BTS 2021 Muster Sowoozoo, the recent two-day virtual concert with K-pop superstars BTS, was attended by 1.33 million unique viewers from 195 countries, livestreaming platform VenewLive has revealed.

Muster Sowoozoo, which celebrated the boy band’s eighth anniversary, comprised two live broadcasts from Seoul, on 13 and 14 June. It is the latest high-profile livestreamed event for the Korean act, following several record-breaking virtual shows in 2020.

Tickets were priced ₩49,500 (US$43.80) for one day or ₩90,000 ($79.60) for both shows, with a special 4K HD/multi-view package (₩59,500/$52.60 per day) available for members of BTS’s official fan club. By IQ’s calculations, that results in a gross of over US$58 million from ticket sales alone; the Indian Express estimates the total gross of more than $71 million including merch sales.

“We were thrilled … with the show’s overwhelming success and turn-out”

In addition to the concerts, which fans with ‘multi-view’ tickets could watch from a variety of vantage points, VenewLive provided a chat feature for fans which was also open to band members. “The chat activity increased dramatically once BTS sent their messages, energising fans who realised that BTS was in the chat as well,” says VenewLive’s CEO John Lee.

In a statement, Lee comments: “We were thrilled to be given the opportunity to showcase BTS’s amazing talent – and even more thrilled with the show’s overwhelming success and turn-out. Once again, VenewLive proved it is the ultimate platform for delivering the world’s best virtual concert experiences. Each BTS concert has pushed the envelope further in terms of what technology and talent can do to elevate the fan experience and this concert was no different.”

VenewLive is partially owned by BTS’s label and management company, Hybe (formerly Big Hit Entertainment).

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Universal Music Group (UMG) and K-pop label YG Entertainment have invested in KBYK Live, a livestreaming company backed by BTS’s management company, Big Hit Entertainment.

The investment from YG – home to Korean superstars including Blackpink, Big Bang and iKon – and UMG will go towards expanding KBYK Live’s VenewLive, bringing both companies’ rosters of artists to the platform, which boasts augmented reality (AR), multi-view and 4K streaming capabilities. KBYK Live was established after Big Hit and tech start-up Kiswe partnered last summer.

The technology behind VenewLive was demonstrated at BTS’s record-breaking Bang Bang Con: The Live and Map of the Soul: One in June and October respectively. The former drew in a peak concurrent audience of 756,000, while the latter was viewed by nearly a million people worldwide.

The shows also offered a variety of premium features, delivering a full stage production from multiple angles in 4K resolution, with live chat and synchronised light sticks.

“This past year has shown that the need for reliable and innovative livestreaming has never been greater”

“VenewLive has already livestreamed several large-scale performances last year and provided unique immersive fan concert experiences that can be offered through our cutting-edge technologies, including six-angle multi-views, 4K resolution and various interactive features,” says KBYK Live CEO John Lee. “Our technology will be the basis for enabling fans to feel closer to artists, and help artists express their energy on a digital stage.”

“We are excited about this investment as our company, with many artists competitive on a global stage, has secured a high-quality platform with leading technologies,” adds YG Entertainment COO Sung Jun Choi. “We will continue to do our best to provide more interactive experiences and new services to global fans.”

Boyd Muir, executive vice-president and CFO of Universal Music, says its unspecified investment into KBYK/VenewLive will allow the company to “evolve the opportunities and live streaming experiences for UMG artists and their fans today and into the future”.

“This past year has shown that the need for reliable and innovative livestreaming has never been greater,” he adds. “VenewLive offers some of the most creative and memorable opportunities for today’s artists to globalise their art and performances, tailored to enhance the community and fan experience.”

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