Hours before Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, one would never know BTS was not the main headliner of the event. The group received unprecedented news coverage before the performance. Afterwards, several hashtags about BTS’s appearance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest trended on Twitter.

BTS | Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

The co-hosts of ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ knew BTS would draw in fans

From the moment BTS’s appearance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest was announced, hype began to spread. While ARMY was happy that BTS would be broadcast to millions of people, ABC placed a huge emphasis on BTS’s performance.

Before the New Year’s Eve program, Seacrest said he expected half of attendees to be BTS fans.

“We don’t even know what to expect in Times Square with all the people because when they show up, all of their fans show up, so half of Times Square could be BTS fans,” he said.

.@BTS_twt took the world by storm in 2019, and now they're here to take Times Square into 2020! This #kpop sensation is performing live (with luv) right now. pic.twitter.com/SrmXWAmUmU — Times Square (@TimesSquareNYC) January 1, 2020

On Good Morning America, Seacrest’s co-host Lucy Hale seconded that BTS was guaranteed to bring in a lot of fans.

“We have Sam Hunt, Post Malone, BTS — which is going to be insanity,” she said. About BTS, she added, “I don’t even know what to expect. I feel like they would draw a million people alone.”

BTS was not the main headliner for ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’

On Dec. 17, the lineup for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacreast was announced. In the original press release, Post Malone was advertised as the main headliner of the event.

The introduction read: “POST MALONE TO HEADLINE AMERICA’S MOST WATCHED NEW YEAR’S EVE SPECIAL.”

“Making his Times Square debut, Post Malone will be joined by additional performers BTS, Sam Hunt and Alanis Morissette, performing for the first time with the cast of the hit Broadway musical ‘Jagged Little Pill’ for America’s biggest celebration of the year,” the press release continued.

Hunt performed from 9:38 p.m. to 9:44 p.m. Both Morissette and BTS received eight minutes of performance time. Morissette performed from 8:33 p.m. to 8:41 p.m. and BTS performed from 10:38 p.m. to 10:46 p.m.

Post Malone performed the closest to midnight and also performed for eight minutes. He closed the evening and performed from 11:38 p.m. to 11:46 p.m.

BTS received unprecedented news coverage

While Post Malone was the main headliner of the event, BTS’s performance received the most news coverage. In addition to Seacrest and Hale discussing the crowds BTS inevitably draws, news stations interviewed fans who camped out for the performance.

“We’ve covered this event, the preparations for many years now,” said one news anchor for NBC New York. “We’ve never seen anything like this… Hundreds of people are already here… big fans of the Korean boy band BTS.”

The day of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, several different media personalities including Seacrest filmed BTS’s rehearsal for social media. With this, BTS effectively became legends at the event before their performance even began.

WE GOT A MAKE IT RIGHT CHOREO IM SCREAMING WHAT A GREAT WAY TO START THIS DECADE #BTSxRockinEve @BTS_twtpic.twitter.com/lmigJaKC3N — sel (@manggaeddeoks) January 1, 2020

The group performed two songs

On Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, BTS performed two songs from their 2019 EP, Map of the Soul: Persona. The group opened their two-song set with “Make It Right.”

For the first time ever, the song included choreography. The BTS members moved from the iconic Time’s Square Red Steps and walked past the barricades in the crowd to the main stage.

BTS then performed their hit song “Boy With Luv.” Despite the cold weather, the members of BTS showed their dedication to putting on a good performance as well as their individual charisma. At one point during the performance, Jimin accidentally threw his jacket over his head and smiled at the camera.

JIMIN JUST DID THAT ON NATIONAL TELEVISION WITH OVER 1M PEOPLE WATCHING SHHSHSHSJ I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! #BTSxRockinEve @bts_bighitpic.twitter.com/F8oiIjesfn — TIN-틴 (@taebokkiii) January 1, 2020

BTS had a successful 2019

The press release for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest referenced BTS as a “global phenomenon.” While BTS is considered a phenomenon, it’s clear from their 2019 that the group is not a fad.

Wired recently named BTS as one of the best artists of the decade. Not just of 2019, of the entire decade. The group won every award they were nominated for at the American Music Awards in 2019, and took home two Billboard Music Awards. They became the first artists in 2019 to sell 4 million album copies worldwide, and they had the highest-grossing tour of May 2019.

The group has fans that provide unconditional support because of their artistry and message, and they have steadily grown in popularity since their 2013 debut. Their presence at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest dominated headlines. Going into 2020, it’s clear people are paying attention to whatever BTS does next.