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K-pop sensation BTS have announced they'll be taking an "official extended period of rest" to get "re-inspired and recharge with creative energy" following the completion of their final scheduled work commitments this year.
Their latest gigs took place in Los Angeles, including their 2021 Jingle Ball show in early December and their concerts at the SoFi Stadium as part of their "Permission To Dance On Stage - LA" tour in late November and early December.
The global K-pop band has one of the biggest fan bases in the world. But how many followers do BTS and other major artists have on Instagram? Here we round up some of the band accounts with the most followers on the social media platform.
1. BTS
Instagram followers: 54.5 million
The global boy band has amassed one of the largest numbers of followers on Instagram since their debut in 2013.
Within hours of the announcement of the band's temporary hiatus, each BTS member also launched an individual Instagram account.
Their verified accounts each attracted more than four million followers within hours, with BTS member V bagging the most by 11 a.m. ET at 4.5 million.
2. Blackpink
Instagram followers: 43.7 million
The chart-topping K-pop stars are one of the biggest girl groups in the world. Their record-breaking songs have made YouTube history and set Guinness World Records.
3. One Direction
Instagram followers: 22.8 million
The Instagram following of the British boy band, who have been on hiatus since 2016 shortly after former member Zayn Malik's exit, has been going strong at nearly 23 million. The individual members have each pursued their own solo careers since the hiatus.
Last year marked the 10 years since the group's formation in 2010 but there has been no official confirmation on the date of their return.
4. Twice
Instagram followers: 22 million
The nine-member K-pop girl group formed in 2015 consists of South Korean as well as Japanese singers and one Taiwanese member.
Last month, the band became the first Korean girl group to chart multiple top 10 albums in the U.S. Their latest new album Formula of Love: O+T=＜3 opened at no. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. Just months earlier, their EP Taste of Love opened at no. 6 on the same chart, bagging two top 10 titles in less than half a year, Forbes reported in late November.
5. Stray Kids
Instagram followers: 17.4 million
The eight-piece K-pop boy band was formed in 2017 through a Korean reality television survival competition show. Earlier this year, the group earned their first-ever no. 1 hit on a Billboard music chart.
Their single "Mixtape : OH" debuted at no. 1 on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart for the week of July 6.
6.Little Mix
Instagram followers: 15 million
The British girl band debuted in 2011 after becoming the first girl group to win the U.K. version of The X Factor competition series. With several hit tracks under their belt, in 2021 they made history again by becoming the first female band to win Best British Group at the Brit Awards.
7. Coldplay
Instagram followers: 14.3 million
The seven-time Grammy Award-winning British group is one of the biggest rock bands on the planet. They have seen at least 29 songs be ranked on a Billboard music chart, including 13 no. 1 hits and 24 top 10 hit tracks.
Earlier this year in September, they released a track with BTS titled "My Universe."
8. Fifth Harmony
Instagram followers: 11.2 million
The American girl band was also formed from The X Factor in 2012, finishing in third place in the competition. Their Billboard-charting songs have included "Worth It," "Work From Home," "Sledgehammer" and "All In My Head (Flex)." The group has been on hiatus since 2018 to "pursue solo endeavors."
9. Twenty One Pilots
Instagram followers: 8.2 million
The Grammy Award-winning alternative rock duo consisting of vocalist Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun first formed in 2009 as a four-piece band, before former members Nick Thomas and Chris Salih left the group in 2011.
The group's Billboard-charting tracks include "Shy Away," "Saturday" and
"Level of Concern."
10. Maroon 5
Instagram followers: 8 million
The band, led by Adam Levine, released their seventh album this year in June, titled Jordi.
11. Jonas Brothers
Instagram followers: 7.3 million
The Grammy Award-nominated pop rock trio consists of the three brothers Kevin, Nick and Joe Jonas. The band first formed in 2005 and broke up in 2013 before reuniting with the release of their single "Sucker" in March 2019. They also released their fifth studio album Happiness Begins in June 2019.
The group has seen at least seven tracks chart on Billboard, including two no. 1 hits and four top 10 hit songs.
About the writer
Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in Read more