There are milestones, and then there are BTS milestones — the kind that make you stop and say, “Wait, they actually did that?” The global septet has done it again, and this time the numbers are almost impossible to believe.
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The Record-Breaking Billboard Achievement at a Glance
BTS’s latest single SWIM debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (dated April 4, 2026), marking the group’s 7th overall Hot 100 top entry and their 6th direct No. 1 debut — making them the only group in history to achieve this feat.
But that’s just the beginning.
| Achievement | Detail |
|---|---|
| SWIM — Billboard Hot 100 | #1 debut (7th overall, 6th direct No. 1) |
| ARIRANG — Billboard 200 | #1 debut (7th No. 1 on this chart) |
| Billboard Global 200 | BTS occupies the entire Top 13 |
| Global Excl. US chart | ARIRANG leads the singles chart |
| Simultaneous #1 (Hot 100 + BB200) | Achieved multiple times — first with BE/Life Goes On, now with ARIRANG/SWIM |
| Physical sales | Over 500K copies for ARIRANG |
What Makes BTS Historic
BTS has become the first group in history to debut both a single and an album at No. 1 on the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 simultaneously on multiple occasions. Their songs dominated the entire top 13 spots on the Billboard Global 200 — a chart that tracks streaming and sales across over 200 territories worldwide. The only exception? One instrumental track from the album that didn’t chart due to the absence of lyrics.
This puts BTS in the elite company of Taylor Swift, Drake, and Ariana Grande when it comes to the most No. 1s this decade — with Taylor topping at nine and BTS now sitting firmly at seven.
It’s also worth noting that both Jimin (Like Crazy) and Jungkook (SEVEN) have achieved individual Hot 100 No. 1 debuts — something no other K-pop act has ever done.
What BTS Said to ARMY
The boys expressed their gratitude with genuine warmth, thanking fans for their love after nearly four years since their last full group album. They shared that the lead track SWIM was designed to encourage people to keep moving forward through difficulty — a message that has clearly resonated with millions around the world.
For more BTS news, chart updates, and K-pop coverage, visit our dedicated K-pop section at TechnoSports and check out our BTS and Hallyu updates hub to stay ahead of the curve.
FAQs
Q: How many times has BTS hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100?
With SWIM, BTS has now achieved seven total Hot 100 top entries and six direct No. 1 debuts — the most by any group in chart history.
Q: What is the BTS album ARIRANG and when was it released?
ARIRANG is BTS’s highly awaited group comeback album released in March 2026, their first full-group studio project in nearly four years, featuring the lead single SWIM.
