BTS
is on a record breaking spree ahead of ARIRANG release. The band has once again set new global benchmarks, achieving two historic milestones on the same day and showing that their influence in music and digital culture is totally unparalleled. The K-pop supergroup won the Global Popular Artist award at the Hanteo Music Awards 2025 while simultaneously becoming the first musical group in the world to cross 78 million followers on Instagram. With the members reunited after completing their military service and a full-group comeback scheduled for March 2026, BTS’s dominance continues to grow stronger.
BTS' big win
The
Global Popular Artist win at the Hanteo Music Awards is particularly significant because of the award’s data-driven credibility. Hanteo determines its winners using concrete metrics such as album sales, streaming numbers, and verified fan engagement collected through the Hanteo Chart. This method focuses on actual consumption rather than temporary hype or mass voting by fans, making BTS’s win a clear reflection of their ever increasing fame and connection with ARMYs.
The category specifically measures how artists perform across international markets, not just in South Korea. BTS taking home this honour shows the strength of their global reach and the enduring appeal of their catalogue. Even during their military service period, the group’s albums continued to sell consistently, and their songs maintained strong streaming numbers worldwide. A new album means these numbers will now touch the sky.
BTS becomes most followed group on Instagram
Adding to the significance of the day, BTS achieved a massive milestone on Instagram. Their official account crossed 78 million followers, making them the first and only musical group to reach this figure on the platform. In an industry where digital presence plays a crucial role in relevance, this achievement sets BTS apart from every other group globally.The Instagram milestone is not just about. While many artists experience stagnation during long breaks, BTS’s follower count steadily grew throughout their hiatus. This growth continued even before any official comeback announcements were made, showing the group’s consistent pull.
More about ARIRANG
RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook have officially reunited after completing their mandatory military service in 2025. Their much-awaited comeback will begin with the global ARIRANG tour, featuring 81 shows across 34 cities worldwide between 2026 and 2027, the biggest K-pop world tour announced to date. Alongside the tour, BTS will release a new studio album on March 20 with 14 tracks.With a highly anticipated comeback slated for March 2026, these twin achievements make one thing clear: BTS’s influence did not pause during their hiatus - and their return is set to raise the bar even higher.