Is this thread still active?
But maybe a relook after the new Melon 100 is needed.
For me, the issue is not the assertion that BTS success - both hits and longevity - are due to an highly engaged fandom.
But the fundamental premise itself - "SO WHAT",
What is wrong even if all aspects of their success is due to the ARMY?
How is the differentiation between GP and fans even made?
At best, mass streaming? But who is to say that a GP is not taken by a song and streams it repeatedly for sometime, until they tire of it?
Fine, even if we assume mass streaming is only by fans, still does not answer 'SO WHAT'.
There is another metric called Unique Listeners and BTS is doing well on that as well, aren't they?
Weird business.
I do think BTS-Bang Si Hyuk have made growing the ARMY as their primary strategy from day 1, building a para social relationship to a greater degree than others. And yes the success of BTS is driven by the ARMY.
I call that fantastic management/branding strategy. Every commercial entity in the world, wants loyal brand following, who can act as amplifiers of the brand.
Great quality is actually more common, even in music, kpop. But without great strategy to market, quality is wasted.
In BTS, both are present and hence their success.
If folks feel that their faves have comparable qualities/abilities, but have not succeed like BTS, then the companies have failed in the strategy. That is all. And when BTS started, they were not the big three either. Yet they disrupted and succeeded.
I am sure there will another disruptor who comes along and topples the BTS model. That is the nature of things.
nevertheless at this point, BTS is the most successful in the industry in pretty much every scale. So kudos to the seven and more so to Hitman Bang.