BTS sweeps AMA awards, takes home Artist of the Year

This article is by Choi Min-ji, Jeong Eun-hye. and read by an artificial voice. BTS proved Monday that four years away from the stage doesn't loosen a fanbase's grip. The Korean septet swept all three of its nominations at the American Music Awards (AMAs) — including Artist of the Year — in its first collective appearance at a major U.S. awards ceremony since the members completed their mandatory military service. The band last won the top award in 2021, held annually at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. This year, it beat out competitors Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, Harry Styles, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen and Sabrina Carpenter to win the fan-voted honor. Accepting the award, RM addressed the crowd and the band's devoted fanbase directly. "ARMYs, we made it once again. Thank you. It's an honor to have this precious award once again, after everybody's done their military service," he said. "Like the legendary Busta Rhymes said, it's a fan-voted award, so our biggest thanks and gratitude goes to the ARMYs all over the world. You stood by us for the past 13 years — thank you so much." J-Hope spoke second. "Wow. We have been overwhelmed by the reaction to this album," he said. "Thank you for embracing 'Arirang' and every single song on this album that you helped chart. Thank you, for real, we are so grateful." Jimin had the final word. "Thank you for passionately following us on tour and showing so much love in every city," he said. BTS also took home Song of the Summer for "Swim," the lead track of its fifth album "Arirang," released in March, and Best Male K-Pop Artist. "When we made this album, we had a lot of pressure, and we tried to figure out what kind of music felt the most like us right now," said RM in the acceptance speech for the Song of the Summer award. "But the only thing we believed in was that we had to keep challenging [ourselves] and to keep moving forward." V added: "And to everyone out there who keeps swimming no matter what, we send you our love and support. So keep swimming." BTS debuted in 2013 with members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook, and is widely credited with shattering barriers for Korean music on the international stage by becoming the first Korean act to top the U.S. Billboard 200 and Hot 100 charts. After pausing band activities in 2022 to fulfill mandatory Korean military service, the band officially made its comeback on March 20, releasing "Arirang," its first album with all the members in nearly four years. The band now holds 14 trophies at the AMAs across band and solo activities. "As seen in the successful comebacks of groups like Big Bang and SHINee, the uniquely tight bonds of K-pop fandoms don't dissolve just because a star disappears for a while," Seoul National University professor of media and communication Hong Seok-kyeong said. "It appears that this fan culture has now spread overseas." "Swim" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon release. Simultaneously, "Arirang" the album claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200, making history as the first K-pop album to hold the top position for three consecutive weeks. Its ongoing Arirang World Tour, playing at stadium-sized venues in 34 cities around the world, has posted strong ticket sales throughout. Even sudden, unofficial venues saw strong fan turnout, such as when an estimated 50,000 fans gathered in the plaza near the Mexican presidential palace after the members were invited there. BTS during the recent AMAs was already in Las Vegas for a sold-out run of shows at Allegiant Stadium as part of its world tour. It staged its first Vegas show on Saturday, followed by another on Sunday, with two more performances scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. The AMAs are one of the music industry's "Big Three" major annual award shows, alongside the Grammys and the Billboard Music Awards. Created in 1973 as an alternative to the Grammys, the AMAs honor the most popular art...