SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) - BTS has been named the most popular act in the global entertainment market for 2025, according to a year-end report from Parrot Analytics. The group spearheaded a dominant year for the South Korean entertainment giant HYBE, with labelmates ENHYPEN and SEVENTEEN also securing spots within the top 10.
The 2025 annual report, "What Audiences Loved in 2025," ranked BTS at the top of the "Talents of the Year Under 30" category. ENHYPEN took second place, while SEVENTEEN followed at number eight. These rankings are based on "Average Demand," a standardized metric developed by Parrot Analytics to quantify audience attention. Unlike traditional charts that focus solely on sales or streams, this data captures a wide range of engagement signals—including social media activity, search engine queries, and fan research—to measure the total global demand for a specific artist or brand.
Parrot Analytics noted that BTS remained a focal point of global interest throughout 2025. Despite a period of limited group activities, the group saw repeated spikes in demand driven by the annual "BTS FESTA" and various solo projects from individual members. The report suggested that the group has reached a level of fame where its brand functions as a permanent piece of cultural infrastructure.
ENHYPEN's high ranking was attributed to its successful transition to larger global venues. Following a performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the group launched its "WALK THE LINE" world tour, which consisted of 29 shows across 18 cities. According to data from the tour, the group drew approximately 676,000 attendees, including its encore performances in South Korea.
SEVENTEEN also saw significant commercial success, with its fifth studio album, "HAPPY BURSTDAY," peaking at number two on the Billboard 200. The group's tour activities attracted more than 1.26 million fans across 38 performances worldwide. Its 10th-anniversary event, "B-DAY PARTY," saw over 352,000 visitors attend a special exhibition and solo stage at Seoul's Jamsu Bridge and Banpo Hangang Park.
The report concluded that K-pop artists are leading a shift in the global market toward consumption models driven by digital culture and highly active fandoms.
Following this period of sustained global demand, BTS is scheduled to return to the stage as a full group on March 21. The comeback performance, titled "BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG," will take place at 8 p.m. at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. The event marks the release of the group's new 14-track album, "ARIRANG," which arrives on March 20. According to BigHit Music and reports from Netflix, the concert will be broadcast live to more than 190 countries, marking the first time a live solo concert from South Korea has been streamed globally on the platform.
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