From a Massive Stadium Tour to Being Named UNESCO Youth Goodwill Ambassadors and Performing at the UK's Glastonbury Festival, SEVENTEEN Continues to Make Global Waves
In the first half of this year, SEVENTEEN not only engaged with fans through their music and performances but also represented the global youth community, solidifying their status as 'K-pop's top group' and 'global speakers.' Now in their 10th year since debut, SEVENTEEN continues to expand their reach, earning praise as 'model growth artists.'
From March to May, SEVENTEEN held the 'Follow' tour at four major stadiums in South Korea and Japan, performing eight concerts and drawing a total of 380,000 fans. The tour included stops at Incheon Asiad Main Stadium, Seoul World Cup Stadium, Osaka's Yanmar Stadium Nagai, and Kanagawa's Nissan Stadium.
Kanagawa's Nissan Stadium, which can accommodate over 70,000 people, is considered a 'dream stage' by many artists. SEVENTEEN became the second K-pop act to hold a solo concert there, marking a significant milestone in K-pop history. Tickets for the Japan shows were sold through a lottery system, with over 2.8 million applications, showcasing SEVENTEEN's ticket power.
In the music market, SEVENTEEN's influence remains strong. Their best album, 'SEVENTEEN is Right Here,' released on April 29, achieved triple million-seller status, an unusual feat for a best album. It ranked second on Billboard Japan's '2024 Mid-Year Charts' (for the period from November 27, 2023, to May 26, 2024), the highest for a K-pop artist this year. The special unit Jeonghan x Wonwoo released their first single 'This Man' on June 17, achieving the highest first-week sales for a K-pop unit group.
In June, SEVENTEEN set new records in K-pop history. They became the first K-pop artists appointed as UNESCO Youth Goodwill Ambassadors. During the appointment ceremony held on June 26 at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris, they announced plans to donate $1 million to launch a global youth grant scheme in partnership with UNESCO, marking the first time UNESCO has appointed goodwill ambassadors specifically for youth.
Another first for K-pop artists was SEVENTEEN's performance on the main stage of the 'Glastonbury Festival' in Somerset, UK. They received enthusiastic responses and praise from local media for their approximately hour-long performance, which included songs like 'Maestro,' 'Clap,' 'Hot,' 'God of Music,' and 'Very Nice.' NME described the performance as "history-making," while the Evening Standard called it "an unforgettable sight."
SEVENTEEN's busy schedule continues in the second half of the year. They will appear on Japan's Fuji TV 'FNS Music Festival' on July 3 and hold their 8th fan meeting 'SEVENTEEN in Carat Land' at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome on July 23-24. In September, they will headline 'Lollapalooza Berlin' at the Olympiastadion Berlin. A new album and tour are also anticipated.
Pledis Entertainment stated, "SEVENTEEN is preparing a variety of activities for CARATs worldwide. We ask for your continued interest and affection for their activities this year, which will be filled with SEVENTEEN's presence."