BTS Fans Criticize iHeartRadio For Lack Of Radio Spins, Following Music Festival Announcement

iHeartRadio is receiving criticism from BTS fans, following an announcement about the iHeartRadio Music Festival.

On July 20, Variety reported that this annual festival show will proceed as scheduled by working around the COVID-19 pandemic. For the past nine years, iHeartRadio Music Festival has been held for two nights on the third weekend of September. This year, fans will attend virtually, but the artists themselves will all be taping in Los Angeles and Nashville.

BTS, Coldplay, Kane Brown with Khalid, Keith Urban, Migos, Miley Cyrus, Thomas Rhett, and Usher are just some of the many acts booked to perform on September 18 and 19.

Although fans are looking forward to BTS’s performance, many doubt that the festival will lead to more radio spins for BTS’s music.

I’m not looking at this Iheart thing as anything but an opportunity for BTS to perform for the fans. We know what radio is We know this won’t result in radio play but I’m thinking that’s not their goal here so I’ll accept the performance gladly & hope newbies discover them

— Rellen2 (@Rellen2) July 21, 2020

don't be naive, iheart won't give bts any spins after this, all they know is how to use them for clout and make them uncomfortable during interviews. i'll be tuning in for my boys and then i'm closing the livestream with the speed of light.

— ewa⁷ (@fakelovekoo) July 21, 2020

iheart radio always headlining bts to their festivals while still being xenophobic and refusing to give them radio spins…it’s time bts starts paying them dust

— ☾⁷ (@OT7impact) July 21, 2020

Despite having attended several iHeartRadio events and on-air interviews, these fans claim that BTS is still not being given airplay that is proportionate to their global popularity and success. Some have also pointed out that when BTS’s music does air, the songs are usually collaborations with western, English-speaking artists.

Z100 New York is one of @iHeartRadio's most popular stations.

How often did Z100 play @BTS_twt during the past 28 days?

Once, for 4 seconds.

Z100 played Make It Right (feat. Lauv) [Acoustic Remix] for 4 seconds on July 19, 2020, according to music analytics tool Soundcharts. pic.twitter.com/kHDpRTG2PE

— Brian Patrick Byrne⁷ 🇮🇪 (@bybrianbyrne) July 21, 2020

Just checked BTS’ US radio play stats after the iHe^rtradio news and… Notice the pattern? All the songs are collabs, with a good chunk in English (radio edits will probably mean even less korean). In the last week ON was played ONCE (Radio Disney). U see the problem here? pic.twitter.com/peF4T0eYbs

— ⟭⟬ ASH BLM⁷ (@ughhittmann) July 21, 2020

The iHeartRadio Music Festival will air on the CW on September 18 and 19.