Chief of BTS talent agency joins Billboard list of Int'l Power Players

Published : May 23, 2018 - 09:53 Updated : May 23, 2018 - 09:53

Bang Si-hyuk, the chief of the talent agency managing K-pop boy band BTS, has been chosen as one of Billboard's "International Power Players."

The CEO and executive producer of Big Hit Entertainment was one of 73 music industry executives who "are in the vanguard," according to the list posted on Billboard's website on Monday (US time).

Bang was chosen for the "recording" category of the list, which Billboard has announced since 2014.

Big Hit Entertainment CEO Bang Si-hyuk (Twitter)

"Produced by Bang, BTS' 'Love Yourself: Her' has sold over 1.6 million copies worldwide, according to Big Hit, becoming the first album by a K-pop group to reach the top 10 of the Billboard 200," Billboard said.

"The set yielded the single 'DNA,' which reached No. 37 on the Digital Song Sales tally. Bang predicts that more South Korean pop acts will hit the charts soon."

It also quoted Bang as saying that, "There is a wealth of local artists to satisfy American music fans."

Stuart Camp, manager of the world's top-selling artist Ed Sheeran, topped the list as the "executive of the year."

BTS scooped up its second Billboard Music Award in the Top Social Artist category on Sunday in the United States, becoming the first Korean act to win two Billboard awards. (Yonhap)