(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with first-week sales record; ADDS photo)
By Shim Sun-ah
BTS’s highly anticipated new album, “Arirang,” released last Friday, has shattered records, surpassing their previous first-week sales milestone of 3.37 million copies achieved with “Map of the Soul: 7” in 2020.
First-week album sales are a significant indicator of an artist’s popularity and dedicated fanbase within the K-pop industry.
According to their agency, BigHit Music, “Arirang” achieved phenomenal success, selling 1 million copies within approximately 10 minutes of its release and a staggering 3.98 million copies on its first day, marking the highest first-day sales for any album released in 2026.
“Arirang” has dominated Apple Music, topping album charts in 115 countries and regions globally. The album also set a new record for the highest first-day streaming numbers of any BTS release, making them the most-streamed artist on Apple Music last Friday.
The lead single, “Swim,” has consistently held the No. 1 position on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global chart for six consecutive days, from March 20 to 25.
In Japan, “Arirang” debuted at the top of Oricon’s weekly combined album chart dated March 30, securing BTS’s seventh No. 1 album on the chart and becoming the best-selling release by an overseas artist this year. The album also topped Oricon’s weekly physical and digital album rankings, achieving a complete sweep of the chart’s major categories.
“Arirang,” produced under the guidance of Hybe Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, delves into BTS’s identity as a group that originated in Korea and explores the universal emotions experienced by the members throughout their journey. “Swim” is an upbeat alternative pop track addressing life’s challenges, with lyrics co-written by BTS leader RM.
The K-pop sensation held a free concert for tens of thousands of fans at Gwanghwamun in central Seoul on Saturday before traveling to the United States, where they participated in a Spotify event in New York on Monday and made an appearance on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Wednesday.
