BTS's "Arirang" Dominates Billboard 200, Kanye West's "Bully" Debuts at No. 2

BTS's latest album, "Arirang," has secured its second consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, achieving 187,000 equivalent album units in the week ending April 2, 2026. This marks the longest duration atop the chart for any of BTS's albums, as previous releases each spent only one week at No. 1. The album's debut week was particularly notable, with 641,000 units sold, making it the largest opening week for a K-pop album in U.S. history. The sustained demand for "Arirang" is reflected in its continued strong performance across streaming, sales, and track consumption.

BillboardBTS Hold No. 1 as ‘ARIRANG’ Extends Historic Billboard 200 RunVariety Magazine

Kanye West, now known as Ye, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with his album "Bully," which garnered 152,000 equivalent album units. This achievement marks West's 14th top 10 album, with all of his entries reaching the top two positions. "Bully" includes 56,000 in pure album sales and has been bolstered by its availability in various formats, including vinyl and deluxe editions. The album's release coincided with West's first major U.S. concert in nearly five years, held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Variety Magazine

The Billboard 200 ranks albums based on multi-metric consumption, including album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA), and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). For "Arirang," album sales accounted for 114,000 units, while SEA units contributed 65,000, equating to approximately 68.49 million on-demand streams. In contrast, "Bully" saw 96,000 SEA units, translating to about 98.43 million on-demand streams. The album's strong debut is particularly noteworthy given the controversies surrounding West in recent years.

BillboardBTS Hold No. 1 as ‘ARIRANG’ Extends Historic Billboard 200 RunVariety Magazine

Despite the commercial success of "Bully," some critics have expressed concerns regarding West's past behavior and its potential impact on his music career. The strong sales figures have raised questions about the public's reception of an artist with a history of controversial statements. Critics argue that the music industry should reflect on the implications of supporting artists with problematic pasts.

Variety Magazine

Billboard's reporting highlights the significance of BTS's achievement, noting that "Arirang" is the first K-pop album to spend its first two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The success of both albums illustrates the competitive landscape of the current music industry, where established artists like BTS and Ye continue to shape the charts.

Billboard

As the Billboard 200 continues to evolve, upcoming releases and performances from both BTS and Ye will likely influence future chart dynamics. Fans and industry observers will be keenly watching how these artists navigate their careers amid ongoing public discourse surrounding their actions and music.

Billboard