At this point, the boys of BTS should be all too used to seeing the phrase “history-making” aligned with their name.
As we reported Sunday (November 29), the group’s fifth Korean-language studio album – ‘BE’ – not only topped the Billboard 200 but also put the septet in history books for a number of accomplishments including becoming the first K-Pop group to score five #1 albums in the United States, fastest accrual of five Billboard 200 chart-toppers for any group of the Soundscan era, and first group (second act overall) to score two #1 albums this year alone.
Now, they’re making history on the Billboard Hot 100 side as well. See how inside:
In August (as we reported here), BTS – thanks to their explosive hit ‘Dynamite’ – earned the distinct honor of not only becoming the first K-Pop act to debut at #1 but also the first to top the Hot 100 period. What’s more, they became the third group ever (of any genre) to debut at #1 as leading acts as – an honor only Boyz II Men (‘One Sweet Day’) and Jonas Brothers (‘Sucker’) knew before them.
Thanks to the follow-up of ‘Dynamite,’ ‘Life Goes On,’ BTS is claiming a new record: first group to debut atop the Hot 100 twice and first Korean song to hit #1.
Released November 20, ‘Life’ and ‘Dynamite’ both received some serious TV airtime over the past week as the boys engaged in an aggressive promo spree in support of the tunes’ parent album. Their hard work has paid off apparently as the latter bounced to #3 on the refreshed chart and the former sprang to the top of the tally courtesy of a handsome mix of streams, radio airplay, and digital downloads.
See the breakdown below:
- Streams: 14.9 million
- Radio airplay: 410,000 impressions
- Digital downloads: 150,000 units
- Note: 129,000 digital downloads and 20,000 physical singles. The digital download was sale-priced to 69 cents, while a cassette single sold for $6.98 and a vinyl single went for $7.98.
Also worth nothing is the song’s official music video – which earned the fifth-largest 24-hour music debut on YouTube with 71.6 million first-day views.
“BTS has landed its first three No. 1s more quickly than any act since The Beatles, whose first three leaders, “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “She Loves You” and “Can’t Buy Me Love,” hit No. 1 over a span of just two months and three days (Feb. 1-April 4, 1964).
BTS is the second act with three Hot 100 No. 1s in 2020, following Ariana Grande, who has led with “Stuck With U” (with Bieber; May 23); “Rain on Me” (with Lady Gaga; June 6); and “Positions” (Nov. 7). BTS is the first act of more than two members with three songs to spend their first weeks each at No. 1 in the same year since, again, trio the Bee Gees, who sent three hits to No. 1 in 1979: “Too Much Heaven,” “Tragedy” and “Love You Inside Out.”
Its subsequent entry at the chart’s apex marks the group’s third overall visit to the position following the success of previous chart champions ‘Dynamite’ and ‘Savage Love’ remix.
Check in Tuesday (December 1) to see That Grape Juice‘s weekly chart recap, ‘TGJ Chart Check.’
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This has to be payola. This makes no sense. The charts need to recalculate their formula because this mess means nothing anymore. RESPECTFULLY, we dont even know what TF they say in their songs half the time! And does anyone even know their individual names? FFS Billboard
Ummm you did see that the price was 69 cents right they have to do stuff like this to be relevant play tricks
This has got to be the dumbest comment of the month. Had it been payola they wouldn’t be doing 150k+ on pure sales first week. In fact radio is usually their weak spot.
Someone needs to investigate these streaming numbers for BTS and Ariana Grande. I said what I said.
Lol well your fave Normani used payola in love lies and dancing with Sam smith and still failed to reach top 6 lmfao
This band is going to be a huge plague on the music industry if something isnt done about it quickly
Their fans literally bulk buy
China and japan and the entire asia have a huge population, they are changing their IP addresses to USA and buying and streaming all the way from Asia
I mean Gangnam style already did that
A lot of asian acts drop multiple projects and then they disband them. 2ne1 was musically superior to all these current groups and they did the same thing
Western acts do it all the time so why you singling them out? BTS sold in a week what your crow fav sold in a year. Cry about it
Dumb àss, comparing a group with 7 members to 1 person.
Underdeveloped brain
All this mouth, where is normani’s album? Here comes the excuses…….
I thought yall said she was gonna dominate 2020, so what happened?
It’s been 1 full year since normani saw the inside of the billboard hot 100. U should be embarrassed.
LMAO I can’t with this weak excuse!!!!! now say it without crying
They literally released 6 different versions of 1 song and discounted it to 69 cents. But their fans think that’s an accomplishment. When they lose that 1 Grammy nomination they’ll scream about it and say they’re being xenophobic lol
Kimchi wining 💅🏿💅🏿💅🏿 Yessssssss Sissy boy power 🧘♂️🧘♂️🧘♂️🧘♂️
Good for them.
Never underestimate rabid teenage girls. EverOy generation has them from The Beatles to David Cassidy to New Kids to Backstreet/Nsync to Jonas Brothers and One Direction and now BTS.
Good for them.
Dont ever underestimate rabid teenage girls. Every generation has them from The Beatles to David Cassidy to New Kids to Backstreet/Nsync to Jonas Brothers and One Direction and now BTS.
Not to mention they’re making cultural history unlike those other acts. Congrats!
Good for them.
Never underestimate rabid teenage girls and their boy band idols. Every generation has them from The Beatles to David Cassidy to New Kids to Backstreet/Nsync to Jonas Brothers/One Direction and now BTS.
But unlike the other acts they’re making cultural history in the process.
Congrats.