Internet voice discontent over BIGHIT Music’s reported silence over BTS' Kim Taehyung's USEN nomination

MAJ (Music Awards Japan) on April 17, 2025, unveiled fifty total categories, including "Request Artist of the Year powered by USEN." Performers are acknowledged from March 13, 2025, to April 13, 2025, exclusively by the number of song requests submitted via USEN's "Oshi-Katsu" service.

Publicly revealed on April 22 were the top ten candidates advancing to the winner aggregation stage; voting started again on April 17 and finished on May 12. The winner is expected to be announced during events held on May 21 and 22 at the Kyoto Rohm Theatre. Kim Taehyung joins the list, nominated among other famous Asian and Japanese musicians.

Discontentment over BIGHIT Music’s silence over BTS' Kim Taehyung's USEN nomination: more details

Among the J-pop bands vying with Kim Taehyung are Nogizaka46, JO1, INI, and BE: FIRST. Among those cited are Filipino groups SB19, Maki, TJ Monterde, and TXT. V shows both his worldwide appeal and the growing influence of Japanese K-pop with such a varied repertoire. He also creates history as the first Korean soloist to have his song reach the top 10 on MAJ.

Though it's a major concern, supporters are still angry as BigHit Music (HYBE) has not released a statement or written a congrats note about Kim Taehyung's nomination. According to many of Taehyung's X (formerly Twitter) followers, the agency reacted to the nominations of other artists (like TXT) for whatever reason but overlooked Taehyung's solo achievements.

A fan expressed discontent, writing,

“He deserves so much better. They don’t appreciate him the way he deserves, and it’s clear as day” (@staeverryyy on X.com)

Another fan commented,

"Bts bighit @BIGHIT MUSIC what are your responsibilities as Taehyung's label if y'all cant even do the bare minimum like acknowledging his success & accomplishments?? A USEN nomination is a huge achievement, and he deserves to be celebrated!" (@scorpionsclaw on X.com)

Though V is still active duty in the military, this outpouring of discontent mirrors broader sentiments about the label's stance toward members' endeavors. Taehyung has been working as an active-duty soldier in the South Korean Army's Special Duty Team under the 2nd Military Police Corps since December 11, 2023.

On the same day, Kim Taehyung began his mandated military duty. These albums, which have maintained his global appeal, were likely responsible for the notable number of USEN song requests supporting V's MAJ candidacy.

The agency's silence has strengthened fan expectations that BigHit Music should aggressively promote members' achievements even during enlistment. For many, public recognition from the label is as important as awards created by fans.

Kim Taehyung's nomination for the USEN-powered "Request Artist of the Year" shows his ongoing appeal while on military duty, making it one never before seen for a K-pop soloist at the Music Awards Japan 2025.

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While the accolade makes fans overjoyed, BigHit Music has been criticized for being tardy in acknowledging the success, which has prompted calls for stronger agency support. The situation emphasizes the evolving dynamics of K-pop, where the acknowledgment of labels and the involvement of fans shape the individual legacies of artists as final votes are made as the May ceremony draws near.

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