New Delhi: Kim Taehyung of BTS has followed in the footsteps of Suga (Min Yoongi) and Jimin (Park Jimin) by making his way into the Billboard 200, a ranking of global album sales and digital streams.
Layover, V’s first solo album, entered at #2 on the Billboard 200 list on September 17, 2023. This makes him join ranks with his bandmates – Suga and Jimin, who both released solo albums – D-DAY and FACE respectively. They are the most successful Korean solo musicians ever in terms of Billboard chart placement.
#V‘s ‘Layover’ ties #AgustD‘s ‘D-DAY’ and #JIMIN‘s ‘FACE’ as the highest charting albums by a Korean soloist in Billboard 200 history (US). pic.twitter.com/Tv8ydEIvq9
— chart data (@chartdata) September 17, 2023
📑| “Layover” by V has debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart, tying as the Highest Selling Korean Soloist on the said chart.
Congratulations Taehyung! pic.twitter.com/rvtRAHQE49
— TKG (@TheTKGlobal) September 17, 2023
Rainy Day, Love Me Again, Slow Dancing, Blue, and For Us are among the five songs on the highly anticipated album Layover, which was released on September 8, 2023. A piano version of Slow Dancing is included as a bonus track. With ‘Layover,’ V demonstrates a wide spectrum, from jazz and classical to pop, and rises to the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 200 with 100,000 units.
“Layover” by @BTS_twt V debuts at #2 on Billboard 200 with 100,000 units! pic.twitter.com/JiqT9iGgh1
— BTS Charts & Translations (@charts_k) September 17, 2023
According to Billboard, Layover’s successful album sales were helped by innovative marketing and packaging. Merchandise and collectables for Layover are readily accessible in a total of thirteen distinct variations. A total of 12.95 million official streams have been reported by Billboard for the album’s six official tracks.
“Layover” by #V has debut at #2 🆕 with 100,000 [12.95 million on-demand streams | 88,000 pure sales] on BILLBOARDS 200.
CONGRATULATIONS V
CONGRATULATIONS TAEHYUNG pic.twitter.com/EKtXj3HJuf— Bangtan_streamers⁷ (@Bangtan7_Stream) September 17, 2023
The new album by Olivia Rodrigo, Guts, reached number 1, marking her second consecutive top place on this chart. The #3 spot is taken by RM (Kim Namjoon) of BTS for his solo album Indigo.
Olivia Rodrigo becomes the first female artist in nearly a decade to debut her first two chart entries at #1 on the Billboard 200 (first since Ariana Grande). pic.twitter.com/eYHqWfIOfc
— chart data (@chartdata) September 17, 2023
Highest charting albums by Korean soloists in Billboard 200 history:
#2 Layover, #V
#2 D-DAY, #AgustD (SUGA)
#2 FACE, #Jimin
#3 Indigo, #RM pic.twitter.com/7f4Z3iOizj— chart data (@chartdata) September 17, 2023
According to Hanteo Chart, a regional music chart, V also broke the record for the fastest-selling album by a solo artist in Korea’s popular music industry with 2.1 million copies sold in its first week. In addition to its album sales, Layover earned 3,000 Track Equivalent Album units in its first week.