Reasons For The Humble Achievements of 3 BTS Members’ Recent Solo Releases
Even though they're part of the globally famous BTS, the recent solo releases from j-hope, RM, and V haven't quite made the splash one might expect.
In December 2023, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook officially began their military service, temporarily halting BTS’ activities. However, within the first five months of 2024, BTS members continuously dropped solo songs.
Jimin kicked it off with “Close Than This” in December 2023, a heartfelt gift to fans. Then came V’s English single “FRI(END)S” in early 2024. V even prepared a visually stunning concept photo shoot with W Korea and filmed a live video for the song beforehand.
Following V was j-hope, who released the special mini-album “Hope On The Street Vol.1” and the MV for “Neuron” on March 29. This project ran parallel to a documentary recounting his journey from street dancer to an idol. j-hope’s EP was carefully crafted, with a musical narrative that resonated deeply with listeners. He also collaborated with many esteemed figures in the Korean music industry.
Most recently, BTS leader RM released his second solo album, “Wrong Place, Right Person,” amid internal conflicts at HYBE. RM also dropped five MVs along with the album, which hit the shelves on May 24.
On May 10, RM dropped the MV for “Come back to me,” featuring a stellar cast of actors and directed by the talented Lee Sung Jin, known for the hit Netflix series “Beef.”
However, despite BTS’s global success and massive fan base, the solo releases of V, j-hope, and RM record humble results, particularly on domestic music charts.
Their songs debuted with underwhelming rankings, and some failed to enter the top 50 on platforms like MelOn. Moreover, their songs quickly fell off the charts after the initial hype.
While BTS continues to excel internationally, with numerous records on Spotify and YouTube, their solo releases haven’t received the same level of attention domestically.
Fans speculate that the lack of resonance in Korea could be due to the musical style not aligning with public taste. V’s English single and RM’s indie pop track may not have appealed to the Korean audience, while j-hope’s distinct style might have a niche fan base.
Regardless of the reasons, fans believe that the lack of support from BTS’ fans ARMYs for solo activities and the overwhelming volume of music releases could be contributing factors to the subdued achievements of BTS members’ solo projects.
Source: K14
