BTS is back.
In celebration of their 10th anniversary, the K-pop superstars will drop “Take Two,” a new digital single, on June 9.
The title of “Take Two” is a nod to BTS progressing into “their second chapter,” reads a statement from their reps at HYBE, and is said to be an “ode to their fans” — ARMY.
Bandmate SUGA participated in the production of the new recording, with RM and j-hope contributing to the songwriting, the statement continues.
As previously reported, the South Korea-formed phenomenon will celebrate their milestone with BTS 10th Anniversary FESTA. The annual event coincides with the date of the group’s debut (June 13, 2013), and will roll out from today, culminating in a grand finale June 17 in Seoul.
BTS FESTA at Yeouido, in the South Korean capital, will be open to the public.
Formed around Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, BTS made its first Billboard chart appearance in 2013, when “No More Dreams” debuted at No. 14 on World Digital Song Sales (before climbing to No. 2 seven years later). Since then, the group has broken numerous records, including the most Hot 100 No. 1 debuts among groups and the most top 10 debuts among groups. All seven members have now scored solo hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
With BTS having tallied six Hot 100 No. 1s, and Jimin notching his first with “Like Crazy,” BTS joined the Beatles and the Supremes as the only groups with at least six leaders and at least one member having led the list solo.
The hits have dropped around the globe. In the U.K., BTS has bagged five top 10 appearances on the national albums survey, including two No. 1s. The septet has also hit the top 10 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart on four occasions.
NEWS
Oliver Tree’s team has provided a new update following the singer’s death in a helicopter crash on June 14, confirming that a new artist grant will soon be established in his memory to help creatives secure funding, a plan he had detailed in his will before his passing.
Accompanying a collection of photos highlighting Tree’s performances, travels and creative work through the years, a post shared Sunday (June 21) on his Instagram account revealed that the musician’s remains have been brought back to California, the state he called home and where he will be laid to rest. “His legacy will live on through his foundation/endowment named ‘Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant For Baby Geniuses’ coming soon,” the caption reads. “This is something that Oliver had put together before his passing.”
“We will make sure his wish comes to fruition so that more joy, love and art can be spread into the world, that was his final wish,” the statement continued, adding that “the constant love, support and positivity” shown by fans throughout the past week has helped his “family, friends and collaborators make it through these extremely difficult times.”
Tree was among six people who lost their lives in a helicopter collision in Rio de Janeiro. The musician was in Brazil for his The World’s First Tour run and had performed what would ultimately be his final concert on June 6 in São Paulo. The other victims of the crash were identified as passengers Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim and Lucas Brito Chaves, along with pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac.
Just months before his death, Tree discussed his plans to direct his fortune and future earnings from his music toward a grant program for artists during an appearance on the Zach Sang Show. “I take no credit for anything I’ve ever done,” he said during the April interview. “Furthermore, I don’t believe that any of the wealth or things that get made from it is mine. So when I die … my will is set up so that when I pass, my family, nobody is going to get a penny.”
“If I have a wife or kids or anything, they’re not getting a penny,” he added at the time, explaining that the initiative would focus on helping artists create work rather than funding education. “I’ll get my kids through college, that’s the agreement, but there’s not gonna be a silver spoon. All the money is going to go back to artists.”
