Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Dick Clark Productions
The ascent of K-pop group BTS remains unimpeded, with their new album BE pushing a whopping 242,000 units (177,000 in sales) to debut at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. It's the group's fifth album — and second of 2020 — to secure No. 1 on its first week of release, and the largest first-week debut for a band this year since BTS's other album Map Of the Soul: 7.
The chart-topping release of the album is the latest in a string of North American chart success for BTS. The album's lead English-language single "Dynamite" debuted at No.1 on the Hot 100. Map of the Soul: 7 saw a much larger first-week debut than BE, however, netting 422,000 equivilant album units. 2019's Map Of The Soul: Persona secured 230,000 units in its first week, while 2018's Love Yourself: Answer hit No. 1 with 131,000 units in its first week.
Coming in at No. 2 this week was Megan Thee Stallion with her debut album Good News with 100,500 equivilant units.
