In theory, a management company and fans share the same overarching goals: to support, protect, and help an artist grow. However, in K-pop, conflicts between agencies and fans are far from rare — especially when an idol’s interests are involved. When a company fails to effectively support its artists, fans inevitably have to step in and fιgнт to ensure their idols receive the respect and treatment they deserve.

Even HYBE — the leading K-pop powerhouse — has not been able to avoid clashes with BTS’s global fandom, ARMY. Despite having a large and experienced staff, extensive industry knowledge, and no shortage of money or power, HYBE still shows notable shortcomings in fans’ eyes when it comes to nurturing their artists.

Particularly considering everything BTS has built and contributed to the company over an entire decade, fans have been extremely dissatisfied with what they view as HYBE’s unfair treatment of the superstars. Most recently, fans’ anger reached a boiling point after discovering that the company had ignored a series of RIAA certifications earned by BTS members, affecting both their chart performance and public recognition.

The issue began with a post from Pop Core titled “K-pop Soloists with the Most RIAA Certifications in the US.” The post listed Jungkook and Jimin after BLACKPINK’s Jennie, showing them with only two and one RIAA certifications respectively.

The information itself wasn’t incorrect — but it was far from the full picture. Fans pointed out that both members should actually have over 10 eligible solo certifications each. So why the discrepancy? HYBE’s negligence, according to ARMY.

The RIAA both protects copyright and awards sales/streaming certifications in the U.S. These certifications act as a trusted measure of commercial success, popularity, and copyright legitimacy. A song receives an RIAA certification once it meets the required sales or streaming thresholds set by the Recording Industry Association of αмєяι¢α.

However, the RIAA does not issue certifications automatically when thresholds are reached. An artist’s management must submit the necessary paperwork for the RIAA to review before a certification can be granted. If the company does not file the application, the RIAA cannot — and will not — award the certification.

This is exactly what fans accuse HYBE of failing to do for BTS. Many solo tracks by Jimin, Jungkook, and other BTS members have long met the criteria for RIAA certifications, yet HYBE allegedly never submitted the applications — meaning the achievements remain unrecognized and unofficial. That’s why media currently records Jungkook with only one platinum and one gold certification, while Jimin has just a single platinum.

Fans have compiled long lists of BTS members’ solo songs that have been eligible for RIAA certifications but were never filed by HYBE, despite how important these certifications are. Examples include Jungkook’s Seven (eligible for 3× Platinum but only certified once), Standing Next to You, 3D, Euphoria, and Left & Right, which are all platinum-eligible. Meanwhile, Dreamers, Yes or No, Hate You, and My Time have already met the threshold for gold.

Jimin has also missed several major achievements, including 4× Platinum eligibility for Who and 2× Platinum for Like Crazy. Lie, Serendipity, Filter, Set Me Free Pt.2, and Angel Pt.1 all have enough units for gold certification. 

Even j-hope’s Chicken Noodle Soup has been eligible for gold since 2024 — yet remains uncertified. Countless singles and albums from other members face the same issue.

This certification process is essential for artists and their music, yet HYBE — Big Hit Music — has shown no urgency in handling it. Fans are questioning whether HYBE’s large staff has been too busy with other priorities, leaving BTS’s RIAA submissions neglected during the three years the members have been enlisted.

Now, a wave of fan outrage is spreading across social media:

- The company is constantly reminded of the BTS members’ RIAA achievements whenever they become eligible, but the main issue is that they never actually read or pay attention.

- HYBE is so quick to get money from BTS but when it comes to their achievements and benefits, everything moves so slowly

- All of the BTS members’ songs have surpαѕѕed the required thresholds, yet they still haven’t received their certifications—what exactly are all the HYBE staff doing?

- HYBE spending BTS's money & legacy to push promote every random group under them yet can't even use it to appy for all the dozens of BTS solo songs eligible to get their RIAA certificates for YEARS now

- Jimin would have six songs on this list if @BIGHIT_MUSIC weren’t busy gatekeeping his RIAA certifications along with his other achievements

- the fact that jungkook has more songs that sold 1m/500k units in the us but still doesn't have riaa certifications for each one is truly insane like his label is so f*cking useless

- If HYBE submitted the certifications for all seven members, this list would now be filled entirely with BTS members, not just those girls with a few RIAA records

- BigHit is really a bad company, many members including j-hope are мιѕѕιиg Gold certifications but they just don't submit them...

- bigнιт can’t even do their job properly, im so pissed off