Is PLAVE The “Virtual BTS”?— Netizens React

They are the first virtual to group to enter the Billboard chart.

On February 19, Billboard revealed that virtual idol group PLAVE’s “Dash” ranked number 195 on the Global 200 chart.

| VLAST

This is the first time a virtual idol has made it onto this chart.

The Billboard global charts are ranked based on online streaming and digital sales in over 200 countries worldwide.

The group received a positive response on the day of the album’s release on domestic sites and doubled the monthly listeners on Spotify within two weeks. It truly proves their global influence beyond Korea.

— VLAST

While most netizens felt that calling them the “virtual BTS” was media play, others supported the group and congratulated them on their achievement.

| Instiz

• “What’s with the comments? Congrats to PLAVE!”
• “Let’s just congratulate them please…congrats!”
• “The comments are messed up…congrats to the PLAVE members!”

While virtual idols refer to 2D animation characters, PLAVE has a real person behind the character instead of AI. The real person sings while technology is used to make the character move and dance.