Entertainment

BTS proves that livestreaming is here to stay with new virtual event

'Band Bang Con The Live' reached a peak of 756,000 concurrent viewers in 107 countries and territories

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 13 Apr 2021 11:00AM

BTS proves that livestreaming is here to stay with new virtual event
South Korean K-pop boy band BTS will host the second installment of "Bang Bang Con." on April 17. – AFP pic, April 13, 2021

THE K-pop idols recently took to social media to announce the much-anticipated return of 'Bang Bang Con.' A virtual event will take place on April 17 on the band's official YouTube channel. Mark your calendars!

"BTS concert in your room #BANGBANGCON21 coming soon!" the Big-Hit-Music group wrote on their social media. Additional details of the virtual event will be announced in the coming days. 

The inaugural installment of 'Bang Bang Con', which took place in April 2020, was organised in response to the cancellation of the band's worldwide 'Map of the Soul' tour due to the coronavirus outbreak. Fans of the K-pop group, collectively known as the BTS ARMY, enjoyed footage of a series of live performances dating back to 2015, including 'BTS LIVE: The Most Beautiful Moment in Life On Stage.'

The free two-day online event was followed in June by 'Bang Bang Con The Live', a 100-minute pay-per-view concert, which took fans inside the K-pop superstars' world as they were quarantining together in Seoul, South Korea. Band members RM, Jin, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, V and Jungkook performed hits like 'Boys With Luv,' 'Black Swan' and 'DOPE' in various spaces, composed of five rooms and two stages, while fans were able to switch between six different viewing angles. 

US$20 million in ticket sales

According to Big Hit metrics, 'Band Bang Con The Live' reached a peak of 756,000 concurrent viewers in 107 countries and territories. Attendance was the equivalent of 15 shows at a 50,000 seat stadium. At the time, the event also set a new record for ticket sales for an online concert with close to US$20 million (RM82.7 million) in receipts, according to various media sources.

In the past twelve months, paid livestreams have become a lucrative alternative to concert tours canceled by the Covid-19 pandemic. Established and upcoming acts alike have embraced what amounts to a new way of connecting with their fans, although few have achieved the level of worldwide success enjoyed by BTS.

According to a survey conducted in August 2020 by Bandsintown, 70% of artists are considering streaming more frequently, and those that do will be able to count on support from their fans. According to the survey, 60% of fans said they plan to continue watching livestreamed concerts, even after venues reopen. – ETX Studio, April 13, 2021

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