BTS's album 'ARIRANG' hits No. 1 on Billboard 200, setting records in sales and streaming, showcasing their global popularity.
March/30/2026 15:35
BTS has once again reached the top of the U.S. 'Billboard 200' with 'ARIRANG'. Furthermore, they have set numerous new records on Billboard, proving their widespread popularity. According to a chart preview article published on the official website of the U.S. music media Billboard on the 30th (local time), BTS's 5th full album 'ARIRANG' has won 1st place on the main album chart 'Billboard 200' (dated April 4). The media reported that 'ARIRANG' recorded 641,000 album units, debuting on the chart. This is the best weekly performance for a group album since the introduction of unit counting in December 2014.' It continued, 'Of these, 532,000 copies were pure album sales (physical and digital purchases). BTS also recorded the highest weekly sales for a group album in about 10 years in this category. SEA units (sales converted from streaming counts) were 95,000 units, achieving the best weekly streaming performance among their works.' The sales volume in the first week of 'ARIRANG' was driven by physical albums. Physical sales reached 516,000 copies, of which vinyl records sold 208,000 copies, setting a new record for the group's weekly sales. This is the highest weekly sales volume for a group in terms of analog records since the counting began in 1991. In addition, 'ARIRANG' also went straight to No. 1 in 'Top Album Sales' and 'Top Streaming Albums'. As a result, BTS achieved their 7th No. 1 on the 'Billboard 200'. They first topped the chart as a Korean artist with their 3rd album 'LOVE YOURSELF 轉 “Tear”' in 2018, followed by 'LOVE YOURSELF 結 “Answer”' (2018), 'MAP OF THE SOUL : PERSONA' (2019), 'MAP OF THE SOUL : 7' (2020), 'BE' (2020), and 'Proof' (2022). The momentum of 'ARIRANG', released on the 20th of this month, is spreading worldwide. In Japan, it dominated the Oricon 'Weekly Combined Album Ranking', 'Weekly Album Ranking', 'Weekly Digital Album Ranking', and 'Weekly Western Album Ranking' (dated March 30). It also debuted at No. 1 on the UK Official Chart 'Official Album Top 100' (dated March 27 - April 3). Furthermore, it topped the French Record Association (SNEP) 'Top Albums' (dated March 20-26), and the Australian ARIA 'Top 50 Albums' and 'Vinyl Chart'. In Germany's official music chart (Offizielle Deutsche Charts / dated March 27), it achieved No. 1 in both the album and single charts. BTS is the first group in the chart's history to simultaneously conquer these two categories. The title track 'SWIM' maintained No. 1 on Spotify's 'Daily Top Songs Global' for 9 consecutive days (March 20-28). It also reached No. 2 on the UK 'Official Single Top 100', setting a new highest rank for the group. 'ARIRANG' is an album that embodies BTS's identity and the universal emotions they have faced. The title track 'SWIM' sings about the attitude of continuing to swim without stopping amidst the rough waves of life. RM is responsible for all the lyrics, delivering 'the story we want to tell now'.
Related Articles
In April, CS Home Drama Channel showcases hit dramas like 'Good is Bad, Dongjae' starring Lee Jun-kyuk, 'Kokdu's Season' with Kim Jong-hyun, and 'Talimi Family.' The channel also airs an encore of 'Hwarang' featuring Park Seo-joon and BTS's V. Don't miss the exciting line-up!
In a YouTube video, BTS's V reflects on his upbringing in Gyeongju, his family's support, and his journey to becoming a star. He humorously recalls dancing for pocket money and reveals his father's unfulfilled dream of becoming a celebrity, contrasting it with his own success.
In a recent video, BTS members shared their honest reactions to their new title track "SWIM" from the album "ARIRANG." While some expressed concerns about the song's tempo and direction, others provided positive feedback. The group reflected on past experiences with fan reactions, emphasizing their growth and maturity in music. The album has already achieved significant sales and chart success.
BTS has announced a stadium tour in South America, set to begin in October. They will perform 11 shows across 5 cities, including Bogotá, Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo. This marks their first visit to Colombia, Peru, and Argentina as a full group. Local media highlights the cultural impact of BTS and predicts economic benefits from the concerts.
In the Netflix documentary 'BTS: THE RETURN', BTS members discuss their desire for more Korean lyrics in their new album 'ARIRANG'. SUGA and J-HOPE emphasize the importance of authenticity, while BIGHIT's Kim Hyun-jung advocates for English lyrics for global appeal. RM expresses concerns about time constraints for English pronunciation. The album, released on the 20th, reflects the members' identities and emotions, with the title track 'SWIM' featuring entirely English lyrics.
BTS released a live clip for their new song 'SWIM', filmed in a traditional hanok space in Seoul. The performance beautifully merges traditional aesthetics with modern dance, enhanced by immersive lighting. Their recent album 'ARIRANG' reflects their roots and aims to resonate deeply with listeners, much like the timeless folk song it’s named after.
In a recent interview, RM expressed gratitude to his BTS members for their 14-year journey together. He shared experiences from their recent songwriting sessions in LA, highlighting the importance of their bond and teamwork. RM emphasized the challenges of maintaining unity and the joy of living together again after years of independence. V also shared insights on adapting to their creative routine in LA, while RM noted the positive impact of the environment on their work. BTS is set to release their 5th album 'ARIRANG' and embark on a world tour soon.
BTS's 5th album 'ARIRANG' debuted at #1 on the UK Official Albums Chart, marking their third #1 album. The title track 'SWIM' reached #2 on the singles chart, surpassing previous hits. They also topped global Spotify charts and achieved #1 in Australia, showcasing their dominance in the music industry.
On the morning of the 28th, BTS returned to Korea via Incheon International Airport after completing their overseas schedule. They released their remix album 'KEEP SWIMMING' today, featuring diverse arrangements by the seven members. Additionally, V and Jungkook showcased a dance inspired by a pose created by Snow Man, raising expectations for the April 3rd broadcast of 'Sore Snow.'
BTS released the remix album "KEEP SWIMMING" today, featuring 9 tracks including remixes of their title song "SWIM" from their latest album. Each member contributed unique styles, from RM's chill hip-hop to J-HOPE's Afrobeat. They also premiered a documentary on Netflix about their music journey and won awards at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.
