Cortis Asks Fans to Put Phones Down at Concerts — SkimNews
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- Cortis kicked off their "Put Your Phone Down" global tour in Incheon, South Korea on July 18, with stops planned in New York, Los Angeles, and Seoul later this month.
- Fans pushed back against the anti-filming message; 22-year-old Park Ji-yeon rented a top-tier smartphone specifically to record both days in highest quality, having spent over one million won ($700; £520) on tickets, transport, and accommodation.
- Cortis reportedly softened their stance on the tour's second day, with band members saying filming was okay but asking fans to adopt a "put your phone down" mindset and enjoy the moment together.
- Fancams — zoomed-in videos focusing on a single celebrity — remain prized social currency in K-pop communities, where clips are studied for choreography and subtle expressions, fueling frustration with the band's stance.
- Cortis debuted under BigHit Music (the label behind BTS), performed at Lollapalooza Chicago over the weekend, and features mostly teenage members, with the oldest, James, just 20 years old.
- Other artists have made similar or more extreme anti-phone pleas: Phoebe Bridgers and Alicia Keys required phone lock pouches, Suede's Brett Anderson leapt a barricade in 2023 to grab fans' phones, and BTS's Jungkook told audiences to "stop looking at your phone screen."
Why it matters: The clash exposes a growing tension in live music between artists wanting genuine fan connection and fans who treat concert footage as irreplaceable personal archives. Cortis, backed by BTS's label BigHit Music, has enough industry clout to shape norms for newer K-pop acts, but their day-two retreat after backlash from fans who paid $700+ suggests the "no phones" movement hits its limit when premium ticket prices are at stake.
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