YouTube Reveals BTS & BLACKPINK As Hottest K-Pop Channels In 2018

It’s YouTube official – BTS and BLACKPINK are 2018’s hottest!

On July 24, YouTube released the list of top 20 K-Pop channels which experienced the most growth for the first half of 2018. The rankings were based on the highest increase of overseas subscribers on K-Pop channels from November 24, 2017 t0 June 25, 2018. The video sharing platform counted a whopping 95 percent of the channels’ new subscribers as foreign subscribers, which yet again proves the huge influence of K-Pop internationally.

Topping the list is BigHit Entertainment’s ibighit channel, where BTS’ official music videos, highlight reels, short films, and teasers are all uploaded. According to YouTube, ibighit has the most new subscribers for the first half of 2018 – which isn’t surprising as the channel had already surpassed the 10 million subscriber mark last December.

Photo from Naver x Dispatch

BLACKPINK’s official YouTube channel takes on the second place thanks to their powerful and much-anticipated comeback this year. The music video of “DDU-DU DDU-DU”, the title track of their latest mini-album Square Up, has garnered about 219 million views as of writing.

READ: BLACKPINK Members Share What The Success Of “Ddu Du Ddu Du” Means To Them

Photo from Naver X Dispatch

BTS proves their strong international reach as their BANGTANTV channel completes the list’s top three. The channel features BTS contents like dance practices, live performances, behind-the-scenes compilations, the ever-loved BANGTAN BOMB, and of course, Jungkook’s famous G.C.F. videos.

READ: Confirmed: BTS To Release 7 New Songs For “Love Yourself: Answer”

Worldwide K-Pop channel 1theK takes over the fourth spot and is followed by the official channels of entertainment companies JYP and SM Entertainment.

Other official artists’ channels which made their way to YouTube’s Top 20 K-Pop channels are BIGBANG, PSY, SNSD, iKON, GOT7, SEVENTEEN, and both TWICE’s main and Japanese channels.

READ: SNSD & EXO-CBX To Bring Your Newest Sneaker Must-Have!

YouTube notes that channels which provided contents like artists’ rehearsals, behind-the-scenes, and everyday life attracted a lot of attention. These kinds of videos, which provided fans a way to feel closer with their favourite artists and get a candid glimpse of their daily lives, stood out and became a major factor in the growth of the channels.

Photo from Starnews

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