BTS finally speaks about the allegations of Billboard chart controversy. The group has responded to the idea that they are manipulating the Billboard charts to land in the top spot for their hit singles.
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| Credit: Courtesy of @knkndew and BTS | Twitter |
According to a Billboard article that said, “So while
other singles on the Hot 100 typically rely on streaming for the majority of
their weighted points, followed by airplay and then sales, the chart-topping
performance of BTS’ ‘Butter’ in July, for example, was propelled mostly by
sales, the bulk of which flowed directly through BTS’ own webstore, say sources
familiar with the matter. That webstore, those sources say, does not recognize
prior purchases or limit how many copies a fan can buy, unlike iTunes, which
notes when someone already owns a copy.”
BTS RM responded to the statement saying, “It’s a fair
question.” “But if there is a conversation inside Billboard about what being
No. 1 should represent, then it’s up to them to change the rules and make
streaming weigh more on the ranking.”
Slamming us or our fans for getting to No. 1 with physical sales and downloads, I don’t know if that’s right…It just feels like we’re easy targets because we’re a boyband, a K-Pop act, and we have this high fan loyalty.
– BTS RM
It appears to be really critical, the idea of being
“easy targets.” BTS ARMYs are the only fandom to leverage their collective and
colossal power to support the septet they love, albeit they are the most
organized fandom. It really sounds ironic when the question came from the
channel or entity that sets up the chart formats; however, this one also even
triggered a compelling response from Namjoon (RM).
BTS Jin, again spoke of BTS’s passion for performing
and how it got them through difficulties back in 2018, “I don’t know if I
should say this, but we said, ‘Screw the agency, screw everything. Let’s just
put our faith in the members and the fans and start again.’”
I don’t think we could ever be part of the mainstream in the U.S., and I don’t want that either. Our ultimate goal is to do a massive stadium tour there. That’s it.
– BTS RM
We just want to be good to the people who love us. That’s what lasts in the long run.
– BTS Suga