BTS Explains Why Solo Songs Are "Banned" from the ARIRANG World Tour, Unlike Their Previous Tours

 

BTS's ARIRANG World Tour attracted attention even before it began, thanks to its unprecedented scale, featuring 88 concerts across cities around the world and running through April next year. Notably, tickets for most shows sold out almost immediately during the initial sale.

According to the American music magazine Billboard, the latest Boxscore figures released in late September showed that ARIRANG had become the seventh group tour to surpass $500 million in ticket sales. However, all six groups that had previously reached this milestone were rock bands, making BTS the first pop group to join this exclusive club.

BTS's August revenue was also the second-highest in Billboard Boxscore history, surpassed only by Beyoncé's figures from August 2023. With more than half of the tour's shows still ahead, Billboard projected that ARIRANG could generate $1 billion in ticket sales by the time the tour concludes. 

BTS concerts have undeniable appeal, and the members' performances throughout each two-hour show are naturally a major part of that. Even the smallest details—from stage outfits that reflect local culture to surprise songs and the fireworks displays that close each show—are executed with remarkable care and precision.

However, one aspect of the concerts has left many fans wondering: there are no solo performances whatsoever. Even during transitions between segments, there are no solo or sub-unit stages, unlike those typically featured in many idol groups' concerts or even in BTS's own previous tours.

Addressing this question, the members personally explained the reasoning behind this unique decision, and their answers deeply moved countless ARMYs!

Jungkook revealed that excluding solo stages had been a deliberate decision from the very beginning.

"It's pretty unusual for a group to fill an entire concert exclusively with group songs from start to finish anymore. We wanted to remind everyone what BTS is like as a group, and since it's been so long since our last tour, we tried to focus on the kind of energy we have when we're all together. Obviously, that makes things harder, but we wanted to immense the audience in that feeling of all seven of us putting on the show together, all the way through," he explained.

V shared the same perspective. According to him, the most important goal of this tour was not to highlight each member individually but to celebrate BTS's return as a complete seven-member group. He added, "We all felt that we should be focusing on the group rather than sub-unit or solo songs. I think that is the core of this tour. Having the seven of us back together after all this time feels special, and it's also our way of saying we want to keep doing this together."

RM explained that the decision also stemmed from the group's desire to reaffirm BTS's identity after spending so much time away from group activities.

"We wanted to put more weight on reaffirming the BTS brand that's brought all of us this far." He continued, "It's like, we have to do something to show that we're locked in as a group, now that we're back after such a long time away. After all, we're talking about 13 years of history that the seven of us and ARMY have been building together."

Finally, Suga summed it all up with one sentence: "I think it's so 'Bangtan' that the seven of us are still so aligned."

The members' heartfelt remarks quickly went viral across social media platforms, leaving fans deeply touched by the unbreakable bond they continue to share. In today's K-pop industry, where stories of disbandments and members leaving their groups after only a few year have become increasingly common, the fact that BTS, now in their 13th year together, still chooses to put the group first is something truly rare and irreplaceable.

ARMYs' Admirations:

● When the whole crew shines, even the flowers feel jealous. They said, "In this Bangtan sh1t for life!"

● The way BTS are the truest OT7 fighters out of everyone, because despite the pressure coming from all sides to keep doing solo stuff, they still put the group first. They love being together so much more than we could ever understand.

● I will actually cry. They said BTS is 7, and BTS will always be 7.

● BTS are reaffirming their brand through the setlist, with OT7 from beginning to end. It also shows that THEY want to continue doing this as seven for a long, long time.

● We already know how passionate they are about their craft, how deeply they cherish each other as seven, and how much they love ARMY. But hearing them say these things themselves is just wonderfully reassuring as a fan. It reminds us of how special their bond with us is, too.

● BTS is seven, and they'll always be seven. Their returns was so important, both for them and for us, and I feel like their bond has grown even stronger. I'm so, so happy for them, and I hope we can all stay together for a really long time.

● The whole interview was BTS expressing how grateful they journey as a group... NEVER SEPARATE MY FAMILY EVER AGAIN!

● This is so hard to explain to non-ARMY. That sense of belonging is only complete with ll seven. But also, we are not seven without you!

● To those solo stans, please set aside your hopes of hearing only the member you stan perform his solo songs. You should understand that solo songs have been "banned" from this concert.

● Dear ARMYs, please remember the formula: "7 - 1 = 0". Also, remember what our Taehyungie said years ago: "BTS is a group that contains seven young men. So please, don't separate any one of us. Please love us as a seven-member group." BTS and ARMY will always walk on the same path until the very end, no matter how big the obstacles ahead may be! APOBANGPO! BORAHAE!