BTS is back with a record-breaking bang. The fifth studio album by BTS, titled ‘Arirang,’ has achieved a record feat by selling 3.98 million copies on its first day. The news was announced by Big Hit Music.
‘Arirang,’ BTS’s first full-group comeback in nearly four years, is creating a buzz among fans globally. The response to BTS’s new music has been instantaneous.
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Global charts dominated within hours
‘Arirang’ debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Top Albums Chart in 88 countries, including Italy, Mexico, Sweden, and many more. The lead single ‘Swim’ reached No. 1 on the iTunes Top Songs Charts in 90 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, and France.
In South Korea, Swim quickly reached the top of real-time charts such as Melon and Bugs, with all tracks from the album entering Melon’s Top 100. The music video for Swim also trended at No. 1 in 70 countries, reflecting the scale of global engagement.
A record that surpasses BTS’ own milestone
The opening-day sales of the album far outshine BTS' prior opening-week performance of 3.37 million copies, which was achieved by their 2020 album "Map of the Soul: 7."
According to Big Hit Music, the success of the album may be attributed to the group's global fan base, called ARMY, and the eagerness of the fans for the group's reunion after completing their military service.
Under the guidance of Bang Si-hyuk, "Arirang" deals with themes of identity, growth, and perseverance, as seen in the main track "Swim," which talks of moving forward in spite of difficulties, a theme that has struck a chord in the hearts of listeners.
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Comeback concert to stream globally
BTS is set to perform at The Comeback Live: Arirang concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, their first full-group performance in nearly four years.
The event will be streamed live on Netflix, allowing global audiences to watch the performance in real time. In India, the concert will be available from 4:30 pm IST on March 21.
