Latest Episode Of For The Record Podcast: BTS And Its Mega-Hit Dynamite

When Spotify dove into the podcast deep end of the pool, it did so with both eyes open. Smartly, the streaming giant found ways to connect its expertise -- streaming music -- with podcasts.

A prime example is its latest podcast For the Record, which currently is spotlighting the global rise of K-Pop music and specifically K-Pop star group BTS. For those not fully aware of K-Pop, it has proved to be one of the fastest-growing genres with an ever-expanding roster of artists dominating the charts and achieving crossover success. 

K-pop is a genre of popular music originating in South Korea. It is influenced by styles and genres from around the world, such as experimental, rock, jazz, gospel, hip hop, R&B, reggae, electronic dance, folk, country, and classical on top of its traditional Korean music roots.

 

The current episode of For The Record discusses the success of K-Pop's BTS and its mega-hit, Dynamite. The song set a new record on Spotify with 12.6 million streams in the first 24 hours of its release last month.

Consider that BTS has more than 11.4 billion streams on Spotify and “Dynamite” has been added to more than 3.5 million playlists

“Dynamite” sparked a 300 percent increase in people listening to BTS for the first time on platform and BTS became the first Korean artists to debut at number one on Spotify Global Top 50 chart.

Last week, BTS performed "Dynamite," on "America's Got Talent" where group members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook sang and danced to their hit outside on a set featuring an amusement park, gas station, a restaurant and a theater, complete with fireworks.

BTS' "Break the Silence: the Movie," an upcoming concert film that documents last year's "Love Yourself: Speak Yourself" world tour, is set to premiere on September 24.

During the podcast episode, Spotify sat down with BTS to talk about what the song means to them and BTS gives a behind the scenes look at their music making process, share their appreciation for their fans, and discuss when people look back in a generation, how they would like to be remembered.

To provide additional perspective on BTS’ remarkable journey to this point, Spotify also talked to TIME Magazine Editor and K-Pop aficionado Kat Moon about BTS overcoming their underdog status, important milestones and breakthrough moments. Spotify also spoke to superfans around the world from Taiwan to the UK about BTS’ impact globally and the family they made within their fandom.

In the episode, group member RM discusses the songmaking process:“It's very, various, sometimes we start with melodies. Sometimes we start with some just a word or a theme. But basically, when there's an album, there's some kind of like a theme or a keyword that comes, that goes through the whole album. And if we succeed to, like, make a decision for the keyword, then everybody gathers and we guess the tracks and melodies and lyrics or whatever. So it's like making a puzzle when we try to make an album.”

You can listen to the episode here.