Even Taylor Swift’s record has been broken! BTS’s latest title track “SWIM” tops Billboard and is heading to the World Cup halftime show in July
They’re seriously unstoppable!
Key takeaways
- With their title track “SWIM,” BTS has now topped Billboard’s Global chart six times, officially breaking Taylor Swift’s record.
- Their fifth full-length album “ARIRANG” has remained in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 for eight consecutive weeks, landing at No. 8 this week.
- The North American leg of “BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’” is in full swing, with the group set to perform in Las Vegas on May 23.
- It has been officially confirmed that BTS will join Madonna and Shakira at the halftime show for the 2026 World Cup final in July.
According to Billboard’s latest chart data, BTS, also known as Bangtan Sonyeondan, has spent a second consecutive week at No. 1 on the Global Excl. U.S. chart with “SWIM,” the title track from its fifth full-length album. Their label, Big Hit Music, promptly confirmed that the group has now earned six No. 1s on the chart, officially surpassing the record previously set by Taylor Swift and once again making K-pop history. The single is also holding steady at No. 34 on the Hot 100. Its impressive eight-week run on the chart shows just how widely the song is being enjoyed around the world.
- Related reading: ARMY, mark your calendars! Ticket prices and sale dates revealed for BTS’s 2027 ARIRANG tour stop in Hong Kong!
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The fifth full-length album “ARIRANG” has also delivered impressive results beyond the single’s strong performance. It ranks No. 8 on the influential Billboard 200, marking its eighth consecutive week in the top 10. It has also shown strong sales and streaming performance on the Vinyl Albums and Streaming Albums charts. Even more impressive, the 2022 compilation album “Proof” remains at No. 3 on the World Albums chart, demonstrating the strength of the fans’ support.
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They’ll make their World Cup halftime show debut in July
Their success isn’t limited to digital music charts; their live performance schedule is just as packed. BTS is currently in the midst of its North American tour, “BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN NORTH AMERICA,” having just wrapped its California dates. The group will continue the tour in Las Vegas on May 23. Even more exciting for soccer and music fans, officials revealed that BTS will join Madonna and Shakira at the halftime show for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in July, as the first artists ever to perform at a World Cup final halftime show.
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Surpassing a record held by an international superstar like Taylor Swift and being invited to take part in the once-every-four-years World Cup final shows that their influence has long extended beyond the confines of K-pop. From streaming-platform figures to stadium tours, this momentum seems to know no limits, and it’s exciting to imagine what surprises they may have in store next!
Here are a few other recent stories worth checking out:
- BTS appears at the 2026 World Cup halftime show, sending the crowd wild with “Dynamite”
- The World Cup has just wrapped up! Morocco’s 2030 home stadium design is officially revealed, and the world’s largest soccer stadium is about to be born
- ARMYs, are your hearts racing? The lip oil Jungkook used on livestream is this one, and it makes his bedtime routine feel complete
