BTS proved their enduring popularity with a comeback after three years and nine months, leaving a significant mark on the music industry.
According to Billboard, BTS’s fifth studio album ‘ARIRANG’ and its title track ‘SWIM’ topped the main song chart ‘Hot 100’ for the chart dated April 4.
This marks the group’s seventh No. 1 song, following hits like ‘Dynamite,’ ‘Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat) (BTS Remix),’ ‘Life Goes On,’ ‘Butter,’ ‘Permission to Dance,’ and ‘My Universe (Coldplay X BTS).’
With this achievement, BTS now holds the fifth most No. 1 hits among groups on the ‘Hot 100’ since its inception in August 1958, following The Beatles (20 songs), The Supremes (12 songs), The Bee Gees, and The Rolling Stones (8 songs).
On the ‘Global (excluding the US)’ chart, they set an unprecedented record by occupying the entire Top 10 with tracks from ‘ARIRANG.’
They successfully claimed all top 10 ranks with ‘ARIRANG’ tracks, dominating up to 13th place. This achievement surpasses previous records held by Taylor Swift (9 songs) and Bad Bunny (3 songs) simultaneously, marking a first in chart history.
‘ARIRANG’ also topped the main album chart ‘Billboard 200’ for the chart dated April 4.
This marks the first time in approximately six years, since their 2020 mini-album ‘BE’ and its title track ‘Life Goes On,’ that they have simultaneously topped both the ‘Billboard 200’ and ‘Hot 100.’ They are also the first group ever to debut both a song and an album at No. 1 more than twice.
Following the release of their fifth album on the 20th, the group held a comeback show the next day, April 21, at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. This marked the first solo artist performance held there, drawing mixed reactions.
While praised for boosting cultural status through global fan engagement, the event drew criticism due to excessive crowd control around Gwanghwamun Square on the day of the performance, citing safety concerns and causing public inconvenience. Additionally, suspicions were raised regarding attendance figures being significantly lower than initial estimates.
Despite the controversy surrounding the Gwanghwamun performance, BTS once again proved their superstar dominance.
Leaving an indelible mark on the charts, BTS is set to kick off a new world tour next month, starting in Goyang, with a total of 81 shows across 34 cities. Major performances, including those at Goyang Sports Complex and Japan’s Tokyo Dome, as well as dates in North America and Europe, have already sold out.
Image source: Big Hit Music, Korea Online Press Photographers Association.
