BTS is extending its long-running success on Billboard's main song chart, the Hot 100, entering the Top 10 for the fourth consecutive week.
According to a chart preview article published on the official website of U.S. music magazine Billboard on Monday, "SWIM," the title track of BTS's fifth full-length album "ARIRANG," ranked No. 10 on the Hot 100 (dated April 25). Since entering the chart at No. 1 on the edition dated the 4th, the song has maintained its upper-chart position for a month amid a barrage of new releases from major pop stars, solidifying its standing as a "global hit." On the Digital Song Sales chart, it held the top spot for a fourth week.
The Hot 100 is a chart that evenly reflects U.S. streaming figures, radio airplay points, and sales data. It is therefore the most intuitive indicator of mainstream popularity. The long-running success on the Hot 100 is seen as evidence that the listener base for BTS's music has significantly expanded. Industry observers interpret this as the result of the new album's message, which addresses universal emotions that anyone can relate to, striking a chord with global mainstream tastes.
The album's performance is also remarkable. According to a chart preview article released by Billboard on the 20th, "ARIRANG" ranked No. 3 on the main album chart, the Billboard 200, marking its fourth consecutive week in the Top 3. The new album has far exceeded the fourth-week record previously set by the group's sixth mini-album "MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA" (No. 8), setting a new career high. Holding Top 10 positions on both of Billboard's main charts for a month demonstrates the group's stature as a "global musician."
BTS's mainstream popularity, proven on the charts, has extended to the concert scene, resulting in a string of sold-out shows. All 46 performances of the "BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG'" — covering Korea, Japan, North America and Europe — have sold out. The world tour began on the 9th at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium and drew more than 240,000 attendees in Goyang and Tokyo. The "BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG'" will be held on a scale of 85 performances across 34 cities worldwide.
Meanwhile, BTS is expanding its "BTS THE CITY ARIRANG" project, which transforms entire cities into festival grounds, to a global scale, riding the momentum of its world tour. Having started in Seoul, "THE CITY ARIRANG" will be held as a global festival in Las Vegas in May and in Busan, Korea, in June.
