“No. 1 among K-pop groups” Stray Kids ranks second in U.S. album sales in 2023, following Taylor Swift

JYP Entertainment (hereinafter referred to as JYP) artists TWICE and Stray Kids achieved outstanding results in CD sales in the United States in 2023.

According to the '2023 Year-End Report' (accounting period: December 30, 2022 - December 28, 2023) released by music data aggregation company Luminate on the 10th (local time), Twice and Stray Kids' album released last year achieved good results in CD album sales in the United States.

First, Stray Kids ranked at the top with two albums released in 2023, establishing themselves as the main characters who achieved K-pop hegemony in the global music market. The 3rd full-length album '★★★★★ (5-STAR)' (Five Star) recorded 520,000 copies (based on physical CD of a single album), ranking Taylor Swift in US Top CD Album Sales. Swift) and took second place, the highest ranking among K-pop artists. They also ranked 5th on the Top Albums (US) chart, which combines physical albums and digital albums, the highest ranking among K-pop groups.

The mini-album '樂-STAR' (Rockstar) ranked 4th in the top CD album sales in the US with 381,000 physical CD sales as a single album, and ranked in the top 10 on the chart combining physical albums and digital albums. In particular, they were the only K-pop artists to record more than two charts in both Top CD Album Sales and Top Album (US), monopolizing the title of K-pop group with the highest record.

Continuing their momentum, they were selected in the Group and Duo of the Year categories at the 2023 People's Choice Awards in the United States, which will be held on February 18.

Stray Kids started out at No. 1 on the US Billboard main chart 'Billboard 200' with the mini album 'ODDINARY' in March 2022, followed by 'MAXIDENT' in October 2022 and the regular album '★' in June 2023. ★★★★ (5-STAR)', and November's mini album '樂-STAR', setting a record by placing four works in first place in a row.

In addition, with the title song 'Rock' of the mini album '樂-STAR', they are the second K-pop boy group to enter the Billboard 'Hot 100' chart after BTS and the first K-pop 4th generation boy group to enter. succeded. As proof of this, the album '★★★★★ (5-STAR)' ranked 82nd in the 'Billboard 200 Albums' of the US Billboard Year-End CHARTS, the highest ranking among K-pop artists, and was ranked 'World Album'. They reached the top spot in 'Artist' and 'World Album', showing off their mainstream potential.

Twice achieved 303,000 copies (based on physical CD of a single album) with the album 'READY TO BE', ranking 6th in the top CD album sales in the United States. Previously, in 2022, 'BETWEEN 1&2' ranked 5th in the US region as the best-selling group album in 2022, based on the combined results of CD sales and digital downloads in the US calculated by Luminate.

As a result, Twice achieved excellent results for two consecutive years and boasted steady global growth even in its 10th year of debut. In addition, Twice ranked on a total of 6 charts, including the album comprehensive chart 'Billboard 200 Albums', with 'READY TO BE' and 'BETWEEN 1&2' in the 2023 year-end settlement chart announced by the US Billboard. In the '2023 Wrapped year-end settlement' chart announced by global music streaming platform Spotify, they ranked 7th in 'Top 10 Most Streamed K-Pop Artists' and 26th in '2023 Top Group (2023 Most Streamed Group Playlist)'. .

They released their new mini album 'With YOU-th' on February 23rd and are looking forward to their new year's activities. On February 2nd, they released their pre-released single 'I GOT YOU' and heated up their comeback. Twice will continue its fifth world tour with 45 concerts in 26 regions around the world, starting with Mexico City, Mexico on February 2nd and 3rd, Sao Paulo, Brazil on the 6th and 7th, and Las Vegas, USA on March 16th. .

Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr