BTS aren’t done with rewriting the history books.
The K-pop superstars bag another IFPI award, this time topping the trade body’s Global Album Sales Chart with Map Of The Soul: 7.
It’s an unprecedented 1-2 for BTS, whose BE set is runner-up while Map Of The Soul: 7 ~ The Journey ~ comes in at No. 8 on the tally, which combines global sales of physical and digital album downloads to rank the top albums of 2020.
It’s the latest in a bundle of IFPI honors for the boy band, who were also named Global Recording Artists of 2020, and Map Of The Soul: 7 came in at No. 1 on the inaugural IFPI Global Album All Format Chart
Jungkook, V, Suga, Jin, RM, Jimin and J-Hope are seemingly unstoppable. Map Of The Soul: 7, their fourth studio album, smashed sales charts in their homeland and around the world, finishing the year just shy of 5 million global units.
In the United States, Map Of The Soul: 7 debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for the septet’s fourth leader, extending their record for Korean acts.
Asian acts dominate the latest IFPI chart. Coming in at No. 3 is Japanese artist Kenshi Yonezu with Stray Sheep; South Korea’s Blackpink is at No. 5 with The Album; Japanese boy band Arashi is at No. 9 with This is Arashi; and compatriots King Gnu round out the Top 10 with Ceremony.
“BTS’ success across IFPI’s global charts -- including the top two positions in this chart -- is unprecedented and demonstrates the amazing global appeal of their music,” comments Frances Moore, CEO of IFPI. “We would like to congratulate the band once again on such a successful year.”
Albums from Taylor Swift, AC/DC and Justin Bieber also make the list, published Thursday (March 11).