BTS are the first Korean band to debut at No 1 on the US Billboard charts with Dynamite

BTS raced to the top of the charts as Dynamite clocked 33.9 million US streams and 300,000 sales in its first week
The seven-piece band are the spearhead of K-pop’s drive into the US music market

K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop

Reuters

Published: 12:41pm, 1 Sep 2020

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BTS roared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts in the US on Monday, becoming the first South Korean pop act to debut at No 1.

Dynamite, the first all-English language single from the seven-member boy band, notched 33.9 million US streams and 300,000 sales in its first week, according to Nielsen Music data. The band also scored the biggest digital sales week in nearly three years since Taylor Swift’s Look What You Made Me Do in September 2017.

The Billboard Hot 100 singles chart combines US streaming, radio airplay and sales data.

Formed in 2013, BTS have spearheaded K-pop’s drive into the US over the past three years with catchy, upbeat music.

South Korean solo artist Psy reached No 2 with his viral hit Gangnam Style in 2012.

Although the band had previously broken into the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching the No 4 spot with their March release On, Monday marked the first time they debuted at No 1.

The band on Sunday performed at the MTV Video Music Awards show for the first time and won four trophies, including best group and best pop group.

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