Billboard sings praises of idol boy band BTS

Boy band BTS from a Billboard report on Monday / Courtesy of Billboard

Leading American music magazine Billboard has praised idol boy band BTS.

After the seven-member band’s New York concert at the Best Buy Theater on July 16, the magazine released a report headlined “BTS Impress with Style... and Freestyle Performances at Curtailed New York Debut.”

The report said the band showed “a more relaxed and freer side of themselves that made the show that much more memorable.” It said the band “freestyled” during the performance of their third song, “We On,” and described it “rare” among K-pop bands which mostly perform rigid, regimental choreography.

But the band’s encore was cut short because of an online threat to members that spread on social media. Billboard said the incident made audiences “much more amped” for the band’s next concert.

Scenes from BTS's music video "Dope" / Screen capture from YouTube

BTS debuted in 2013 with management company Big Hit Entertainment. The world tour began on July 10 and BTS will perform in 12 cities in eight countries, including Australia and Brazil.