BTS Headlines The iHeart Music Festival
Key takeaways
Quick summary- 1BTS dazzled at the iHeart Music Festival last night, but fans were still left disappointed.
The 16th Annual iHeart Music Festival was held on Friday September 18th and Saturday September 19th of this year. Boasting musical acts such as Cardi B, Zara Larsson, and The Goo Goo Dolls, this year also advertised BTS
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as the headliners.
ARMY made up a good chunk of the crowd present at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Friday night, waving lightsticks, rocking costumes and ensembles as only a K-pop fan can. Still more ARMY tuned in from home via Hulu and Disney+ streaming services. I was one such participant.
The festival opened with Kenny Chesney, who performed a mix of both nostalgic hits and some new releases. His act was followed by Weezer, whose front man, Rivers Cuomo, wore a Los Angeles Arirang jersey, then The Goo Goo Dolls, Cardi B, and Zara Larsson. BTS
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was the last act of the night. Apparently, music shows have learned to save the best for last in order to hold onto views and keep the crowd in the stadium. It was kind of funny to see ARMY in their sparkly makeup, with BT21 headbands and lightsticks singing and dancing along to Iris and Get Along as they awaited the act they were there for.
Each performer seemed to have been allotted about 30 to 40 minutes for their sets, allowing for five to seven songs each, with Cardi B bringing WAP, Zara singing Midnight Sun, and of course Beverley Hills by Weezer. However, many fans were disappointed when BTS
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left the stage after only performing four songs. The performance, of course, was flawless. The band performed their AMA Song of the Summer award winning single Swim, Mic Drop, 2.0, and FYA, all beloved tracks from their sold-out world tour. 18 minutes after they took the stage, the band bid fans farewell.
This seeming disparity between artists' time slots sent many ARMY to social media platforms, berating iHeart, comparing them to the Grammys as yet another institution in the music industry to appear to discriminate against BTS
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. Comments discussed the fact that the sound equipment was malfunctioning only for BTS
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’ performance, that members' microphones were muted for parts of the songs. It was also pointed out that during solo sections of the performance, the camera did not focus on the correct member, especially leaving Jin
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and Jungkook
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with limited screentime.
The performance itself was a beautiful throwback to the Arirang World Tour. BTS
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has such a powerful stage presence, they turned the event into a mini concert for themselves simply by showing up. Still, the fact that it was so noticeable to fans that the band was treated differently than the other acts needs to be taken seriously, whether this treatment was intentional or simply a lack of time and resources to accommodate more from BTS
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, from either the band or the event organizers. We as fans must keep pushing the music industry to examine how they treat artists, especially those as influential (and backed by such a powerful fandom) as BTS
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.
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BTS (방탄소년단) is a South Korean K-pop group formed by BigHit Music and debuted on June 13, 2013. The group consists of seven members: RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. Known for their powerful performances, meaningful lyrics, and strong connection with fans, BTS has become one of the most successful and influential music groups in the world. Their music explores themes such as youth, self-discovery, mental health, love, and personal growth, helping them build a dedicated global fanbase known as ARMY. Since their debut, BTS has achieved record-breaking success across the global music industry with hit songs such as “Dynamite,” “Butter,” “Spring Day,” “Boy With Luv,” and “Fake Love.” The group has earned numerous awards, topped charts in multiple countries, sold millions of albums, and helped introduce K-pop to a broader international audience. Through their artistry, cultural impact, and worldwide influence, BTS continues to inspire fans and shape the future of global pop music.
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