BigBang is a South Korean boy band that was formed by YG Entertainment in 2006. The group consists of four members: G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang, and Daesung. Originally a five-piece band, Seungri retired from the entertainment industry in March 2019. The group is often referred to as the "Kings of K-pop" due to their immense influence on the genre and their contribution to spreading the Korean Wave internationally.
BigBang initially received a lukewarm reception with their debut album, BigBang Vol.1. However, their success skyrocketed with the release of hit singles such as "Lies", which topped the Korean music charts for a record-breaking six consecutive weeks and won Song of the Year at the 2007 Mnet Km Music Festival and the 2008 Seoul Music Awards. Other chart-topping hits include "Last Farewell", "Haru Haru", and "Sunset Glow".
The group's popularity continued to soar, and they won Artist of the Year at the 2008 Mnet Korean Music Festival and the 2008 Seoul Music Awards. They also released four Japanese studio albums, all of which were certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).
In 2011, BigBang returned after a two-year hiatus with their fourth EP, "Tonight," which won them the inaugural Best Worldwide Act Award at the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards. Their fifth EP, "Alive" (2012), became the first Korean album to chart on the US Billboard 200. Their third studio album, "Made" (2016), won the group Artist of the Year awards at the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards for the third time and at the 2015 Melon Music Awards.
The Made World Tour, which supported the "Made" album, attracted 1.5 million people and set a new record for the most-attended concert tour headlined by a Korean act in history at the time.
Eleven of BigBang's singles have reached number one on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart, and they have collectively remained atop the Melon charts for a record 51 weeks. They have sold over 150 million digital and physical records globally, making them one of the best-selling boy bands in the world.
Forbes Korea ranked BigBang as one of the most powerful celebrities in South Korea from 2009 to 2016. They were also the first Korean artists to be included on the Forbes Celebrity 100 in 2016 and the 30 Under 30 list of most influential musicians in the world in 2017. With their trendsetting musical experimentation, self-production, and stage presence, BigBang has undoubtedly earned their place as one of the most influential acts in K-pop history.
