South Korea’s well-renowned boy band Bangton Boys, BTS for short, is not only the most iconic artist in the scene but also the top-charting one. Do you know how many albums has BTS sold worldwide?
The boundaries of musical creativity and artistry know no bounds. The commercial success of BTS’ Extended Plays (EPs) and albums shows the band’s unparalleled success and global impact.
How many albums has BTS sold worldwide?
BTS debuted under Big Hit Entertainment in 2013. Their music is defined by the combination of numerous genres like K-pop, R&B, and pop. Being a rookie artist at that time and having no backing from a prestigious agency, sales of the debut album were not exactly high, but decent nonetheless.
BTS became a staple in the industry since their second EP, “Skool Luv Affair”, made it into the Billboard 100 list. Since gaining their footing in the music industry, both in domestic and international markets, K-pop has become a trailblazer, shattering records and generating huge album sales.
The band’s discography consists of nine studio albums, seven compilation albums, and six extended plays.
In 2022, “Proof” was the best-selling group album in the US, selling 422,000 physical and digital copies. According to statistics released in 2023 and accumulated by Statistca, a research development company, BTS has sold over 620.7 thousand album copies, equivalent to $40 million, in their domestic alone!
This distinction makes them the best-selling musical act in South Korean history. In the worldwide aspect, their album sales equals around 100 million. The previous year, the boy band was touted as the number 3 of the global artists who sold the most albums over the past three decades.
What is the highest-selling album of BTS?
The group’s fourth studio album “Map of the Soul 7” is notable for being the artist’s highest-selling album to date. Fans regard this album as the group’s most vulnerable and intimate work and concede that each member’s personality and stories are reflected in the album.
“Map of the Soul 7” has sold over 4.7 album copies. Within nine days of its release, the album garnered over 4.1 million sales. The album holds the honor of being the fastest-selling album in South Korea and racking up over 4-5 million unit sales. “Map of the Soul,” along with another work “Be,” were the number one and number two best-selling albums, respectively.
How did BTS break into the Western market?
BTS’ success among Western audiences can partially be attributed to the Hallyu wave, or we could say that BTS made the Hallyu wave even more prominent.
The cultural phenomenon which began in the 2010s grabbed a strong hold around 2015, and this was when everyone started to pay attention to all things Korean but especially K-pop.
The group visited Los Angeles in 2015 to film the reality TV show American Hustle Life which introduced them to a new side of hip-hop. This prompted them to start producing more dance tracks and including English verses in their songs.
BTS became a global sensation after they collaborated with UNICEF for the LOVE YOURSELF CAMPAIGN that started after the release of “Love Yourself.” Collaborating with mainstream artists like Coldplay and Halsey also contributes to their global success.
FAQs: How many albums has BTS sold worldwide?
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about BTS and their albums.
#1. Who is the best-selling group in South Korea?
Boy band BTS is the best-selling group in South Korea. They have sold 40 million album copies in their domestic market since their debut.
#2. Are BTS albums cheaper in Korea?
Music albums of any artist are comparatively cheaper in their domestic countries, this holds even in South Korea. The cheapest BTS albums are available in countries like Korea, the UK, and Australia. Price differences happen because factors like production & distribution charges and imports affect costs.
#3. What is the highest-selling K-pop album of all time?
Boy band SEVENTEEN fourth studio album, FML, is the highest-selling K-pop album of all time. FML was Released on April 24, 2023, and has sold over 6.2 million copies.
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Conclusion: How many albums has BTS sold worldwide?
The commercial success of any music album is evidence of the unparalleled success and global impact of the artist. Album sales are a success parameter that can alone define an artist’s popularity, and BTS’s commercial success signifies that.
Even without putting out new albums or releases for more than three years, album sales of BTS are still tallying up. Their ability to effortlessly blend and switch genres, connect with a diverse audience, and produce quality music has helped establish themselves as an influential and successful artist of our time.