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https://scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/3008690/k-pop-band-bts-celebrates-double-success-2019 Celebrities
K-pop band BTS celebrates double success at 2019 Billboard Music Awards
- The group beats fellow nominee Maroon 5 to the top duo/group award and also wins the top social artist prize in Las Vegas, ahead of its extended world tour on Saturday
American singer Halsey (top left) and K-pop boy band BTS perform the song Boy With Luv at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters / Yonhap
K-pop boy band BTS – which kicks off its extended world tour in the United States this weekend – claimed two prizes at Wednesday’s 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
The seven-member band won the top duo/group award – beating fellow nominees Dan + Shay, Imagine Dragons, Maroon 5 and Panic! At The Disco – at the annual ceremony held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The group also won the top social artist for the third consecutive year.
BTS’ double success this year means it has become the first Korean act to win more than one honour at the ceremony.
Called onto the stage to receive the top duo/group award, amid the thunderous cheers of fans, RM, the leader of the group that formed in 2013, first thanked the band's fan community, which is known as “ARMY”.
K-pop boy band BTS performs Boy With Luv with American singer Halsey (fourth from left) at Wednesday’s 2019 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas. Photo: Reuters
"[We] still can't believe we are here on this stage,” he said, his voice full of emotion.
“It was only possible because of the little things we shared together, the BTS and ARMY power right?”
“We have still the same voice from years ago, still have the same dream ... and thoughts. Let's keep dreaming the best things together.”
On the red carpet, before the start of the ceremony, members of BTS also discussed their friendship with American diva Halsey, with whom they collaborated on their latest hit single, Boy With Luv.
BTS (from left) J-Hope, V, Jungkook, Jimin, Suga, Jin, and RM celebrate backstage after winning the top duo/group and top social artist awards at Wednesday’s 2019 Billboard Music Awards. Photo: UPI-Yonhap
Halsey also joined the group on stage to perform Boy with Luv during the awards ceremony.
“We met Halsey two years ago backstage at the Billboard Music Awards,” RM said.
“She was a fan of our music videos and we were fans of Closer [The Chainsmokers’ song featuring Halsey], and her voice.
“We became friends and [said] we should work together and it just happened. Two years later, we are here.”
Asked what fans should expect from BTS' extended world tour, promoting its hit album, “Map of the World: Persona”, J-Hope said: “Fashion, our energy and visuals”.
The BTS World Tour Love Yourself: Speak Yourself, which runs until July 14, follows the group’s BTS World Tour: Love Yourself tour, which ended in April. BTS will perform 16 concerts in the US, Brazil, England, France and Japan, starting at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California, on Saturday.
This story was originally written by Yonhap for The Korea Times.