BTS named 2020 Music Innovator by WSJ Magazine

BTS has been named 2020 Music Innovator by WSJ Magazine, the lifestyle magazine of The Wall Street Journal.

Following an announcement earlier in the week, WSJ Magazine honored its eight Innovators on Thursday (Philippine time) through a virtual ceremony, a first in its 10-year history.

“The South Korean pop group has reached the top of the US charts, united millions of fans around the world into a self-styled ARMY, shattered online viewing records and been part of a major IPO,” said the magazine on its BTS cover story.

“BTS has topped Billboard’s song chart, released one of America’s bestselling albums of 2020 and performed at the Grammys,” it said. “They sold out London’s Wembley Stadium in 2019, won four MTV Video Music Awards this year and smashed the record for the most views on YouTube in a 24-hour period (over 100 million)—all while singing almost entirely in Korean.”

The cover story also explored the origins of the group, from when and how they were formed, to their creative process and strengths of each members: RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook.

“Though a casual glance at their intricate choreography may not make it obvious, BTS is celebrated by their fans for touching on psychological and social issues in their songs,” said the WSJ story.  

.@bts_bighit, our 2020 Music Innovator, has reached the top of the U.S. charts, united millions of fans around the world into a self-styled ARMY, shattered online viewing records and been part of a major IPO. Now BTS is preparing to release a new album. https://t.co/B6bzx11RzD pic.twitter.com/mLgVRaznRp

— WSJ. Magazine (@WSJMag) November 12, 2020

“BTS’s music that sings of the emotions and experiences of youth first resonated among their peers. Then it resonated among the contemporary global citizens. And that sentiment transcended borders and reached to the peripheries of the world,” the magazine quoted Bang Si-hyuk, founder and co-CEO of Big Hit Entertainment, which manages BTS.

BTS is the first act since the Beatles to have three No. 1 albums on the Billboard chart in one year. In the video feature produced by WSJ, however, the members said that while they appreciated the comparisons, they’re not greater than the legendary English rock band.

“We’ve never been more than them. We’re just seven normal kids who love music and performances who have a dream to give hope, love, positive energy and inspiration to the people in the world,” said group leader RM. 

According to WSJ Magazine, its annual Innovator Awards “honors visionaries from various fields.”

Among the awardees and other guests recognized this year by the WSJ Magazine editorial team were BTS for Music, presented by James Corden; Darren Walker for Philanthropy, presented by Ava DuVernay; Jennifer Lopez for Pop Culture, presented by Maluma; MASS Design Group for Architecture, presented by Hank Willis Thomas; Michaela Coel for Television, presented by Phoebe Waller-Bridge; Patti Smith for Literature, presented by Ethan Hawke; Titus Kaphar for Art, presented by Swizz Beatz; and Tyler Perry for Entertainment, presented by Taraji P. Henson.

The magazine’s November issue will feature the eight honorees in separate covers. The BTS covers, meanwhile, will come in group and special edition individual member versions. – RC, GMA News