Billboard abolished “Top Social Artist” category, which BTS had been awarded for 5 consecutive years
The “Top Social Artist” category, which BTS had been awarded for the past 5 years at the “Billboard Music Awards”, disappeared into the mists of history.
The 2022 Billboard Music Awards (BBMA), hosted by the U.S. music media outlet Billboard, was held at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, USA on May 16th (KST).
BTS, which was nominated for a total of 6 categories on this day, received awards in 3 categories: “Top Song Sales Artist”, “Top Selling Song” and “Top Duo/Group”. As such, BTS became the only South Korean singer to win at the Billboard Music Awards for 6 consecutive years.
However, the “Top Social Artist” category, which BTS had been awarded for 5 consecutive years since 2017, was abolished from this year. Billboard did not disclose the reason why this category suddenly disappeared.
While BTS fans expressed regret over this, some netizens responded, “Isn’t it to prevent BTS’s monopoly?”
Meanwhile, BTS, which did not attend the awards ceremony, expressed gratitude towards BBMA and their fandom ARMY through their official Twitter. BTS’ management company Big Hit Music greatly congratulated them, “BTS won three awards at this year’s BBMA, proving their status as the ’21st century pop icon’.”
BTS won a total of 12 trophies at the BBMA from 2017 to this year, setting the record of the most awarded artist among “duos/groups”.
Meanwhile, BTS, which has a strong fan base around the world, is expected to create another sensation in the music industry by releasing their new album “Proof” on June 10th.
