On September 18th, 2024, Jeon Jungkook of BTS fame became the first K-pop solo artist to surpass 7 billion streams on Spotify. This is no easy feat for any artist and bears testament to Jungkook’s hard work and dedication. Not only is he the first Korean artist to reach 7 billion, but he is also the fastest Asian artist to reach it. So, how did our boy JK break such astounding records? Read on to find out!
History of the ‘Golden Maknae’
Jeon Jungkook started his career as a K-pop idol as one-seventh of the boy group BTS, who debuted in 2013. In the early days of BTS, people often praised Jungkook for his proficiency in everything. He’s an extremely talented singer, dancer, and rapper; many people have recognized him as an athlete, artist, and photographer. If Jungkook sets his mind on something, he can do it, and it shows. His place as the youngest member of BTS and his wide range of talents earned him the nickname ‘Golden Maknae,’ Maknae meaning youngest in Korean.
Throughout BTS’ career, Jungkook has remained a fan favorite amongst ARMYs for his charismatic personality and sense of humor. He’s often featured in music videos with extravagantly high vocal parts and difficult choreography, adding to his intrigue. Fans also praise Jungkook for his duality, as he can effortlessly switch between cute and funny or dark and rebellious. Maybe we should add acting to his already long list of talents.
A Solo Career is Born
As each member of BTS began their mandatory military service, beginning with Jin in 2022, the band went on hiatus. Although they are still very much a band, balancing military service with music can be a tricky process. The boys, including Jungkook, have released a solo music project to keep fans satiated. Jungkook released his solo album, Golden, in 2023, and it has consistently garnered 9 million streams per day on his Spotify page. Crazy!
Part of Jungkook’s success is his crafty use of collaboration. His first featured single for Golden, “Seven,” featuring Latto, has collected an impressive 1.89 billion streams alone. He also worked with Charlie Puth on a track called “Left and Right,” which has garnered over 1 billion streams. “3D”, featuring Jack Harlow, also broke into the billions, leaving only one song in his Spotify top 4 without a featured artist. However, that song, “Standing Next to You,” comes close with 880 million streams.
The Best is Yet to Come
It’s easy to see why Jungkook is one of the biggest K-pop stars of our time. He’s hardworking, charismatic, and unbelievably talented. So, what’s next for the Golden Maknae? One of the most highly anticipated things is for the members of BTS to finish their military service and come back together to make another album. It seems like everyone is waiting for that. With Jin celebrating his return this year, it won’t be long until the other members, including Jungkook, finish their service too. Until then, we can look forward to more solo works from RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and our golden boy, JK!
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