BTS continues their reign on the US Billboard charts! Their latest single, “Swim,” has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, Billboard announced on Monday.
According to a Billboard chart preview, “Swim,” the lead track from BTS’s fifth full-length album, “Arirang,” landed the coveted No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 chart dated April 4th. This marks the group’s seventh chart-topping hit, surpassing Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” and Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” to claim the top position.
“Swim” joins a prestigious list of BTS songs that have previously reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, including “Dynamite,” “Savage Love,” “Life Goes On,” “Butter,” “Permission to Dance,” and “My Universe.” This latest achievement further cements their status as global music icons.
Billboard reports that “Swim” garnered 15.3 million streams, 25.8 million radio audience impressions, and a combined 154,000 digital and physical album sales during the tracking period ending March 26th. The track also debuted at No. 2 on the Streaming Songs chart and No. 18 on the Radio Songs chart – both the group’s highest entries to date in those categories. Furthermore, “Swim” topped the Digital Song Sales chart for the 13th time, showcasing its widespread popularity.
With seven No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 chart, BTS now ranks among the groups with the most chart-topping songs in Billboard history. The Beatles lead the way with an impressive 20 No. 1 hits, followed by the Supremes with 12, and the Bee Gees and the Rolling Stones, who are tied with eight.
Adding to their success, Billboard also announced on Sunday that “Arirang” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, marking the group’s seventh No. 1 album. This is BTS’s first simultaneous No. 1 on both the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts since 2020, when “Life Goes On” and the album “Be” topped the charts in the same week.
Other artists who have achieved the impressive feat of holding the No. 1 spot on both charts simultaneously include Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and Drake.
“Arirang,” released on March 20th, signifies the end of a three-year hiatus from full-group activities for BTS. The 14-track album delves into BTS’s identity as a group that originated in Korea and explores the universal emotions the members have experienced throughout their journey. “Swim” encapsulates the challenges of life, with lyrics co-written by member RM.
