An executive from a U.S. record distribution company has sparked global outrage among ARMY (the official BTS fandom) with an inappropriate response to fans’ support for Jimin’s upcoming solo 2nd album.
BTS member Jimin is set to release his second solo album, ‘MUSE,’ on July 19 while he is serving in the military. Ahead of the album release, the track ‘Smeraldo Garden Marching Band (feat. Loco)’ is scheduled to be pre-released on the 28th. Fans worldwide have been supporting this release by requesting proper purchasing channels from Big Hit Music, Universal Music Group, and Geffen Records on the online platform X (formerly Twitter).
The issue began when Ray Kurzeka, Vice President and Head of Streaming at Geffen Records, which handles the U.S. distribution of HYBE’s albums and music, commented “song of the year” with a link to a song by Gracie Abrams featuring Taylor Swift.
This action was perceived as dismissive and mocking towards Jimin and K-pop, seen as stemming from Western supremacy and disregard for Asian artists, leading to widespread anger among ARMY.
Fans argue that as the distribution company responsible for BTS’s music in the U.S., mentioning another artist’s song as “song of the year” ahead of Jimin’s album release was inappropriate and offensive.
They demanded an apology from Kurzeka and better communication regarding purchasing options.
Kurzeka, instead of apologizing, deleted the contentious post, made his X account private, and deactivated all his personal social media accounts, further inflaming the situation.
Both Geffen Records and HYBE, Jimin’s agency, have not taken any actions or provided statements, leaving fans frustrated. Some fans criticized the companies for failing to protect and support the artist despite previous promises.
