BTS makes history as ARIRANG & "SWIM" top Billboard 200 & Hot 100. Leader RM shares gratitude for the group's seventh #1 albums.
- March 31, 2026
AceShowbiz - BTS continues to make history with their latest album, ARIRANG, achieving remarkable success on the Billboard charts. On March 30, the group’s leader, RM, expressed heartfelt thanks to fans via Instagram Stories after BTS secured the No. 1 spots on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts.
Sharing his appreciation, RM wrote “Sendin my luv and gratitude” alongside a repost of Billboard’s Instagram announcement that “SWIM,” the lead single from ARIRANG, debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100. In another story, he highlighted the news that the album itself had topped the Billboard 200 chart.
“SWIM” marks BTS’ seventh No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, their first since 2021 before their announced hiatus. Intriguingly, seven appears to be a lucky number for BTS, as ARIRANG is also the group’s seventh album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Released on March 20, ARIRANG represents BTS’ comeback after a four-year break. The album debuted with an impressive 641,000 equivalent album units, making it the biggest week for a group album since Billboard began tracking units in December 2014. Of those, 532,000 were pure sales, giving BTS their largest sales week for a group album in over a decade.
With these chart-topping achievements, BTS maintains its position as the group with the most No. 1s on these charts since first reaching the milestone in October 2020. The K-pop sensation has now tied with the Bee Gees for the most No. 1 albums by a group since the 1970s, when the Bee Gees earned nine No. 1s from 1971 to 1979. BTS ranks fourth overall in total No. 1 albums, behind only the Beatles with 20, the Supremes with 12, and the Bee Gees.
In addition to their latest No. 1, BTS currently dominates the Billboard Global 200 by occupying the entire top nine spots, a record-tying feat shared with Taylor Swift for the most top 10s in a single week. Furthermore, with ARIRANG, the group has become the first act ever to claim all top 10 positions on the Global Excl. U.S. chart.
These accomplishments underscore the ongoing global impact and unprecedented success of BTS as they continue to redefine achievements in the music industry following their hiatus and triumphant return.
