Legacy

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See also: "The name Big Bang alone carries significant weight in K-pop. It took about a decade for Big Bang to evolve from a young idol group into a quintet of cultural icons. [...] The fashion-conscious, song-and-dance-loving artists became trendsetters, producing a variety of hip-hop tracks. Everything from their outfits to their hairstyles immediately became the standard. It was not just in Korea either. Big Bang reached beyond Asia, and the members have grown to be truly global stars. [...] Big Bang's first 10 years have been overwhelming and left an indelible mark on Korean pop music history." — Beyond Magazine

Big Bang were the first Korean mainstream idols, being credited for the genre spreading throughout Asia as a representative of the . have called them "the icons of Korean pop [music]", and cited how 's rise to one of the most accomplished songwriters in K-pop "has inspired many young idol-wannabes to become singer-songwriters." stated that the quintet has helped "spread K-pop as a cultural brand spanning the U.S., Europe, Latin America and the Middle East." In 2011, declared that "K-pop bands, including Big Bang, are making their mark around the world," citing the group's contribution to YG Entertainment's economic growth. After the group won the 2011 for , announced that its subsidiary YouTube would launch its own K-pop channel in recognition of the popularity and success of K-pop. The British daily newspaper also published an article discussing the importance of how the win had "shed light on the rise of Korean music across Europe." Jacques Peterson from credited their success for giving a "idiosyncratic twist" on their genre that breaks the mould of the formula. Suk Park, the president of , has hailed them as the vanguard of K-pop. have described Big Bang as a rare group that "both innovates and defines the direction a genre takes," affirming that the group and its solo acts "have left a musical imprint that has affected the global music market." Mark James Russell, an entertainment journalist based in Seoul, praised the group for defying categorization, stating how "[o]f all the mainstream acts, they're doing the most to push boundaries of what is considered K-pop." Anna Fifield from claimed that they "have defined and redefined South Korean pop music. They've defied the idea that so-called K-Pop is inevitably sugarcoated and factory-produced, and that boy bands are all about pretty faces and lip-synching." praised their constant re-imagination of sound and image, calling Big Bang as "one of the most inventive, aesthetically visionary acts in its genre." In an article published for the quintet's tenth anniversary, stated that "no act has enthralled the Korean music world in the past decade quite like Big Bang"later adding that they have "shaped the Korean music industry" and were enabled to "surpass international boundaries and shirk off the limitations of K-pop's youth-focused industry."

In recognition of their global popularity, Big Bang is a prominent face of South Korea when it comes to tourism. Their Big Show concerts were promoted by the South Korean 's Visit Korea Committee from 2010 to 2012, crediting the group's "big economic impact on the country." In 2014, the national postal service of the country, , honored them by releasing official containning images of the group. In 2016, they were chosen as ambassadors for the country's "Creative Korea" tourism campaign. In 2016, Big Bang ranked second on magazine's polls for Most Influential People in the World, behind only American politician . The same year, listed the group at number 54 on their annual list of , having earned $44 million from June 2015 to June 2016. Becoming the first Korean act to appear on the list, the group had the third highest annual earnings ever for a boy band, behind only and . Big Bang was named one of the most influential artists to impact the by , being among the acts that best represent K-pop, and the "Top Male Idol Group in the Past 20 Years" in 's survey of both the Korean public and music critics. Additionally, they were the highest ranking musicians in 's "Most Powerful Figures In Korean Entertainment" list, placing at number four. In 2017, they became the first Korean artists to be included on list of musicians revolutionizing the modern music industry. Songs released by the group, such as "Lies" and "Fantastic Baby" are considered some of K-pop's biggests hits and most iconic songs ever. In their list of "The 21 Greatest K-Pop Songs of All Time," magazine lists "Bad Boy" at number thirteen and the song "" by the duo at number seven. "Fantastic Baby" ranked at number twenty-two in magazine's "50 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time" list. Additionally, "Fantastic Baby" placed second and "Love Song" thirteenth in 's list of "Best K-pop Videos." "Lies" was also chosen as the "Song of the Decade" by 's in 2014, and voted as the "Top Male Idol Song in the Past 20 Years" in 's survey of both the Korean public and music experts, that also ranked "Bae Bae", "Fantastic Baby" and "Day by Day" at fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.

Big Bang performing on their in September 2012

Their work, both as a group and soloists, have influenced numerous artists, including , , ,, , , , ,, , , , ,, , , ,, 's , 's U-Kwon,, and . The Chinese boy band OkBang was specifically fashioned after Big Bang and was stated to have "many similarities to Big Bang in terms of musical style, wardrobe and hairstyles." Filipino singer-actress draws inspirations from Big Bang and their stage presence when performing and acting. Rapper , the winner of , revealed he started rapping after listening to Big Bang, while started gaining popularity after covering the quintet.

Big Bang's influence extends beyond the music industry, shaping major trends in the fashion industry.Dubbed "Big Bang fashion," their style has gained a following throughout Asia, and became a cultural phenomenon in South Korea. The clothes that the members donned on stage are often copied and sold at . In 2011, Big Bang collaborated with Japanese clothing retailer to create a line of T-shirts which were quick to become sell-out items. called the members "five of the most daring, dapper dressers in the world," and praised their style for always being "bold, innovative and trend-setting." Their impact on was highlighted in 's exhibition in Seoul marking 100 years of the country's fashion history. While the quintet have established themselves as fashion icons, being named one of the most stylish boy bands of all time by western media, they have been criticized for hip-hop culture, specifically their use of clothes, color coordination, and hairstyles.

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