A year has elapsed since the uproar ignited by the abrupt plummet in Billboard chart rankings concerning Jimin from the BTS group.
Back then, Billboard's response was met with silence amidst fervent demands from BTS fandom globally for an elucidation.
CEO's Dismissal
Recently, Mike Ban, the CEO of U.S. Billboard headquarters, visited Korea and unequivocally dismissed accusations of 'K-pop discrimination' and 'K-pop check.'
Ban made his stance known during a press conference held at Chosun Palace in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, marking his first official visit in four years since 2020.
Long-standing Suspicions
The issue of checks and alleged discrimination against K-pop artists on the Billboard charts has been a recurring concern.
Speculations abounded, pointing towards potential bias against K-pop, including proposals for a separate 'K-pop chart' within Billboard and stricter regulations for the main single chart 'Hot 100.'
The Jimin Controversy
In April last year, Jimin made history by topping the 'Hot 100' chart, only to see a rapid decline to the top 40 within a week.
This sparked global fan outrage, leading to the initiation of the "Billboard Explained" hashtag campaign on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
Fans voiced suspicions that Billboard altered its rules without prior notice, impacting Jimin's standings unfavorably. Despite fervent demands for an explanation, Billboard remained reticent.
Billboard's Defense
Mike Ban countered these allegations during the press conference, emphasizing that there is no truth to claims of 'K-pop discrimination.'
He also shared personal anecdotes about his family's fondness for K-pop stars like BTS, NewJeans, and BLACKPINK, illustrating a personal connection to the genre.
Ban's statements drew a line against suspicion, indicating a stance of affection towards K-pop, complete resolution of past doubts may require more time. Billboard's forthcoming launch in Korea in June hints at a continued effort to address and possibly dispel lingering concerns within the K-pop community.
Recently, BTS has achieved another historic milestone with their song "Bad Decisions," featuring Snoop Dogg and Benny Blanco, debuting within the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The track soared to the top of iTunes charts in numerous countries upon its release and made notable debuts on various Billboard charts.
It debuted at No. 10 on the Hot 100 with 66,000 units sold, marking BTS' 10th top 10 hit and making them the first Korean act with ten top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. "Bad Decisions" also debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Global 200, making BTS the first group with ten top 10 hits on that chart.
Additionally, it topped the Digital Song Sales chart, further extending BTS' record for the most No. 1 hits on that chart. The song also debuted on several of the United Kingdom's Official Charts.
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Written by Cassidy Jones.
