Each time I am left feeling an immense amount of love received and cherish those concerts as some of the happiest memories in my life. So at my age (36) I just didn't feel like wasting time or energy giving engagement to music that I felt I didn't connect with, or artists who treated there fans poorly. So over the years I just stopped listening to other music and only listened to BTS. I just listen to BTS, or collabs with BTS members. I'll hear other music at work, and my friends like multiple K-pop groups so on road trips I'll hear other groups, but there music just doesn't resonate with me the way BTS's music does. Also as part of the ARMY since 2015, I was around for a lot of the initial hate BTS was given as well as ARMY, and when you have other Fandoms attacking your group or trying to ruin there career's, I just personally didn't even want to listen to that group. I am very happy in my BTS bubble, they release enough new music that you don't ever really get tired of the songs. I respect everyone's right to listen to whatever they want. I will say my view on the music industry prior to being ARMY and after being ARMY is 100% changed.

Simple, ARMY doesn't need other music, because BTS satisfies them enough. Any genre and BTS has it. Even if we listen to other songs, we keep coming back to our darlings.