The international K-pop sensation BTS is known for breaking records. So it’s not surprising that two of its members, Jimin and Jungkook, have carved out their own unique places in the annals of music history. Their solo work not only resonated with fans, but has also set unprecedented milestones on Spotify, the world’s leading music streaming platform.
Jimin ‘FACE’ Playlist l 지민 ‘FACE’ 플레이리스트 – BTS (방탄소년단)
Jimin, despite having struck out on his own as a solo artist just five months ago, has had an enviable, undeniable impact. His solo debut set new milestones previously unseen in the history of Korean solo artists. For instance, he became the first Korean solo artist to debut at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and achieved the highest debut for a B-side track by a Korean soloist on the same chart. Furthermore, Jimin became the first Korean soloist to reach No. 1 on the Japan and US Billboard Artist 100 charts, ranked as the top two biggest music markets worldwide.
Most importantly, his album FACE has now exceeded 1 billion streams on Spotify as of August 24, making him the first and so far only Korean soloist to cross that mark with just one album. Notably, FACE achieved this record in just 153 days.
Jimin and Jungkook shine on their own
Meanwhile, Jungkook has written a new history on Spotify. If you add up the number of streams his solo songs have earned, they’ll amount to 2 billion streams. This includes the streams earned by hits like “Dreamers,” “Left and Right,” “SEVEN,” and “Still With You.” Jungkook joins the ranks of BTS member SUGA and female soloist IU in achieving this particular milestone.
정국 (Jung Kook) ‘Seven’ @ BBC The One Show
Jungkook‘s achievements don’t stop there. In July, he became the first Korean soloist to debut a song at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, Global 200, and Global Excl. U.S. charts. His song “SEVEN” has maintained its hold on the No. 1 position on both the Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts for an impressive fifth consecutive week. “SEVEN” has also achieved the distinction of becoming the very first Korean song to spend five weeks at No. 1 on the Global 200, surpassing the prior record set by BTS‘ 2020 hit “Dynamite.”
Even as BTS is taking a break from group activities, individual members like Jimin and Jungkook are proving that they too can shine brightly on their own. Their recent Spotify achievements are a clear indication that K-pop, as a genre, is not just a fleeting trend but a musical movement that’s here to stay. Congratulations, Jimin and Jungkook! – K-Pop News Writer
Featured Image: Not many can say they’ve hit this milestone. Source: Twitter/@BIGHIT_MUSIC.