Globally recognized K-pop sensation BTS has asserted their presence on prominent weekly charts both in South Korea and abroad with their fifth studio album, 'Arirang'.
Data from Hanteo Chart, an authoritative album sales monitoring service, revealed on the 30th that BTS's 'Arirang' clinched the top position on the weekly global and album charts for the week of March 23-29. Remarkably, the album reached the apex of the charts within just three days post-release on March 20 and successfully retained its leading status for two consecutive weeks.
Visual representation of BTS [Image courtesy of Big Hit Music]
Billboard, a leading American music publication, reported on the 30th that 'Arirang' has secured the number one spot on its 'Billboard 200' chart dated April 4. Entering the chart with a remarkable 641,000 album units, this performance represents the most significant weekly achievement for a group album since the inception of unit tracking in December 2014. Notably, pure album sales, encompassing both physical copies and digital downloads, accounted for 532,000 of these units, establishing a new benchmark for weekly group album sales over the past decade.
The album's impact is evident on global music streaming platforms. BTS dominated Spotify's weekly charts for March 20-26, including 'Weekly Top Albums', 'Weekly Top Songs', and 'Weekly Top Artists'. The lead single 'SWIM' achieved the top position on the 'Weekly Top Songs Global' chart, with all 14 tracks from 'Arirang' securing positions within the top 30.
'SWIM' also maintained its supremacy on Spotify's 'Daily Top Songs Global' and Apple Music's 'Top 100 Global' for nine and seven consecutive days, respectively, from March 20-28 and March 23-29. The enduring popularity of all album tracks, even ten days post-release, highlights the widespread acclaim from international fans.
In parallel, BTS is scheduled to initiate the 'BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG'' at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium in South Korea on April 9, 11, and 12. Subsequent performances will occur in South America, including nations such as Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil, in October. An impressive feat, all 46 concert dates across Goyang, North America, Europe, and Tokyo, Japan, have sold out in advance, reflecting the group's formidable drawing power in the live music sector.