This year's keyword on the K-pop scene was Bangtan Boys, also known as BTS. The boy band topped the Billboard 200 chart twice and became the first Korean combo with two top 10 finishes in the Hot 100, in May and September.

In May, BTS said they hope to become the most influential musicians in the world by topping the Billboard charts, attending the Grammy Awards, and doing a big stadium tour. They achieved most of their aims within a space of just half a year, except for attending the Grammys.

Their concert at Citi Field in New York, a venue reserved for only the biggest stars, was another first for a Korean band. Their fans from around the world, called "the Army," camped outside to get to the front rows, and the New York subway added more trains for concertgoers.

U.S. media compared the event to Beatlemania in the 60s.