logo
K-pop megastars BTS surpass 30 million Weverse subscribers ahead of comeback

K-pop megastars BTS surpass 30 million Weverse subscribers ahead of comeback

Straits Times3 days ago
Find out what's new on ST website and app.
BTS are currently preparing to release a new album in 2026.
K-pop phenomenon BTS have become the first artistes to surpass 30 million subscribers on Weverse, setting a new benchmark for global fan engagement ahead of their highly anticipated comeback in 2026 .
South Korean entertainment company Hybe announced on July 19 that more than 30 million fans have now joined the boy band's community on Weverse, a platform designed to facilitate direct interaction between artistes and their followers.
Through the service, fans can watch live broadcasts, chat with BTS members in real time and purchase concert tickets and official merchandise.
Available in 245 countries, Weverse recorded 10 million monthly active users in the first quarter of 2025 . Since its launch in June 2019, no artiste other than BTS has reached this scale of following.
The platform hosts not only Hybe-affiliated acts but also artists from other K-pop agencies, along with actors, musical theatre performers and international pop stars including Ariana Grande and Dua Lipa.
To mark the milestone, BTS member Jin left a brief message on the platform, writing, 'I was told to post something brag-worthy, so here it is.'
BTS are currently preparing to release a new album in 2026, following the recent completion of mandatory military service by all members.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung
Singapore HSA extends hotline hours, launches new platform to report vaping offences
Singapore No unified guidelines? Animal shelters chart their own paths on welfare standards
Asia Tearful relatives await news of Vietnam boat capsize rescue as death toll rises to 38
Multimedia How to make the most out of small homes in Singapore
Singapore Minor Issues: Why I didn't send my daughters to my brand-name primary school
Opinion I thought I was a 'chill' parent. Then came P1 registration
World Diplomats dismissed: Inside the overhaul reshaping Trump's foreign policy
BTS also released their first live album, Permission To Dance On Stage – Live, on July 18 , which captures the band's concert series from 2021 to 2022 , held in Seoul, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

BTS' Jungkook is first Asian soloist to hit 100 million Spotify streams on every original track
BTS' Jungkook is first Asian soloist to hit 100 million Spotify streams on every original track

Straits Times

time38 minutes ago

  • Straits Times

BTS' Jungkook is first Asian soloist to hit 100 million Spotify streams on every original track

Jungkook's most-streamed track is Seven (2023), which had amassed 2.4 billion streams as at July 21. SEOUL - Jungkook, the youngest member of K-pop boy band BTS who also has a successful solo career, has set another historic global record on music streaming platform Spotify. According to the World Music Awards on July 21, the 27-year-old South Korean singer became the first Asian solo artiste in history to surpass 100 million streams on every original track released via his Spotify account. Among the 47 tracks registered under his profile, 18 are original songs, excluding remixes. The World Music Awards honour the world's best-selling music artistes. Jungkook is also one of only three artistes in the world - alongside American singer Billie Eilish and English singer Harry Styles - to achieve 100 million streams on every original solo track on Spotify, according to international outlet Oneily Vibe. Jungkook's most-streamed track is Seven (2023), which had amassed 2.4 billion streams as at July 21. It is followed by Standing Next to You (2023) with 1.2 billion streams and a collaboration track with American singer Charlie Puth, Left and Right (2022), which has garnered over 1.1 billion streams. Seven holds records both for racking up streams the fastest and achieving the highest number ever for a song by an Asian artiste on the platform, which was founded in 2006. Jungkook has continued to hit milestone after milestone as a soloist. In 2023, he was recognised by the Guinness World Records for becoming the fastest artiste in history to reach 1 billion Spotify streams, achieving the feat in only 409 days with just three solo tracks. Moreover, his total Spotify streams have now surpassed 9.2 billion, making him not only the fastest Asian act to reach that mark, but also the first K-pop soloist to do so. Jungkook completed his mandatory military service on June 11 and is currently gearing up for the full unit comeback of BTS. Earlier in July, the group announced plans for a new album and world tour, aiming for a release in spring 2026. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Who killed love? A video game plays to male resentment in China
Who killed love? A video game plays to male resentment in China

Straits Times

timean hour ago

  • Straits Times

Who killed love? A video game plays to male resentment in China

Find out what's new on ST website and app. Debates surrounding Revenge On Gold Diggers reveal deep-seated Chinese male unhappiness and broader socioeconomic anxieties about love, marriage and financial security. Revenge On Gold Diggers is one of the most popular and contentious video games in China. A deliveryman falls for a female live-streamer. She seduces him, drains his savings, then vanishes. Heartbroken, he reinvents himself as a successful businessman seeking revenge on women like her. This is the plot of Revenge On Gold Diggers, one of the most popular and contentious video games in China.

Can BTS' agency Hybe make the next KPop Demon Hunters? New US film in works with Paramount
Can BTS' agency Hybe make the next KPop Demon Hunters? New US film in works with Paramount

Straits Times

time2 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Can BTS' agency Hybe make the next KPop Demon Hunters? New US film in works with Paramount

Find out what's new on ST website and app. The Hybe America-Paramount Pictures film, which aims for global box office success akin to the recent animated hit K-Pop Demon Hunters (above), is set to premiere in theatres in early 2027. SEOUL - Hybe America, the North American branch of K-pop boy band BTS' South Korean entertainment agency Hybe, is teaming up with Paramount Pictures to co-produce a new K-pop-themed feature film, the companies said on July 23. The film, which aims for global box-office success akin to the recent animated Netflix hit KPop Demon Hunters, is set to premiere in theatres in early 2027. Though the title is yet to be announced, it will centre on a Korean American teenager who defies her family's wishes and auditions for a reality TV competition with dreams of becoming part of a K-pop girl group. Actress Yoo Ji-young, who voiced the youngest member Zoey of popular girl group Huntrix in KPop Demon Hunters, and singer Eric Nam, known for playing surgical resident Jonah Yoon in the 2024 Hollywood film Transplant, will take on the lead roles. The production will begin filming in mid-September and will be shot entirely on location in South Korea — marking the first time a major Hollywood studio has conducted a full production solely in the country. Korean American director Benson Lee will helm the project, with a screenplay written by Eileen Shim. Producers include James Shin, president of film and television at Hybe America, along with Arthur Spector and Joshua Davis of Epic Magazine and Hybe board member Scooter Braun. Executive producers include Joshuah Bearman, John Zaozirny and Scott Manson, all from Epic Magazine. Bryan Oh, senior vice president at Paramount Pictures, will oversee the project on behalf of the studio. 'This film is my love letter to K-pop — a world filled with energy, passion, magic and an incredible community of support,' said Lee in a statement. 'I'm deeply grateful to Paramount Pictures and the production team for their unwavering commitment and everyone involved in bringing this story to life.' Shin of Hybe America added: 'We are thrilled to partner with Paramount Pictures for this historic opportunity to bring a K-pop story to global audiences. The film will highlight the dedication, artistry and global impact of K-pop, while also delivering a universal message about chasing your dreams against all odds.' THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store