How to stream BTS’ sold-out California show online

RM (left), Jungkook, V, Jimin, Jin, J-Hope, and Suga of BTS perform during the 2021 American Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 21, at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Photo: Kevin Winter / Getty Images for MRC

I’m not crying. You’re crying.

The pop music event of the year is coming and, alas, it’s in Los Angeles. BTS — the South Korean pop juggernaut, McDonald’s menu influencers and 2021 American Music Awards trophy collectors (artist of the year, favorite pop duo or group, favorite pop song) — is scheduled to perform four concerts on Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 27-28, and Wednesday-Thursday, Dec. 1-2, at L.A.’s SoFi Stadium.

These are BTS’ first in-person stadium shows since the 2019 “Love Yourself/Speak Yourself” tour. The 2020 “Map of the Soul” world tour, with two nights originally scheduled for Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara for April, was scrapped due to the ongoing pandemic. Yet during the group’s forced hiatus, BTS’ profile continued to rise.

Jimin (left), J-Hope, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Suga, and V of BTS perform during the 2021 American Music Awards in Los Angeles. Photo: Kevin Winter / Getty Images for MRC

The seven members of the band — Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook — scored international hit after hit (“Dynamite,” “Life Goes On,” “Butter,” “Permission to Dance”), publicly aligned themselves with social movements (Black Lives Matter, Stop Asian Hate, addressing climate change) and collaborated with superstars Coldplay (“My Universe”) and Megan Thee Stallion (“Butter (Megan Thee Stallion Remix)”). The group also received a Grammy nomination on Tuesday, Nov. 23, for best pop duo/group performance.

All this activity culminates next week, highlighting what they do best at their “BTS Permission to Dance On Stage — L.A.” shows.

Tickets quickly sold out, leaving many disappointed fans, known collectively as ARMY, in the ranks. The good news is that the final night of the group’s Southern California run will be streamed live online. The streaming service Venewlive is offering three ways to watch, two requiring official ARMY fan club membership and the other for civilians. And, yes, it costs money.

Here’s how it breaks down. Visit the Venewlive site for full details:

ARMY membership

  • 4K single view + HD multi-view for 59,500 South Korean won, or around $50. This is basically the equivalent of what the Jumbotron in SoFi Stadium will be showing, plus additional HD multi-view options. (Limited quantities)
  • HD multi-view for 49,500 won or about $44. This allows you to toggle between different camera angles.

To access these streams, you need to be a current registered ARMY fan club member in good standing (29,500 won, or about $30, available on Weverse).

Chris Martin of Coldplay (center) performs with J-Hope (left), Jin, V, Jungkook, Jimin, Suga, and RM of BTS during the 2021 American Music Awards in Los Angeles. Photo: Kevin Winter / Getty Images for MRC

General tier

  • HD single view for 49,500 won (about $41)

No official ARMY membership needed. If you want to watch the BTS concert online and not stress about which multi-view angles highlight V’s features best, the single-view tier will be fine. You get the same feed from the Jumbotron inside the stadium.

With their positive messages and outward vulnerability, BTS helped a lot of music fans cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In turn, BTS thrived off ARMY’s resilience, generosity and support. The moment the lights dim and the curtain drops, prepare to witness an emotional exchange of gratitude, with epic singalongs, chants and choreography. Joyful tears will rain — in the crowd, onstage, in Bay Area living rooms — and that’s not fake love.

BTS Permission to Dance On Stage — Los Angeles Online Stream: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec 2. $41.97-$50.45 through Weverse. https://venewlive.com

  • Todd Inoue
    Todd Inoue Todd Inoue writes about music and culture. Twitter: @nattotodd.