Global music fans' intense interest in BTS's new release is being proven by the numbers.
According to HYBE Music Group label BigHit Music, BTS's fifth full-length album "ARIRANG" (Arirang) surpassed 4 million pre-saves on the global audio·music streaming platform Spotify on the 7th. After exceeding 1 million pre-saves two days after the start of pre-save, it continued a steady rise to 4 million. Attention is focused on how far the pre-save numbers will rise during the two weeks remaining until the new release.
"ARIRANG" once again ranked No. 1 on Spotify's "Countdown Charts Global" on the 4th, holding the top spot for seven consecutive weeks. This chart is an indicator that aggregates pre-save numbers for albums and singles ahead of release. It is used as a standard for gauging global music fans' expectations.
BTS will release "ARIRANG" at 1 p.m. on March 20 and hold "BTS comeback live: ARIRANG" (BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE｜ARIRANG) around Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul at 8 p.m. the next day on the 21st. This stage will be broadcast live on Netflix so listeners around the world can enjoy it together. The previously released trailer video contained the cheers of ARMY (the fandom name) that echoed at past concerts and visuals of the seven members against the backdrop of Gyeongbokgung, heightening expectations to the maximum.
Meanwhile, the new release will include 14 tracks that let listeners feel "the current BTS." The title track "SWIM" sings about the attitude of swimming forward without stopping amid life's waves. It expresses the will to calmly get through the incoming flow at one's own pace as a "love of life." RM handled most of the lyrics, adding authenticity to the song's message.
[Photo] Provided by Spotify
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