BTS Allegedly Blocked From Melon #1 By Rival Fans’ Chart Manipulation, Claims Go Viral

“What are we supposed to do?”

A viral post on TheQoo has sparked debate after BTS fans claimed that rival fandoms are using a “reverse streaming” tactic to prevent the group from reclaiming Melon’s #1 spot with “SWIM.”

| GQ Magazine

The claim came after IVE’s “Bang Bang” rose to No.1 on Melon’s daily chart.

| TheQoo

According to the post, BTS fans believe that fans of groups like NewJeans, BLACKPINK, EXO, BIGBANG, and SEVENTEEN are allegedly streaming “Bang Bang” to intentionally drag “SWIM” down.

Mass reverse-streaming? What kind of bullsh*t is this? Hey, is this really a comeback? Maybe I’ve had it easy stanning all this time because of COVID. Seniors, please help, what are we supposed to do?

— Fan via X

| TheQoo 

Honestly, I’m not even surprised about the reverse streaming. It’s always been like this, people are so busy trying to drag others down. What can we do? We just have to quietly keep doing what we can. All that energy spent on things you hate is pointless and honestly just not a good look.

— Fan via X

| TheQoo

It’s not just happening domestically, people overseas are coordinating reverse streaming and reverse buying too. Seriously, that’s low. It just shows how big BTS really is. In the end, we only have each other.

— Fan via X

| TheQoo

Reverse streaming is a fan-coined term describing a supposed tactic where listeners play an artist’s song not out of interest, but to manipulate chart rankings against another artist. However, the viral post noted that the number of IVE listeners hasn’t increased, and BTS’s drop is more likely due to normal listening trends.

Melon listeners change per hour. | TheQoo

Many netizens are skeptical of the conspiracy theory, pointing out that even fans rarely stream their own favorite songs consistently, making coordinated reverse streaming across multiple fandoms highly unlikely.

| TheQoo

• “BTS’s comeback flopped, and ARMYs have seriously lost it. Worst fandom.”
• “They’re seriously idiots.”
• “Honestly, they’re mentally unwell. How do you even come up with the idea that a multi-fandom alliance could pull off reverse streaming???”
• “It’s just that the general public + other fandoms aren’t listening;;; lol I haven’t even listened to it once. I’m not even curious about the song;;”
• “They stan a company that pulls the most shady stuff, yet they’re always obsessed with conspiracy theories.”

BTS