BTS’ V Joins Spotify Billions Club with ‘Love Me Again’
Global K-pop sensation BTS member V has marked another historic moment in his solo career, joining Spotify’s elite Billions Club with his track ‘Love Me Again’.
On June 7, BTS’s official social media revealed a commemorative plaque awarded to V by Spotify for surpassing 1 billion streams. This milestone recognizes the runaway success of V’s solo debut album ‘Layover’, released last December.
‘Love Me Again’ became the first K-pop B-side track to hit 1 billion streams and maintained its position on Spotify’s Weekly Chart for an incredible 70 consecutive weeks. The track’s smooth blend of 70s soul, gospel, and jazz-infused R&B – paired with V’s alluring baritone vocals – offers a unique soundscape rarely heard in mainstream K-pop.
V’s achievement was also highlighted by American music media outlet Consequence of Sound, which named ‘Love Me Again’ “The Most Stunning Single” in its 2023 K-POP Yearbook. The outlet praised the song for “balancing pop and R&B” while showcasing V’s “rich baritone.”
The music video for ‘Love Me Again’ also dominated international video charts, becoming the first K-pop artist to top the UK’s Tidal Top Video chart. It also scored No.1 on iTunes Music Video, Apple Music Video (K-Pop), and YouTube Music Video charts.
To commemorate artists hitting the 1 billion stream mark, Spotify traditionally presents a dish-shaped plaque. While V could not join the trend of celebratory ‘plaque eating’ due to his ongoing military service, fans celebrated online instead by pushing hashtags such as #LoveMeAgain1Billion, #CONGRATULATIONSTAEHYUNG, and #LOVEVAGAINBILLIONSCLUB to the top three worldwide trends on Twitter and other platforms. The news also trended in over 50 countries, as seen on Google Trends.
V’s solo work continues to redefine K-pop’s global influence, blending classic genres with his distinctive voice, and resonating profoundly with international audiences. His latest milestone cements his place among global music elites, and fans eagerly await what’s next for this multifaceted artist.
