BTS achieved another career high. The remarkable sales of the fifth studio album "Arirang" (ARIRANG) proved their global popularity and influence that made the 3-year, 9-month hiatus feel nonexistent.
According to Hanteo Chart, a record sales tracking site, Arirang, released on the 20th, surpassed first-week sales (sales in the week after release) of 4,169,464 copies, setting a new team record. This far exceeds the first-week sales of 3,370,000 copies for the fourth studio album MAP OF THE SOUL : 7, released in Feb. 2020. The new album became a million-seller in about 10 minutes after release and sold 3,980,000 copies on its first day alone. With that, it recorded the highest sales among albums released in 2026 in just one day. The explosive expectations of music fans around the world who had awaited BTS were proven by these staggering figures.
Momentum on global streaming platforms is also overwhelming. On Apple Music, as of the 21st, the album topped album charts in 102 countries/regions, including the United States, Japan, Germany and Mexico. As of the 27th, it has swept No. 1 in 115 countries/regions, confirming the global "Arirang" craze. In particular, based on first-day figures, the new album recorded the highest number of streams among BTS's albums. At the same time, they became the most-streamed artist on Apple Music that day. The title track "SWIM" held the No. 1 spot for six consecutive days (March 20-25) on Spotify's "Daily Top Songs Global."
Their influence in the Japanese music market is also dominant. Arirang shot to No. 1 on the Oricon "weekly combined album ranking" for the week of March 30, marking the group's seventh No. 1 work overall, a major record. At the same time, it recorded the highest weekly sales among foreign artists this year. It also swept Oricon's major charts, taking the "weekly album ranking" and "weekly digital album ranking," achieving a triple crown on Oricon's main charts.
This album, executive produced by chairman Bang Si-hyuk, delves deeply into BTS's identity and the universal emotions encountered while living life. The title track "SWIM" sings of continuing to swim forward without stopping amid life's waves, delivering a message of deep empathy and consolation to listeners worldwide.
Meanwhile, BTS held a special event, Spotify X BTS: SWIMSIDE, on the rooftop of Pier 17 in New York on the 24th and met local fans. While waiting for BTS, the audience sang the album track "Body to Body," and when the section containing the folk song "Arirang" played, they sang along in unison, attracting attention. In Seoul, the BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SEOUL project is currently underway. The project has turned the entire city into a space for enjoying culture and the arts, creating a festival enjoyed by both fans and residents.<
[Photo] BigHit Music
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