TNT (boy group)
TNT 时代少年团 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background information | |||||||
| Origin | Beijing, China | ||||||
| Genres | C-pop | ||||||
| Years active | 2019–present | ||||||
| Label | Time Fengjun Entertainment | ||||||
| Members |
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| Website | www | ||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 時代少年團 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 时代少年团 | ||||||
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Teens in Times (Chinese: 时代少年团; pinyin: Shídài shàonián tuán), abbreviated as TNT, is a Chinese boy group formed by Time Fengjun Entertainment. Members include Ma Jiaqi, Ding Chengxin, Song Yaxuan, Liu Yaowen, Zhang Zhenyuan, Yan Haoxiang, and He Junlin.[1][2][3] The group is one of China's most popular boy bands.[4][5][6]
Name
TNT's Chinese name literally translates to "Teen Group of the Times" or "Era Youth Group." The English name "Teens in Times" is only a conceptual adaptation rather than a direct translation, reflecting the group's identity as a representation of Chinese youth. In addition to the literal meaning, the acronym "TNT" not only stands for "Teens in Times" but also references the explosive compound trinitrotoluen.[7]
Career
2019–2020: Career beginnings
The group was created as a continuation of the inactive TFBoys and disbanded Typhoon Teens boy groups. Candidates for the new group were chosen via TF Entertainment's survival show "Typhoon Project" (Chinese: 台风蜕变之战; pinyin: Táifēng tuìbiàn zhī zhàn).[8][9]
On August 25, 2019, the seven members were announced. The group name was officially released on October 11, 2019.[9][10] TNT made their official debut on November 23, 2019, with the singles "School Bulletin" (全校通报) and "Endless Adventure" (无尽的冒险) and quickly gained a fanbase.[8]
2021–present: Breakthrough
TNT's extended play Juvenile Rivers & Lakes recorded over 630,000 pre-orders within 119 hours, generating ¥100 million CNY.[11] Their first studio album, Dancing With the Elephant, was released on July 18, 2021.
Image and style
TNT's music blends Mandopop with upbeat youth dance-pop, with choreography-driven stage performances aimed at teenage audiences.[12] The group's official fandom, known as "Popcorn" (爆米花), has accumulated over 12 million social media followers across Weibo and Douyin.[13]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| CHN TME [14] | ||
| Dancing With the Elephant (舞象之年) |
|
1 |
| Teens in (Utopia) (乌托邦少年) |
|
1 |
| Beyond Utopia (叁重楼) |
|
1 |
Awards
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tencent Music Entertainment Awards | 2019 | New Voice Generation Group | [8] |
| 2021 | Top 10 Songs of the Year ("I Want You to Take Care of It") | [15] | |
| 2022 | Top 10 Songs of the Year ("Ne Zha") | ||
| Group of the Year | |||
| Weibo Music Awards | 2022 | Most Influential Music Group | |
| 2023 | Most Influential Music Group | ||
| 2024 | Influential Group of the Year | ||
| Oriental Billboard Music Festival | 2020 | Best New Group Award | [8] |
| QQ Music BOOM BOOM Awards | 2020 | Popular Idol Group of the Year | |
| Tencent Video Starlight Awards | 2020 | Trend Group of the Year | |
| Weibo Night Awards | 2020 | Popular Group of the Year | |
| iQIYI Scream Night | 2019 | Annual Potential Combination of the Year | |
| Baidu Boiling Point Metaverse Night | 2022 | Influential Group of the Year | [16] |
References
- ^ "时代少年团出道曲《全校通报》酷狗首发 00后的独立宣言 – 中国日报网". China Daily. November 22, 2019. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ 新浪娱乐 (October 11, 2019). "时代少年团团名正式公布 TNT寓意未来火力全开|时代少年团|马嘉祺|丁程鑫_新浪娱乐_新浪网". ent.sina.com.cn. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
- ^ Liu, Nianwen (November 2023). "The Strategies of Chinese and Korean Entertainment Companies Attracting Fans to Consume-Comparing TIMES FENG JUN and YG Entertainment". ResearchGate. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
- ^ Yu, Shi (October 20, 2021). "Unhealthy idol worship in crosshairs". China Daily. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Rui, Zhang (April 13, 2024). "Chinese boy bands eye global stardom under new deal". China Internet Information Center. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Lim, Ainslyn (January 19, 2023). "Fans Of Chinese Boyband TNT Likened To Zombies After Rushing Into Plane Cabin Where The Boys Were Seated... While The Plane Was Still Moving". 8days. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
- ^ "时代少年团团名正式公布 TNT寓意未来火力全开_Teens". www.sohu.com. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Teens in Times/TNT – 時代少年團 (Shídài shàonián tuán) – CHIN 3343: Chinese Popular Culture Terms, Vol. 1". University of Houston Libraries. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ a b Zeng, Renee (July 18, 2023). "Teens in Times/TNT – 時代少年團 (Shídài shàonián tuán)". Chinese Popular Culture Terms.
- ^ Pop, Best C. (May 13, 2024). "Profile of TNT / Teens in Times". The Best C Pop. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Hartono, Cellilov (November 8, 2021). "TNT's debut EP breaks presale record with 630k+ copies". Medium.
- ^ Chinese Pop Weekly (2020). TNT's pop-dance style analysis (Report).
- ^ Social Media Analytics Co. (2022). TNT fandom size and demographics report (Report).
- ^ The TME Album Chart was launched in 2021.
- "TME Album Chart" (in Chinese). Tencent Music. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ "Universal Music Greater China Announces Strategic Relationship with C-Pop Powerhouse TF Entertainment". Universal Music. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "2024微博之夜得獎名單：趙麗穎榮膺QUEEN，沈騰加冕KING". United Daily News (in Chinese). January 13, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025.