Music

BTS Jungkook's Solo Debut 'Seven' Creates a Billboard Phenomenon - How Did It Top the Charts?

Jul 25, 2023 | by Samriddhi Dastidar

Big Hit Music BTS Jungkook Unleashes Power with 'Seven': Dominates iTunes in 113 Countries and Breaks Record as First K-pop Soloist in Apple Music's Global Top 5

"Billboard Hot 100 No.1," "Billboard Global 200 No.1," "Billboard Global 200 (Excluding the U.S.) No.1."

Jungkook, a member of BTS, seized all three major Billboard charts on July 25 with his debut solo single 'Seven (feat. Latto).' Having previously topped the Billboard 'Hot 100' with BTS's 'Dynamite,' Jungkook has now added 'Seven' to this list, making him an artist who has topped the Billboard 'Hot 100' both as part of a group and as a soloist.

The K-pop industry broadly attributes the success of Jungkook's 'Seven' to three key factors.

Firstly, the strategic localization efforts paid off in the home of pop music. HYBE and Big Hit Music carefully considered the tastes of American fans throughout the production process of 'Seven.' The song, with English lyrics, adopts the trendy 'UK garage style,' showcasing the latest in pop music. The recording took place in the United States. A production team led by Bang Si-hyuk, Chairman of HYBE, and renowned Grammy-winning producer Andrew Watt collaborated with Jungkook in the U.S. in real-time, enhancing the quality of the song. Industry insiders interpret this close collaboration with top-tier global producers as a recognition of Jungkook as a 'global pop star' by the American music industry.

Jungkook's modern pop approach has been received as a pleasant surprise in the American music market. Prior to the emergence of 'Seven,' American country singer Morgan Wallen held the No.1 spot on the Billboard 'Hot 100' for 14 weeks. Most other top tracks were from the country genre. 'Seven' has surpassed what is often considered 'the most American genre,' with its sophisticated pop sound.

Industry insiders also point out that HYBE's global multi-label strategy, launched with the establishment of HYBE America, is starting to bear fruit. Scooter Braun, the founder of Ithaca Holdings and now the CEO of HYBE America, closely collaborated on the production of 'Seven,' from sourcing the song to featuring Latto. His advice to release various remix versions of 'Seven' also played a significant role.

In addition, Jungkook's artistic instincts and foresight have contributed to the success. Upon first hearing 'Seven,' Jungkook immediately decided, "I have to do this." He encountered 'Seven' earlier this year and finally chose it as his debut solo single around March. Through a swift production process over four months, Jungkook managed to elevate the quality of the music and performance, ultimately dominating the Billboard 'Hot 100.' One industry insider analyzed, "Jungkook, as a member of BTS, leveraged his potential as a global star, which made 'Seven' bloom."

As 'Seven' made its way straight to No.1 on the Billboard 'Hot 100,' the K-pop industry has praised, "He broke through Billboard's blockade with his talent." Earlier this month, Billboard changed its charting methodology, essentially excluding digital downloads from the artist's official website. This was considered a disadvantage for artists active outside the U.S., and especially for K-pop artists, who often have a high number of downloads on their official websites due to their solid fan bases. While Billboard did not officially comment on the changes, there were claims that it was an attempt to limit K-pop's influence.

However, Jungkook's 'Seven' managed to dominate the Billboard 'Hot 100,' even under the revised charting methodology, by achieving explosive streaming numbers due to the song's inherent popularity.

On the day Jungkook's No.1 news was announced, a K-pop fan wrote on a community forum, "I thought it would be difficult for K-pop to reach the top of the Billboard again, no matter how good the song is, but I never thought it could be broken through streaming."