Stray Kids and Jimin of BTS have made history on the Billboard 200 chart. Stray Kids has secured the top spot for the fifth time with their latest mini-album “ATE,” while Jimin has earned the number two spot for the second consecutive album. This marks the first time that a K-pop act has simultaneously held the first and second positions on the Billboard 200, showcasing the growing global influence of K-pop.
Stray Kids and Jimin Achieve Historic Billboard 200 Rankings
Stray Kids has clinched the top spot on the prestigious Billboard 200 chart for the fifth time with their latest mini-album, “ATE.” Concurrently, BTS member Jimin has secured the second position on the chart for two consecutive albums. This marks the first time that a K-pop act has simultaneously held the first and second spots on the Billboard 200.
Stray Kids’ “ATE” Dominates the Charts
Released on July 19th, “ATE” garnered over 232,000 album-equivalent units, securing the number one spot on the August 3rd Billboard 200 chart. This achievement is largely attributed to the album’s strong physical sales, which accounted for over 218,000 units, along with significant streaming equivalent albums (SEA) and track equivalent albums (TEA).
JYP Entertainment Dominates the Billboard 200
“ATE” boasts the highest first-week sales of any K-pop album this year. As one of the few predominantly non-English language albums to top the Billboard 200, “ATE” joins TWICE’s “With You-th” as the second such album this year. Both Stray Kids and TWICE are under JYP Entertainment, highlighting the agency’s dominance in the global music market. Stray Kids has now achieved the remarkable feat of topping the Billboard 200 five times in just 28 months since their first entry.
Jimin’s “Muse” Maintains Strong Performance
Jimin’s solo album, “Muse,” has maintained its strong performance on the Billboard 200, securing the second spot for the second consecutive week. This achievement is particularly impressive considering that Jimin is currently serving in the military and has limited promotional activities. The title track, “Who,” is also expected to make its sixth appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Enthusiastic Reception in the Korean Community
News of this achievement has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm in the Korean community. On the popular online community forum, theqoo, members have left over 200 congratulatory comments. There is particular delight in seeing Stray Kids and Jimin simultaneously securing the top two spots on the “Billboard 200” chart.
Given the current trend in the United States, where physical album sales are declining, it is impressive that Stray Kids’ “ATE” has surpassed 200,000 copies. It’s noted that apart from artists with dedicated fanbases, the physical album market is nearly non-existent. With many people no longer owning CD players, the situation does not favor high album sales.
The Billboard album chart now accounts for streaming, equating 1,500 streams to one album sale, which helps local artists achieve decent chart positions. Jimin’s fans are also celebrating his success, particularly because he has achieved this while on hiatus due to his military service.
Here’s a link to theqoo.I appreciate you taking the time to read this post. Please share your thoughts in the comments!
With eight really gorgeous graphics and incredibly upbeat singing, this is undoubtedly a masterpiece in and of itself.I’m really proud of you, SKZ Kings; you deserve the whole world.