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Naming names - Let's start with that name. BTS stands for "Bangtan Sonyeondan," Korean for "Bulletproof Boy Scouts."
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The meaning - Why the name? Member J-Hope (center left) says BTS means "block[ing] out stereotypes, criticisms, and expectations that aim on adolescents like bullets."
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Where BTS began - BTS began after Bang Si-hyuk, CEO of Big Hit Entertainment, met up with group leader RM (Rap Monster, pictured). The label boss was impressed by the artist's rapping ability.
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A shoulder to lean on - BTS were going to become a rap group, but Bang Si-hyuk said the youth needed "a hero who can lend them a shoulder to lean on, even without speaking a single word."
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Meet the members - The group lineup was complete in 2012. BTS is made up of Jin, J-Hope, Suga, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook.
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Building a fanbase - Before their singles and albums, the group started getting popular thanks to their presence on social media. They uploaded covers to YouTube and Soundcloud.
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Not the best start
- Their debut project was '2 Cool 4 Skool,' released in June 2013 with lead single 'No More Dream.' The record didn't sell too well, and the singles didn't take off either. (Photo: Korea.net/Korean Culture and Information Service/Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 2.0)
© Korea.net/Korean Culture and Information Service/Wikimedia/Creative Commons
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The show must go on
- Nevertheless, the group persisted with the 'O!RUL8,2?' EP, which performed better. That same month, they starred in their own variety show, performing skits and sketches. (Photo: Korea.net/Korean Culture and Information Service/Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 2.0)
© Korea.net/Korean Culture and Information Service/Wikimedia/Creative Commons
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Priming world domination - They finished their "school trilogy" with the 'Skool Luv Affair' EP. Released in February 2014, it was a commercial hit, and their first release on Billboard's World Albums Chart.
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Two languages, two audiences - A big part of BTS' success is satisfying two audiences with two languages. In 2014, they released their Korean debut album 'Dark & Wild,' and the Japanese-language album 'Wake Up.'
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Touring - The band embarked on their first concert tour from October to December in 2014, with dates in South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines.
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BTS getting bigger - BTS broke through with 'The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Part 1,' featuring hit singles 'I Need U' and 'Dope.' The latter racked up over 100 million views, and led to BTS getting their own Twitter emoji and music show.
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More success - Full steam ahead for BTS. Their 'Young Forever' release won awards and charted in the US, while 'Youth' sold 44,000 copies in a single day in Japan.
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Breaking records - Back home, their single 'Blood Sweat & Tears' got six million views in a day, breaking the record for a K-pop group. It featured on their album 'Wings.'
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'Wings' - 'Wings' became the biggest release in the history of South Korea's Gaon Album Chart, as well as the biggest K-pop release in America. It was the first BTS project to sell over a million copies.
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Beyond the Scene
- To boost their brand, the band began 2017 by announcing that BTS also stood for "Beyond the Scene." More tours and record-breaking releases would follow.
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Crashing the charts - 'Spring Day' was a song so popular it crashed a digital chart in South Korea. However, 'DNA' was the band's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, and the best charting from a K-pop group at the time.
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The biggest Asian album in America - The group followed that with 'Love Yourself: Her,' the highest-charting Asian album in America. Back home, it sold a million copies in a month.
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Breaking through - BTS capitalized on their US success with a performance at the 2017 American Music Awards. Even their Twitter interactions ended up breaking a Guinness World Record.
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Top Social Artists - The group are famed for their frenzied online fanbase, and have won the Top Social Artist category twice at the Billboard Music Awards. There they debuted new single 'Fake Love' in 2018.
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'Fake Love' - 'Fake Love' is perhaps their most popular song, charting at number 10 on on the US charts. The single supported their album, 'Love Yourself: Tear.'
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Big moves from BTS - 'Tear' debuted at number one on the US album charts, making it the highest-selling Asian album ever. It also made the top 10 in the UK.
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BTS at the UN - BTS were guests at the United Nations 73rd General Assembly, there to help launch youth initiatives. RM gave a speech on self-acceptance and their Love Myself campaign.
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Selling out stadiums - The boy band finished their US tour at Citi Field in New York City. They became the first Korean act to perform at a US stadium, which they sold out in 20 minutes.
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More validation - BTS made the cover of Time Magazine in October 2018. They also performed at a "Friendship Concert" in Paris, attended by officials like South Korean president Moon Jae-in.
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Big bucks with BTS - It's reported that BTS have brought US$4.65 billion to the South Korean economy.
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A spot of controversy - The group landed in hot water after Jimin wore a T-shirt featuring the US atomic bombing of Japan. A TV performance was cancelled, and the group apologized.
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'Burn the Stage' - BTS made it to the big screen with the release of 'Burn the Stage: The Movie' in November 2018.
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One of the world's biggest - In December 2018, BTS were ranked number eight on Billboard's Top Artist Chart. They were the second-highest ranking group, just under Imagine Dragons.
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Awards
- BTS made an appearance at the Grammys in 2019, and won big at the Teen Choice Awards.
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Awards
- While they were unable to attend the ceremony, BTS won three awards at the American Music Awards, including Favorite Duo or Group Pop/Rock, Favorite Social Artist, and Tour of the Year. See more: Busan, South Korea is your next dynamic destination
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BTS: The story behind Time's Entertainer of the Year
How they became the biggest band in the world
© <p>Getty Images</p>
BTS is the biggest musical group in the world, no question. The seven-man boy band are based in South Korea, but have taken over the world since their formation in 2013. Singles like 'Fire' and 'Fake Love' have been streamed billions of times, and have sat atop of charts around the world. What's more, their influence goes beyond music, with huge contributions to South Korea's economy and global image.
This year especially, amid a global racial reckoning and a pandemic, they've released new music, set new records, and deepened bonds with their international fanbase, called ARMY. So, it makes sense that Time Magazine has named BTS the Entertainer of the Year.
Click on to find out more about this incredible group.
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