Thread by @sweetbtstea

It's #TinfoilHatTime!

Tonight's Thread: Shenanigans Afoot? Three Annoying Theories As To What's Going On (And A Silver Lining!)

DISCLAIMER:

This is a theory thread, hence the "tinfoil hats." You are welcome to disregard my theories and heap lots of salt onto them. I'm just sharing my paranoid perspective.

INTRODUCTION: IT'S THE SAME OLD SONG...

On the upside, BTS and ARMY aren't the best they've ever been. Especially compared to the nightmarish first few years where ARMY lacked the ability to protect BTS as they were cheated, maligned, and unjustifiably ignored.

But just because things are better now doesn't mean that ARMY will ever stand aside in silence when we see BTS getting cheated or our efforts erased without justifiable explanation.

For some observers, the recent streaming shenanigans by YT and Sp0tify are just the latest in a rigged music industry acting out its dishonesty in an effort to keep a corrupt status quo going. One where the industry dictates tastes artificially.

I always felt that the music industry hates the idea of superstars. Because artists in control of their art do not have to "play the game." They do not have to shut up and do as they're told. They do not have the label dangling their future like a carrot on a stick.

Instead, a system of artificially inflated careers works better because the label gets to control the rise and fall. Ever notice how many superstars had to work around label shenanigans and attempts to stifle their voices? Superstars are dictated by fan power, not industry power.

I said all of this to say that the cheating in broad daylight that we're experiencing doesn't surprise me. If anything, it's just another affirmation of BTS's genuine star power.

But the shady treatment at this moment is no less disturbing. So what's going on EXACTLY?

In tonight's Tinfoil Hat Time thread, I'll lay out three theories (and close with a silver lining!)

#1 - THE BATTLEFIELD THEORY

This is the part where I remind you that the US music industry is largely monopolized, with three major conglomerates (Universal, Sony, and Warner Bros.) constantly duking it out for supremacy (featuring a tiny minority of independent labels).

By supremacy, I of course mean money. And make no mistake, the lion's share of the wealth goes into the pockets of the Big 3 and their various subsidiaries with the "talent" relegated to damn near the bottom of the food chain. A startling number of these stars are flat broke.

But anyway, this theory holds that the shenanigans we're experiencing are not specific to BTS. It's just that we are collateral in an ongoing industry war.

Ex. Skittles the Snitch claimed 🛴 bought a #1 and effectively rigged the Hot 100.

instagram.com/p/CAVoH8SDyAx/

This theory would also answer a few questions I had, such as why R0n P3rry put his name on "Butter" and why the CR account merrily shared that "record" tweet about 20.9 million streams...knowing we'd immediately be tipped off about half of them getting mysteriously axed.

True to our name, ARMY isn't afraid to go to war for BTS, especially when we feel they are being cheated. We will get loud and shine a bright light on dishonest practices. We are annoying like that, especially to those hoping to use unethical methods and get away with it.

So, we could simply have found ourselves in the crossfire of a predictable industry tug of war for power and money. One that isn't necessarily personal, but is still really goddamn annoying and gross.

#2 - Using BTS To "Legitimize" Hype Theory

Speaking of "gross," this one makes me genuinely sick to my stomach, so I need to get through this section fast or I might genuinely toss my cookies. 🤢

BTS and ARMY represent an organic power duo. BTS is the biggest and most successful group in the world at the moment, and ARMY is a buying powerhouse.

We genuinely crowdfunded BTS's way into multiple number ones on the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts.

Now, if I have some potted house plants I'm trying to pass off as an actual forest, I need to get creative. In the case of alleged up-and-comers, one really effective (?) way to make that happen is to have them one-up genuine superstars.

The hype is real if they can hold off-

really popular acts with a genuinely huge swell of fan support behind them.

But it can be very risky unless you're willing to cheat.

Suddenly millions of streams go missing without explanation and various other antics play out in an effort to tip the scales.

And if anyone has any doubts that labels are willing to do the most unethical things possible to get the results they want, remember that Rolling Stone already largely confirmed that pay0la in at least one branch of the music industry never stopped.
rollingstone.com/pro/features/p…

And it's not like it's a new thing for people to use BTS and ARMY for clout anyway they can. :/

It's just disgusting that I can genuinely see the despicable headlines and claims and if that's the goal, then I hope all connected to it step on Legos for eternity.

#3 - A Last Hurrah For The Rigger Happy Industry

Maybe directly challenging BTS while doing whatever can be done to saw off their legs is just a desperate last gasp. After all, the end of bundles isn't hurting *THEM*

We tend to forget that a lot of money goes into grabbing the grand prizes: A number one single and or album. I imagine millions and millions of dollars go into efforts to secure the mountain top, only for us to kick tf out of whoever is on the summit because they're not BTS.

There is an archaic branch of the music industry that is used to taste-making and telling the public what to like and for how long is not going to be comfortable with fans taking that power away.

Factor in music industry misogyny, I imagine ARMY is especially infuriating.

All of the money that goes into chart influence (or sabotage), that they can be outspent by actual fans who studied their system and are using it against them...this could more or less be just one of a few more attempts to hold onto power and suppress fan-based influence.

There are some people who genuinely stan the corrupt status quo (because they aren't obligated to do anything meaningful...like ensure their faves don't end up flat broke). But I believe there were others waiting on a sign that the status quo could be disrupted.

We're that sign.

ARMY isn't merely scary because we're effective, efficient, and dauntless. We're also terrifying because we the first of many such fandoms with zero patients for a corrupt status quo and the numbers and funding to work around it.

They may be fruitlessly fighting the future.

A Silver Lining: They Can't Check Our Checkmate

Take a deep breath and exhale. We're just trying to add more trophies to the bag, but don't think for a minute that if there are shenanigans afoot, they can in any way end or erase BTS's impact and legacy.

BTS is a permanent-

and irremovable rock in the halls of music history, with influence destined to span generations. Far too many children have looked at them and taken them in and will build their future music careers on their blueprint.

Their fingerprints are all the future of music.

Any cynical attempt to derail BTS's momentum is going to fail, and as we already know Karma is a stan, it will fail spectacularly.

So try not to take anything that happens too much to heart. It's an annoying bump, but nothing more.

So keep enjoying the single, get ready for the awesomeness that is Festa, and let's just do our best to enjoy the moment.

Yes, speak up against anything suspicious and unfair. But also, don't assume their existence is some sign of the end of our journey. They lack the power.

STREAM AND BUY BUTTER...AND REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN! 🧈

/THREAD