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K-pop boy band BTS’ record-breaking world tour earns US$79 million – and counting

BTS performs at Wembley Stadium in London on June 1-2. Photo: Korea Times

K-pop superstar boy band BTS has sold more than 600,000 tickets from its extended world tour so far – raking in a staggering US$79 million.

BTS becomes first K-pop band to play at Wembley Stadium

Figures reported to music industry news website, Billboard Boxscore, show the seven-member group earned US$44 million, after selling 299,770 tickets from its first “Love Yourself: Speak Yourself” US stadium concerts in three cities – the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, Chicago’s Soldier Field and New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium – in May.

The subsequent stadium tour by the band – made up of RM, Suga, Jimin, Jin, J-hope, V and Jungkook – in Sao Paulo, London and Paris added another US$35 million for a combined US$78.9 million, thanks to the 606,409 tickets sold.

The band’s profits from the Los Angeles Rose Bowl concert alone hit US$16.6 million – a record for the venue.

This figure surpassed previous ticket sales records set by top pop artists including Taylor Swift, U2, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Eminem and Rihanna.

How K-pop bands like BTS and Blackpink cracked North America

The band’s “Love Yourself: Speak Yourself” concert tour follows the group’s original “World Tour: Love Yourself”, which started last August.

The extended tour’s US concerts began on May 4 and the additional concerts will end in Japan on July 14 after stops at the Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka, and Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka.

These additional concerts are expected to push the total profits well beyond 100 billion won (US$84 million) from ticket sales alone.

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This article was originally written by Lee Min-young for The Korea Times .
K-pop idols
  • Ticket sales for seven member group’s Los Angeles Rose Bowl concert in May secures record US$16.6 million profit – beating totals of Beyoncé and Rihanna at the venue