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Ryan Seacrest predicted that half of Times Square would be fans of South Korean boyband BTS, and judging by the volume of screams heard throughout ABC’s broadcast of “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,” the BTS ARMY was in full force.
Loyal fans came early to cheer on the group — comprised of members Jimin, Jin, RM, Suga, Jungkook, J Hope, and V (Kim Tae-Hyung, celebrating a day after 24th birthday) — and patiently waited with handmade signs and light sticks to cheer the occasion. All day, the group was prominently displayed on billboards in Times Square as diehards secured spots for the group’s early afternoon rehearsal.
Just before the band took to the stage in front of an estimated one million people, the side of the ABC area was cordoned off, paving a path for the group to make its way safely through the crowd.
Dressed up in black and white for a sharp look, BTS began with the hit “Make It Right” on the red stairs, then worked their way to the big stage for a big finish, “Boy With Luv.”
The band used every opportunity to showcase each member with precise choreography, Jimin stealing a moment when his jacket adorned his head as a hoodie.
Also appearing on the broadcast: headliner Post Malone (in a bright pink, bespoke suit with “2020” emblazoned on the back), who later posed with BTS; country star Sam Hunt, who posed with fans just after his set; and Alanis Morissette, appearing with the Broadway cast of “Jagged Little Pill” and giving network censors a run for their money when Lauren Patten (“Blue Bloods”) dropped an F-bomb during “You Oughta Know.”
Hours before Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Evewith Ryan Seacrest, one would never know BTS was not the main headliner of the event. The group received unprecedented news coverage before the performance. Afterwards, several hashtags about BTS’s appearance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Evewith Ryan Seacresttrended on Twitter.
BTS | Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia
The co-hosts of ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ knew BTS would draw in fans
From the moment BTS’s appearance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Evewith Ryan Seacrest was announced, hype began to spread. While ARMY was happy that BTS would be broadcast to millions of people, ABC placed a huge emphasis on BTS’s performance.
Before the New Year’s Eve program, Seacrest said he expected half of attendees to be BTS fans.
“We don’t even know what to expect in Times Square with all the people because when they show up, all of their fans show up, so half of Times Square could be BTS fans,” he said.
On Good Morning America, Seacrest’s co-host Lucy Hale seconded that BTS was guaranteed to bring in a lot of fans.
“We have Sam Hunt, Post Malone, BTS — which is going to be insanity,” she said. About BTS, she added, “I don’t even know what to expect. I feel like they would draw a million people alone.”
BTS was not the main headliner for ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’
On Dec. 17, the lineup for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacreast was announced. In the original press release, Post Malone was advertised as the main headliner of the event.
The introduction read: “POST MALONE TO HEADLINE AMERICA’S MOST WATCHED NEW YEAR’S EVE SPECIAL.”
“Making his Times Square debut, Post Malone will be joined by additional performers BTS, Sam Hunt and Alanis Morissette, performing for the first time with the cast of the hit Broadway musical ‘Jagged Little Pill’ for America’s biggest celebration of the year,” the press release continued.
Hunt performed from 9:38 p.m. to 9:44 p.m. Both Morissette and BTS received eight minutes of performance time. Morissette performed from 8:33 p.m. to 8:41 p.m. and BTS performed from 10:38 p.m. to 10:46 p.m.
Post Malone performed the closest to midnight and also performed for eight minutes. He closed the evening and performed from 11:38 p.m. to 11:46 p.m.
BTS received unprecedented news coverage
While Post Malone was the main headliner of the event, BTS’s performance received the most news coverage. In addition to Seacrest and Hale discussing the crowds BTS inevitably draws, news stations interviewed fans who camped out for the performance.
“We’ve covered this event, the preparations for many years now,” said one news anchor for NBC New York. “We’ve never seen anything like this… Hundreds of people are already here… big fans of the Korean boy band BTS.”
The day of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Evewith Ryan Seacrest, several different media personalities including Seacrest filmed BTS’s rehearsal for social media. With this, BTS effectively became legends at the event before their performance even began.
The group performed two songs
On Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, BTS performed two songs from their 2019 EP, Map of the Soul: Persona. The group opened their two-song set with “Make It Right.”
For the first time ever, the song included choreography. The BTS members moved from the iconic Time’s Square Red Steps and walked past the barricades in the crowd to the main stage.
BTS then performed their hit song “Boy With Luv.” Despite the cold weather, the members of BTS showed their dedication to putting on a good performance as well as their individual charisma. At one point during the performance, Jimin accidentally threw his jacket over his head and smiled at the camera.
BTS had a successful 2019
The press release for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest referenced BTS as a “global phenomenon.” While BTS is considered a phenomenon, it’s clear from their 2019 that the group is not a fad.
Wired recently named BTS as one of the best artists of the decade. Not just of 2019, of the entire decade. The group won every award they were nominated for at the American Music Awards in 2019, and took home two Billboard Music Awards. They became the first artists in 2019 to sell 4 million album copies worldwide, and they had the highest-grossing tour of May 2019.
The group has fans that provide unconditional support because of their artistry and message, and they have steadily grown in popularity since their 2013 debut. Their presence at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest dominated headlines. Going into 2020, it’s clear people are paying attention to whatever BTS does next.
