2023 has been a good year for music fans across the globe.

This year, we were treated to fresh tunes and a mesmerising concert from SixTONES, unstoppable debuts like that of MIDNATT's and BTS' Jungkook with his single 'SEVEN', and massive world tours from Coldplay, SEVENTEEN, TWICE, ENHYPEN, Fujii Kaze, and more. The buzz from all that excitement is still fresh and we're thrilled that you're in this with us.

Without you, our dear readers, we won't be able to do what we do best and that's delivering stories featuring artists from the region and beyond. Here's a rundown of the biggest stories that rose in 2023:

J-pop Rising

2023 saw J-pop acts making their way out into the world. SixTONES talked to us about life as J-pop idols and their album, Koe. We also had the opportunity to witness their live prowess in person, as we attended their first-ever Dome Tour in Japan. 

A big year for global J-pop acts, Bandwagon was able to watch BE:FIRST's 1st One Man Tour "BE:1" online, leaving us in awe of the group's stellar performances.

Artist Debuts

This year, BTS' Jungkook made his first official solo outing with the massive hit single 'SEVEN'. The Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping track piqued everyone's interest with fans eager to learn more about the stellar team behind the song's composition, production, choreography, and music video.

A slightly more controversial artist debut, Lee Hyun's emergence as MIDNATT garnered attention as HYBE's first artist aided by Artificial Intelligence (AI). In an interview with Bandwagon, the 'Masquerade' act shares his transformation journey from Lee Hyun to MIDNATT, getting vocal inspiration from the likes of BTS' Jungkook and Frank Ocean, and finding the balance between the organic and the artificial. 

All Things BTS

BTS might be on a break, but this has to be one of the busiest years for the members. SUGA, Jimin, V, and Jungkook all made their official solo debuts with their own albums. RM and J-hope pushed out different kinds of projects, from film to fashion to music. SUGA took D-DAY on a world tour, and Jungkook performed GOLDEN for a Weverse livestream with millions of ARMY tuned in.

Even as all members entered military service earlier this month, the group hasn't stopped releasing new music (Jimin dropped a farewell single, V is releasing a new collaboration with Umi, and Jin's first solo album is reportedly due in 2024), videos, and even a docu-series. 

All seven members are expected to reunite in 2025, but in the meantime, we can be sure to never run out of BTS projects to keep us company. 

Thai BL Breakout Stars

BrightWin topped headlines in the past years, and in 2023 they continued to be at the top of their game, albeit apart. This year saw the power duo from 2gether: The Series part ways with Bright Vachirawit leaving GMMTV to set up his own company, Cloud9 Entertainment and signing with Universal Music Thailand for his musical projects.

Meanwhile, Win Metawin takes his music to another level, joining GMMTV's RISER MUSIC with new single, 'Too Late.'

Thai superstar Jeff Satur is also making waves this year, breaking out of KinnPorsche stardom, participating in Chinese reality show Call Me By Fire Season 3 and releasing a Chinese version of his hit single, 'Fade'. He is also set to appear as a mentor in CHUANG ASIA Thailand and embark on his first Asia tour starting February 2024.

Thai indie-pop rock trio Tilly Birds, whose hit single 'Just Being Friendly' feat. MILLI has been featured on BL series, My School President, has had quite a year. Despite their last album It's Gonna Be OK coming out in 2021, the band has kept themselves busy in 2023. Their schedule was filled with dozens of local shows within Thailand, packed concerts across Asia – Laos, Singapore, Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and well-received performances at the region's largest music festivals – South Korea's Busan Rock Festival and Hong Kong's Clockenflap, making themselves known beyond Thai BL soundtracks and garnering more fans across Asia.

Friends Online

Sometime in January 2023, our social media timelines were filled with our Bondee rooms and avatars. For an entire week, we were kept busy decorating our rooms and connecting with friends on the virtual social networking app by Metadream. 

Concert and Tour Announcements

2023 was the year of one tour announcement after another. From Taylor Swift's only concert stop in Southeast Asia to the Asia tour announcements of SEVENTEEN, TWICE, BLACKPINK, ATEEZ, Taeyeon, NCT Dream, Coldplay, ENHYPEN, Stray Kids, Agust D, Fujii Kaze, Ed Sheeran, ONE OK ROCK, Daniel Caesar, and more, fans were clamouring for more information on how to get tickets for their faves' concerts.

SB19

SB19 made headlines in 2023 for their TikTok viral hit, 'GENTO,' latest EP, Pagtatag!, world tour, and their newfound freedom and independence. 

HYBE Insight: The Daydream Believers

Earlier this year, HYBE Insight closed down its original venue in Yongsan. For its first exhibition since its relocation to Gangnam-gu, the museum hosted The Daydream Believers from June to August. The series recently made its way to Japan in November. 

Good Vibes Festival 2023

Good Vibes Festival was celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. They pulled out all the stops for the milestone, not knowing they wouldn't get to finish the weekend. Days 2 and 3 were cancelled due to the "controversial conduct and remarks" by The 1975's Matty Healy. International and local artists were forced to cancel their performances, including The Strokes who were scheduled to headline Day 3.

The festival organisers have since issued a letter of claim addressed to The 1975, as well as appealed to their community to help ease the costs and repercussions of the cancellation.

Bandwagon's Best of 2023 series continues this January 2024 with Top Gigs of 2023 and Top J-pop and K-pop b-sides of 2023.