In a historic achievement that cements their legacy as global pop icons, BTS has officially broken the record for the most Top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart by a K-pop group, with an impressive eight albums making it to the top tier. The South Korean septet continues to redefine global music standards, and this milestone is yet another testament to their unmatched influence, artistry, and fanbase loyalty. “‘PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE – LIVE’ Earns BTS Their 8th Billboard 200 Top 10 Album” Previously tied with fellow K-pop acts TWICE, ATEEZ, and SEVENTEEN, each having seven top 10 entries, BTS has now pulled ahead, setting a new benchmark for Korean artists in the U.S. music market.
The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums in the United States each week, based on multi-metric consumption. This includes traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA), and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). For a non-English-speaking group, especially from South Korea, to repeatedly enter this chart’s Top 10 is an unparalleled achievement in itself.
BTS's Top 10 Albums on the Billboard 200
Let’s break down the eight BTS albums that made history by reaching the Top 10, and examine how each contributed to the group's global ascent:
1. Love Yourself: Her
📅 Release Date: September, 2017
📈 Billboard 200 Peak: #1
Their first Top 10 entry, peaking at No. 7, introduced the West to BTS's polished pop-meets-hip-hop style. BTS’s Love Yourself: Her, released in September 2017, marked a turning point in the group’s global rise. The album explores the emotions tied to the early stages of love, euphoria, uncertainty, and vulnerability, through a blend of pop, EDM, and hip-hop sounds. Featuring the smash hit DNA, which became their first Billboard Hot 100 entry, the album showcases BTS’s lyrical depth and sonic evolution, while setting the foundation for the larger Love Yourself series that would follow.
2. Love Yourself: Tear
📅 Release Date: May 18, 2018
📈 Billboard 200 Peak: #1
“Love Yourself: Tear” was BTS's first Korean-language album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, a historic first for any K-pop act. This album marked a turning point, proving that language is not a barrier to chart-topping success. Featuring hits like Fake Love, the album tackled themes of self-discovery, love, and emotional vulnerability.
3. Love Yourself: Answer
📅 Release Date: August 24, 2018
📈 Billboard 200 Peak: #1
BTS did not stop there. “Love Yourself: Answer” a compilation album that completed the “Love Yourself” trilogy also debuted at No. 1, cementing their presence on the U.S. charts. With tracks like IDOL and Epiphany, the album carried messages of self-love and societal introspection, resonating deeply with fans.
4. Map of the Soul: Persona
📅 Release Date: April 12, 2019
📈 Billboard 200 Peak: #1
This six-song EP was yet another chart-topper. "Persona" featured collaborations like Boy With Luv featuring Halsey, blending BTS’s style with Western pop sensibilities. It became their third No. 1 album in under a year, making them the first group since the Beatles to do so an accolade that made global headlines.
5. Map of the Soul: 7
📅 Release Date: February 21, 2020
📈 Billboard 200 Peak: #1
Perhaps one of their most introspective and artistically expansive albums, “Map of the Soul: 7” marked BTS’s fourth No. 1 album. Tracks like Black Swan, ON, and We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal showcased BTS’s evolution, both musically and emotionally. The album was a tribute to their seven-year journey and addressed themes of identity, fame, and self-acceptance.
6. BE
📅 Release Date: November 20, 2020
📈 Billboard 200 Peak: #1
Created during the COVID-19 pandemic, “BE” was a heartfelt project that comforted listeners during a time of global uncertainty. With the mega-hit Life Goes On, BTS became the first group to have a Korean-language song debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the album itself went on to top the Billboard 200.
7. Proof
📅 Release Date: June 10, 2022
📈 Billboard 200 Peak: #1
“Proof” is an anthology album celebrating the group’s legacy. Featuring past hits and new tracks like Yet to Come, it offered a retrospective of their discography. Despite being a compilation, “Proof” debuted at No. 1, highlighting BTS's sustained popularity and the deep emotional connection fans have with their music.
Now, “PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE – LIVE” joins this elite list, reinforcing the group's enduring popularity and influence even during periods where no new studio albums have been released.
8. Permission to Dance On Stage Live
📅 Release Date: July 18, 2025
📈 Billboard 200 Peak: #10
BTS’s Permission to Dance On Stage – Live album is a powerful testament to the group’s unmatched energy and global influence. Released as their first official live album, it captures performances from their iconic concert series held in Los Angeles in 2021. The album features dynamic live renditions of hit songs like Butter, Dynamite, Permission to Dance, and deeper cuts like Dis-ease and Telepathy. With roaring fan chants, real-time vocals, and raw emotion, the album immerses listeners in the full concert experience.
A Look at the Numbers Behind the Achievement
The newly charted live album, which documents performances from BTS’s Permission to Dance world tour, earned a total of 43,000 equivalent album units in its debut week (ending July 24), as reported by Luminate (formerly Nielsen Music). This performance was strong enough to catapult it into the Top 10 alongside some of the world’s biggest artists.
Breaking down the numbers:
- 36,000 units came from traditional album sales, a figure that placed the album as the second-best-selling physical album of the week in the U.S.
- 5,000 units were generated from streaming equivalent album (SEA) units, translating to an impressive 6.58 million on-demand audio streams.
- The remaining 2,000 units came from track equivalent album (TEA) sales, which aggregate digital song purchases.
These figures speak volumes, not only about BTS’s devoted fanbase, ARMY, but also about their ability to mobilize global audiences for non-traditional releases, such as a live concert recording.
Unlike a standard studio album, this release is a live recording of BTS’s high-energy stadium performance during the “PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE” tour, which ran between 2021 and 2022 across Seoul, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. This strong performance also further proves BTS’s sustained popularity in the U.S. music industry, even with a live performance release, a format that traditionally performs modestly on mainstream charts.
Unlike a standard studio album, this release is a live recording of BTS’s high-energy stadium performance during the “PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE” tour, which ran between 2021 and 2022 across Seoul, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. This strong performance also further proves BTS’s sustained popularity in the U.S. music industry, even with a live performance release, a format that traditionally performs modestly on mainstream charts.
What makes this latest achievement so significant is the genre and format of the release. Live albums generally don't perform as strongly as studio albums in terms of sales or streaming. Yet BTS defied expectations, proving their unparalleled bond with fans and their unique ability to turn concert recordings into chart-topping moments. It also reaffirms BTS’s global reach, as well as their consistency in maintaining a presence on international charts even during periods when the members are pursuing solo activities or are enlisted in mandatory military service.
The album captures the vibrant setlists, raw crowd energy, and emotional resonance of the group's return to live concerts after the COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted in-person tours. For many fans, the album serves as both a nostalgic keepsake and an immersive way to relive the magic of those live performances. BTS’s continued success on American charts is reflective of a broader globalization of pop music. While language barriers once hindered non-English-speaking artists from breaking into the U.S. market, BTS has helped redefine those limits.
Their consistent performance demonstrates that quality, authenticity, and fan dedication can transcend borders, languages, and industry norms. The group’s achievements have paved the way for countless other Korean and international acts to enter Billboard charts and American media more broadly.
The Billboard 200 ranks albums based on a weighted formula of traditional album sales, streaming data, and track sales. For a K-pop group releasing a live album, cracking the Top 10 of this chart is no small feat. It reflects not just BTS's popularity but also the evolution of fandom engagement, particularly in how fans purchase, stream, and interact with content beyond studio music. This trend showcases BTS's unique ability to turn any release, be it a compilation, anthology, or live performance, into a global event.
Even in a year without a full-group studio comeback, BTS manages to shatter records and command attention. The success of “PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE – LIVE” proves that their artistic influence and emotional connection with fans remain unshaken. Whether through massive tours, heartfelt messages, or live performance recordings, BTS continues to rewrite what’s possible for K-pop on the global stage.
While BTS continues to make headlines, even during their official group hiatus, the impact of their collective work shows no signs of slowing. With rumors of more archival content, solo projects, and a full-group reunion expected in 2025, this Billboard 200 milestone adds another powerful chapter to the BTS legacy. Whether you’re a new listener or a longtime ARMY, the success of “PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE – LIVE” is a testament to how BTS continues to rewrite the rules of global music success, live, recorded, or otherwise.
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