BTS Sets Multiple Records on Billboard 200 With 'Map of the Soul: Persona'

Music

The 'Fake Love' hitmakers' latest album arrives at No. 1 on this week's chart, marking their third chart-topping effort in the United States in less than a year.

Apr 22, 2019

AceShowbiz - In less than a year, BTS (Bangtan Boys) has already grabbed three No. 1 albums in the United States. Their new album, "Map of the Soul: Persona", launches atop Billboard 200 after racking up 230,000 equivalent album units in the week ending April 19, according to Nielsen Music. Of that sun, 196,000 units were in traditional album sales.

With that said, BTS has officially become the first group to earn three No. 1 albums in less than a year since The Beatles did so in the 1990s. The legendary rock group's "Anthology 1", "Anthology 2" and "Anthology 3" all debuted at No. 1 within 11 months and a week.

Selling out 230,000 units in its first week, "Persona" becomes the band's biggest week ever in terms of total unit and the fourth-largest week of the year. It follows Ariana Grande's "Thank U, Next" (360,000 units), Billie Eilish's "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" (313,000 units) and Backstreet Boys' "DNA" (237,000 units). "Persona" additionally marks the second-biggest traditional sales week of the year, following "DNA" (227,000 units).

Editors' Pick

Back to this week's Billboard 200 chart, Billie's debut album stays steady at No. 2 with 98,000 units while Khalid's "Free Spirit" slips to No. 3 with 82,000 units. On the other hand, Anderson .Paak nabs his first top ten album after "Ventura" debuts at No. 4 with 55,000 units. Trailing behind it is Nipsey Hussle's "Victory Lap" which falls to No. 5 with 55,000 units.

Following Ariana's "Thank U, Next", which moves down to No. 6 with 46,000 units, Beyonce Knowles' surprise live album "Homecoming: The Live Album" arrives at No. 7 with only two days of tracking. The set racked up 38,000 units. There's a high possibility that the album will raise higher after its first full tracking week of activity.

At No. 8, Juice WRLD's "Death Race for Love" descends three spots with 34,000 units as Post Malone's "Beerbongs & Bentleys" also moves down to No. 9 with just over 29,000 units. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie's "Hoodie SZN" rounds out the top ten with 29,000 units.