The global music market is once again being dyed "purple." After a long hiatus of 3 years and 9 months, BTS declared a full-group comeback with their fifth studio album "Arirang (ARIRANG)," and they have perfectly proven the "return of the king" with astounding results pouring in day after day.
BTS's power was proven by the numbers immediately after the album's release. According to Hanteo Chart, a music sales tracking site, on the 27th, the newly released album "Arirang," released on the 20th, surpassed first-week sales (sales in the week after release) of 4,169,464 copies. This is the group's highest first-week record, far surpassing the first-week record of about 3.37 million copies for their fourth studio album "MAP OF THE SOUL : 7," released in February 2020, which swept the world.
In particular, the momentum of becoming a million-seller in just 10 minutes after release and selling 3.98 million copies on the first day alone makes it hard to find a comparison in this year's music scene. It is the result of the explosive firepower of the global fandom that has long awaited BTS's music.
The achievements on global charts are even more overwhelming. According to data released by Spotify on the 26th, the number of users who listened to BTS's songs for the first time after the new release increased by more than 690%. The title track "SWIM" was streamed 14,644,352 times on Spotify on its first day, far surpassing the records of their mega hits "Butter (1.3 times)" and "Dynamite (1.9 times)." "SWIM" has held the No. 1 spot on Spotify's "Daily Top Songs Global" chart for six consecutive days.
Apple Music charts are also a solo stage for BTS. As of the 27th, the album topped album charts in a cumulative 115 countries and regions, recorded the most streams ever on its first day of release, and was the most-streamed artist that day. On Apple Music's "Global Top 100" chart, they lined up the new album's tracks from No. 1 to No. 5, showcasing the majesty of a "world class" act.
The response in neighboring Japan is also hot. "Arirang" swept Oricon's "weekly combined album ranking," "weekly album ranking," and "weekly digital album ranking," achieving a triple crown and setting the record for the highest weekly sales this year among foreign artists.
Not only their chart performance but also the scale and quality of their global promotion are overwhelming. BTS connected with global fans at the "Spotify X BTS: SWIMSIDE" event held at New York's Pier 17 on the 24th. Their appearance on a symbolic stage where legendary artists such as Jay-Z and Eminem have stood, wearing traditional Korean ornaments, left a deep impression. In particular, fans breaking into a mass singalong during the section of the track that includes the folk song "Arirang" created a spectacular scene.
They then appeared as a full group on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on the 26th and 27th, reuniting with Jimmy Fallon for the first time in 4 years and 8 months. Their "SWIM" performance, which used the entire Guggenheim Museum as a stage, captivated local viewers, and they also naturally spread Korean floor-sitting culture as "cultural diplomats" by gifting Fallon K-slippers and placing cushions in the audience.
BTS reaffirmed their top position by proving their unwavering influence with their fifth studio album "Arirang," which was executive produced by chairman Bang Si-hyuk and actively featured the members. The members themselves showed strong confidence about future world tours and other activities; starting with promotions for this fifth studio album, expectations are rising about what new paths they will pioneer in the global music market.
[Photo] Big Hit Music, Todd Owyoung/NBC
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