The group BTS has been named one of Billboard’s ‘Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century.’ Billboard, which has been unveiling its list of the ‘25 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century’ since last month, ranked BTS 19th on September 10 (local time). The publication hailed BTS for transforming K-pop on the global stage over the past decade, praising their high-quality hit songs and setting new standards for fandom.
BTS’s placement is notably higher than other major pop stars, including Katy Perry (25th), Ed Sheeran (24th), Bad Bunny (23rd), One Direction (22nd), Lil Wayne (21st), and Bruno Mars (20th). Billboard drew a parallel between BTS’s impact on the K-pop industry and the legendary success of The Beatles, stating, “BTS has reached a level of success comparable to The Beatles while creating a new blueprint for pop music.” They highlighted BTS’s consistent delivery of positive, loving messages and their ability to build a meaningful community with their fans.
BTS first made significant inroads on the Billboard charts in 2017 and have since topped both the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts six times each. Billboard attributed their success to the versatility of the seven members, noting, “Each member brings their own style and voice, yet they blend seamlessly.” They cited specific examples such as V’s distinctive vocals on “Spring Day,” Jimin’s sweet sensuality on “Serendipity,” and Jungkook’s falsetto on “Euphoria.”
Billboard also praised BTS’s choreography, comparing it to the “legendary” moves of American groups like The Jackson 5 and *NSYNC. They acknowledged that while choreography has always been central to boy bands, BTS’s performances—such as their interpretation of “Black Swan”—demonstrate a blend of hip-hop and ballet that adds a new dimension to their dance routines.
The publication concluded by emphasizing that no K-pop group has achieved what BTS has in this century, highlighting their pioneering role in expanding the K-pop market and their successful solo endeavors by all seven members.
Billboard’s list of the 25 greatest pop stars of the 21st century, which celebrates the quarter-century mark of the century next year, began in August and will continue to be revealed until December.
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