BTS V’s ‘FRI(END)S’ Surpasses 500M Streams on Spotify

BTS member V (Kim Taehyung) has reached another major milestone with his solo digital single FRI(END)S, surpassing 500 million streams on Spotify. Released on March 15, 2024, during his military enlistment, the track continues to thrive globally thanks to its addictive melody, emotional vocals, and global appeal.

Pop Soul Perfection: V’s Distinct Vocal Style Shines

Described by critics as a pop-soul R&B track with witty lyrics and a silky smooth vocal performance, FRI(END)S highlights V’s strength in both low tones and falsetto delivery.

The track received praise for:

• 🎵 Effortless vocal control
• 💬 Witty, relatable lyrics about love and friendship
• 🎧 Crossover appeal in Western and Asian music markets

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Global Chart Domination

From Spotify to Billboard to iTunes, FRI(END)S performed exceptionally:

• 🏆 Billboard Charts:
  • Hot 100 – Debuted at #65
  • Global Excl. U.S. – #3
  • Global 200 – #5
• 🇬🇧 UK Charts:
  • UK Official Singles – Debuted at #13
  • Official Big Top 40 – Debuted at #3 after just two days of tracking
• 🌍 iTunes:
  • #1 in 100 countries globally—the first song of 2024 to do so
  • #1 on both Global and European iTunes charts

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Visual Success: Music Video Accolades

The UK-shot music video for FRI(END)S also received critical and fan acclaim:

• 📺 YouTube World Trending #1 (Music Category) for 14 consecutive days
• 🇺🇸 Tidal Top Video Chart #1 – first ever for a K-pop artist
• 🏆 UK Music Video Awards 2024 (UKMVA):
  • Nominated for Best Pop – International
  • Celebrated for its innovation and creativity

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Notable Highlights

• V’s FRI(END)S joins the 500M+ Spotify stream club
• Set multiple global chart records and iTunes milestones
• Music video earned award recognition and trended globally
• V is set to complete military service on June 10, 2025

Original Source: Star News

Image Soure: Image via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0