About this ebook
A love letter to Korean pop sensation BTS and an ode to fandom. An Atlantic Edition, featuring long-form journalism by Atlantic writers, drawn from contemporary articles or classic storytelling from the magazine’s 165-year archive.
The supersonic rise of the Korean pop group BTS may seem enigmatic to some, but for Lenika Cruz, senior culture editor at The Atlantic, their worldwide fame is obvious. As Cruz argues in On BTS: Pop Music, Fandom, Sincerity, the group’s trajectory—debuting on a relatively obscure label in Korea to becoming a global household name in just a few years—is a natural result of their authenticity, artistry, energy, social conscientiousness, and general coolness. As a non-English-language band finding record-breaking international success, BTS is helping usher in a fresh, more inclusive era in the music industry. In this love letter to the once-in-a-generation pop sensation, Cruz narrates her own unexpected journey into the fandom, and in doing so might welcome you in, too.
The supersonic rise of the Korean pop group BTS may seem enigmatic to some, but for Lenika Cruz, senior culture editor at The Atlantic, their worldwide fame is obvious. As Cruz argues in On BTS: Pop Music, Fandom, Sincerity, the group’s trajectory—debuting on a relatively obscure label in Korea to becoming a global household name in just a few years—is a natural result of their authenticity, artistry, energy, social conscientiousness, and general coolness. As a non-English-language band finding record-breaking international success, BTS is helping usher in a fresh, more inclusive era in the music industry. In this love letter to the once-in-a-generation pop sensation, Cruz narrates her own unexpected journey into the fandom, and in doing so might welcome you in, too.
A love letter to Korean pop sensation BTS and an ode to fandom. An Atlantic Edition, featuring long-form journalism by Atlantic writers, drawn from contemporary articles or classic storytelling from the magazine’s 165-year archive.
The supersonic rise of the Korean pop group BTS may seem enigmat...
Discover more
Ratings and reviews
2 reviews
harish sharma
- Flag inappropriate
May 5, 2026
5 stars
About the author
Lenika Cruz is a senior editor at The Atlantic where she has been a staffer on the culture section since 2014. She has edited stories that have been nominated for James Beard Awards and included in anthologies such as Best Food Writing, and one that was named as a Pulitzer Prize finalist. In addition to The Atlantic, Lenika’s essays, reporting, and criticism have appeared in LA Weekly, Glamour, The Rumpus, East Bay Express, and Guam’s Pacific Daily News. She has spoken about race, culture, and media for the Asian American Journalists Association, the Washington National Cathedral, and Pomona College’s Humanities Studio. She has appeared as a guest on NPR’s Code Switch and Pop Culture Happy Hour, The Atlantic’s Review podcast, Blank Check, KPCC, and other radio shows. She is a volunteer contributing editor for the street newspaper Street Sense. She graduated from UCLA in 2012 with a BA in English.
Lenika Cruz is a senior editor at The Atlantic where she has been a staffer on the culture section since 2014. She has edited stories that have been nominated for James Beard Awards and included in anthologies such as Best Food Writing, and one that was named as a Pulitzer Prize finalist. In addi...
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
