Is BTS' Empire in 2021 the largest in the history of pop?

    There are some shorts circulating in youtube about the largest Empire of History.


    Generally the British Empire, circa 1920 , is considered to be the largest in human history , encompassing 1/2 of North America, all of Australia, 1/4 of Asia and 1/3 of Africa from Cairo to Cape.


    Now, in history of Pop, Whyknock has to say that the largest empire of pop history is BTS' Empire circa 2021.


    During the times of Beatles or even Michael Jackson, there were some local music trends which were able to hold out on their own.


    Even now, acts popular mostly in USA, Canada or UK tend to be weaker in the so called developing countries.


    Taylor Swift gained some inroads in South America but is still a bit weaker in Southeast Asia.


    Arguably, BTS' empire in 2021 was the largest of all time.


    It conquered the entire world, except some spots listed below.


    It did not conquer Afghanistan. The Taliban was ascendant there so the people there had more pressing things to do than listening to Butter.


    It did not conquer Thailand and some Southeast Asian countries, where BlackPink was still strong.


    it did not conquer North Korea, which has its own rules, but no one there actually listens to the propaganda songs. Arguably Lim Youngwoong is the most popular singer there.



    And, unfortunately and most fatally, it did not conquer South korea, which , for reasons beyond my comprehension, decided to stick with , out of all people, IU.


    Still, other than these places, BTS had conquere dthe entire world, so its empire was probably the largest in the history of Pop.

    • Best Answer

    😂😅


    Tbh during 2020 and 21 they were popular to the point that even if you are not in kpop spaces, you would still some times hear what some bts members are doing (like even the smallest updates used to make so much noise, even simple things they would do on lives would make it to news channels).


    Now a days, if you are not in army spaces, you wont know what is happening. I would say, fandom is more peaceful now😅

    Quote from qamar-atti

    😂😅


    Tbh during 2020 and 21 they were popular to the point that even if you are not in kpop spaces, you would still some times hear what some bts members are doing (like even the smallest updates used to make so much noise, even simple things they would do on lives would make it to news channels).


    Now a days, if you are not in army spaces, you wont know what is happening. I would say, fandom is more peaceful now😅

    I remember in 2021, I wasn't in the fandom yet but I would hear people around me talk about the BTS meal. I also remember playing Butter on its first day when I saw it on my Spotify homepage.


    In 2022, everyone talked about was their hiatus.

    :pepe-life-support:

  • AllKill VIP
    Quote from qamar-atti

    😂😅


    Tbh during 2020 and 21 they were popular to the point that even if you are not in kpop spaces, you would still some times hear what some bts members are doing (like even the smallest updates used to make so much noise, even simple things they would do on lives would make it to news channels).


    Now a days, if you are not in army spaces, you wont know what is happening. I would say, fandom is more peaceful now😅

    the entire globe , except both Korea, essentially, was under BTS' rule

  • WhyKnock

    Selected a post as the best answer.
    Quote from Kitty_Saurus

    I remember in 2021, I wasn't in the fandom yet but I would hear people around me talk about the BTS meal. I also remember playing Butter on its first day when I saw it on my Spotify homepage.


    In 2022, everyone talked about was their hiatus.

    :pepe-life-support:

    It was impossible for anyone not in Afghanistan , North Korea or some other very isolated spot in the globe to avoid BTS

    Quote from WhyKnock

    It was impossible for anyone not in Afghanistan , North Korea or some other very isolated spot in the globe to avoid BTS

    If they were inevitable, Tailor Swift was Iron Man?


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    No, it's not even close.


    BTS's reach maybe wider than most. But deeper? No.


    You don't have to compare with Michael or Beatles. Western boy groups have bigger impact: BSB, Westlife, N'Sync all have songs being well-known more than any BTS songs.

    Quote from Jasque-O-Part2

    If they were inevitable, Tailor Swift was Iron Man?


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    I don't have comparisons since if Bang decided to abandon Korea and moved BTS to another country we would not be hearing about Taylor Swift too much.

    Quote from vinslow4

    No, it's not even close.


    BTS's reach maybe wider than most. But deeper? No.


    You don't have to compare with Michael or Beatles. Western boy groups have bigger impact: BSB, Westlife, N'Sync all have songs being well-known more than any BTS songs.

    Did they go anywhere in China, SE Asia or Latin America?

    Im not sure anyone even Taylor Swift beats peak Michael Jackson. The fact he was that popular without the internet and when you had to buy albums is insane. To say BTS surpassed that is one of the worst music opinions I've ever heard and I love BTS. Had the chance to see them at Wembley.


    Im not Taylor fan either but the eras tour is the closest thing I've seen that came close to MJ.

    Quote from vinslow4

    No, it's not even close.


    BTS's reach maybe wider than most. But deeper? No.


    You don't have to compare with Michael or Beatles. Western boy groups have bigger impact: BSB, Westlife, N'Sync all have songs being well-known more than any BTS songs.

    You are comparing different eras. 20, 50, 60 years ago there was no internet, streaming platforms and algorithm. You could only hear music on radio and tv. Now you choose what you want to listen and when.


    My mom doesn't speak english but she knows who bsb, spice girls, britney spears, shakira, lady gaga, rihanna, eminem are. She has never heard of sabrina carpenter, chappell roan, or whoever is popular nowadays, i don't even know. Taylor Swift is one of the most popular artists in the world and i know 6 or 7 song of hers. Out of those that i heard i liked none and I don't even want to bother with new music. My mom never hear of Taylor swift too.


    We live in the era where entertainment industry don't have stars anymore. The only movie star Hollywood has is Christopher Nolan. He is the only person who can convince people to go to the cinema. Maybe Tom Cruz too but the rest? None. Same goes for musicians: only the target audience will know certain artists. The way we consume media has changed.


    Also, I'm from Southeastern Europe, Westlife were never a thing here.

    Quote from Rooney87

    Im not sure anyone even Taylor Swift beats peak Michael Jackson. The fact he was that popular without the internet and when you had to buy albums is insane. To say BTS surpassed that is one of the worst music opinions I've ever heard and I love BTS. Had the chance to see them at Wembley.


    Im not Taylor fan either but the eras tour is the closest thing I've seen that came close to MJ.

    Again, you cannot compare different eras. If internet existed during Michael Jackson era he would be the king of every platform. His music and artistry impacted the entire entertainment industry. No artists from current day cannot be compared to him and his influence. None. Michael was massive everywhere. Let me compare Michael Jackson's History tour and Taylor Swift's eras. Michael visited 35 countries and Taylor 21. Michael Jackson is waaaaay more popular worldwide than Taylor Swift. Michael Jackson is Michael Jackson.

    Quote from WhyKnock

    Did they go anywhere in China, SE Asia or Latin America?


    Both BSB and Westlife did tour in SE Asia and I'm pretty sure their songs are more popular than BTS among the GP there.


    This is what I am saying, there can't be any star bigger than pre-internet era stars.

    Quote from vinslow4

    No, it's not even close.


    BTS's reach maybe wider than most. But deeper? No.


    You don't have to compare with Michael or Beatles. Western boy groups have bigger impact: BSB, Westlife, N'Sync all have songs being well-known more than any BTS songs.

    Apart from bts being in streaming era where you could just choose to tune out anything you dont wanna listen, the biggest barrier in their poularity is also the language. English is the language which is mostly understood in many countries to some extent. Bts only have 3 english songs which was never the true representation of their brand. Their real strength lies in their korean songs which radio and tv refused to play and in turn these songs were unable to reach a wide audience.


    So them being a KOREAN boy band did kinda stopped them from reaching wider audience. Also the sterotypes of them being feminine/not manly enough too. I have never seen any other western artist getting this much scrutiny from religious clerics in my country like bts. There are videos of them analysing why bts is deviating young girls from right path, with millions of views and all those anlysis ends on them wearing makeup😒😬

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