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BIGBANG’s Coachella appearance draws massive crowd, sparking debate over turnout size, while fans hail the group as “K-pop GOAT,” praising their legacy, stage presence, and global influence.

BIGBANG’s massive Coachella turnout sparks buzz over crowd size; fans call them ‘K-Pop GOAT’

BIGBANG made a powerful return to the global stage at this year’s Coachella. While their performance drew praise, it was the sheer size of the crowd that became the biggest talking point online.

The legendary group performed on Sunday, joining a lineup of K-pop acts that have been making waves at the festival. Artists like Taemin and members of KATSEYE also took the stage this year.

However, BIGBANG’s stage quickly stood out after photos and videos from the event began circulating across Korean online communities. The images showed a sea of people packed tightly into the venue, with fans stretching far beyond the immediate stage area.

According to reports, the space around the stage, including the outer viewing sections, can accommodate up to 80000 people. Many of the viral photos appeared to show the area filled to near capacity.

The visuals left netizens stunned, with many praising both the turnout and BIGBANG’s continued star power. “The performance was seriously so good!!!!” one comment read, while another declared, “That was insane, seriously GOAT.”

Fans and casual viewers alike seemed impressed by the scale of the crowd. “As expected, they’re really popular,” one user noted, while another added, “As expected, K-Pop GOAT.”

Source: Money Control

BigBang is performing on the outdoor theater stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival held on the 13th (Korean time) in Indio, California, USA. Captured from Coachella YouTube

“Hello, Coachella. We’re back.”

The group BIGBANG kicked off their 20th anniversary activities on the stage of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the world’s largest music festival.

On the 13th (local time), BIGBANG took to the Outdoor Theatre stage at Coachella in Indio, California, USA, delivering a solo performance that lasted 60 minutes. This marks their return to the festival six years after their scheduled appearance was canceled in 2020 due to the global pandemic.

This performance is BIGBANG’s first major stage since the group was reorganized from a five-member act to a trio. It is also their first official concert in nine years, since the ‘Last Dance’ tour in 2017, which was held at Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome and Tokyo Dome in Japan.

Tens of thousands of fans filled the venue and erupted in cheers as the members’ names were called, welcoming their return. The show opened with a video of astronauts on the giant screen, followed by the names Daesung, Taeyang, and G-Dragon appearing in sequence. When the debut year 2006 changed to 2026 on the screen, the audience burst into applause and cheers.

G-Dragon said, “BIGBANG’s 20th anniversary has just begun,” and added, “Please look forward to bigger stages and projects.” Daesung commented, “I’ve waited a long time for this moment,” and encouraged the audience by saying, “As this is our first time at Coachella, let’s all enjoy it together.”

The opening song was ‘Bang Bang Bang.’ Under intense red lights and flags, the members dominated the stage with a 100% live performance. They followed up with ‘Fantastic Baby,’ ‘Sober,’ and ‘Loser,’ further raising the excitement in the venue. G-Dragon wore a fur jacket, while Daesung and Taeyang donned leather jackets, completing a charismatic stage presence.

The early debut song ‘Fool Only Tears’ was reinterpreted as a trio performance. Instead of the original’s youthful vibe, their matured vocals, enriched by the passage of time, stood out. ‘Haru Haru’ and ‘Lies’ were presented with emotional arrangements, creating a different atmosphere.

Solo performances by each member followed. Taeyang revealed his mature charm by taking off his shirt during ‘Ringa Linga,’ while G-Dragon stepped off the stage to take selfies with fans’ phones as he sang ‘Power.’ The GD & Taeyang unit’s ‘Good Boy’ stirred nostalgia from 12 years ago. Daesung, accompanied by Korean subtitles reading “Hello, this is Daesung,” performed ‘Han Do Chogwa’ and ‘Look at Me, Gwisoon,’ delivering the excitement of K-Trot to fans all over the world.

Bigbang is performing on the outdoor theater stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival held in Indio, California, USA, on the 13th (Korean time). Capture from Coachella’s YouTube.

At the end of the show, the members emphasized, “We are still together.” The concert concluded with ‘봄여름가을겨울,’ which was released in April 2022, leaving a lingering impression.

This performance is seen as reaffirming the commercial potential of second-generation K-pop intellectual property. An industry insider commented, “This stage goes beyond mere nostalgia and proves that this intellectual property (IP) can still generate powerful revenue,” adding, “As long as the artist’s narrative and identity are strong, the IP can continue to expand in combination with capital.”

The industry expects the 20th-anniversary global tour, starting with Coachella, to generate at least 160 billion to 200 billion won in revenue. This estimate reflects the achievements of the ‘MADE’ tour, which attracted 1.5 million attendees, the recent sharp increase in ticket prices, and the growing purchasing power of the global fanbase. There is also speculation that total revenue from a single tour could surpass 300 billion won.

Jiweon Hwang, a researcher at iM Investment & Securities, said, “As the 10th-anniversary tour drew more than 1 million people in Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, the contribution to earnings will be significant. In particular, the results in the Japanese and Chinese markets will be critical.” Hwang added, “In 2016, BIGBANG attracted 1.86 million people on their Japan dome and stadium tour and 500,000 on their China arena tour. Although factors such as the resumption of performances in China and securing venues in Japan remain uncertain, revenue growth should be achievable by expanding MD and licensing collaborations.”

Source: Asiae.co.kr