Michelle Quinde is a BTS megafan.
When the latest album from the South Korean boy band came out in April, she bought the CD, even though she doesn’t own a CD player. When the seven-member group went to the United States in May, she went to all six of their concerts. And when BTS’ single “A Brand New Day” came out in June, she streamed it constantly for a full day.
Quinde, a 24-year-old graphic design student from New York City, is one of a legion of fans who spend plenty of time and money to support their idols.
Known as ARMY (Adorable Representative MC for Youth), BTS’ global fan base of millions of loyal followers is powerful enough to create major waves – and help the group smash music industry records.
Some ARMY, like Quinde, listen to songs over and over to boost BTS’ statistics on YouTube and music streaming sites.