BTS Jungkook Breaks Records with Solo Single 'Seven' - Achieves Billboard Hat-Trick
BTS's Jungkook has swept the world with his debut solo single "Seven". Dominating three major US Billboard charts - the 'Hot 100', 'Billboard Global 200', and 'Global 200 (excluding the US)', he set an unprecedented record for an Asian artist.
According to the latest charts released by Billboard on July 24, Jungkook made a 'hotshot' debut on the main singles chart 'Hot 100' with his single "Seven", which was released on July 14th. From July 14th to 20th, "Seven" logged 153,000 downloads, 21.9 million streams, and 6.4 million radio plays, catapulting it to number one.
This marks the second time a K-pop solo artist has topped the 'Hot 100' chart, with BTS member Jimin's "Like Crazy" having achieved this milestone previously. Jungkook has now become an artist who has topped the 'Hot 100' both as a group member and as a solo artist.
Big Hit Music attributes the success to "meticulous localization strategies that worked in the home of pop music." The company explained that both HYBE and Big Hit Music kept the tastes of American fans in mind throughout the production process of "Seven".
The song's success was also due to its modern pop style incorporating elements of the trending 'UK garage style' and English lyrics. The recording took place in the US and Scooter Braun, CEO of HYBE America and founder of Ithaca Holdings, was closely involved in all stages of the song's production - from song selection to featuring artist Latto. The release of several remix versions of "Seven" was also based on Braun's advice.
What's noteworthy is that Jungkook managed to break records amidst political issues in the United States. Following Jungkook on the chart, Jason Aldean's "Try that in a Small Town" ranked second, and Morgan Wallen's "Last Night" placed third. These songs are known for their appeal among American conservatives.
Despite Billboard's change in ranking methodology this month to exclude digital download numbers from the official artist websites, Jungkook's "Seven" managed to dominate the 'Hot 100' with impressive streaming numbers. Big Hit Music expressed, "In the industry, it is considered as a breakthrough of Billboard's restrictions with true talent."
Jungkook encountered the song "Seven" at the beginning of this year and chose it as his first solo single in March. The production process was quick, resulting in the birth of the song just four months later. The company cited Jungkook's artistic sensibility and foresight as contributing factors to the song's success.
One music industry insider commented, "Despite being his first solo single, Jungkook has shown a performance on par with the impact of BTS. This demonstrates the potential to mitigate concerns typically associated with the hiatus periods due to military service in the K-pop industry."
Jungkook will be expressing his gratitude for the Billboard No.1 spot by making his first domestic performance of "Seven" on SBS's "Inkigayo", which airs on the 30th. Through Weverse Live, he shared his feelings, "I am so happy about the Billboard No. 1, thank you so much," adding, "I've had so much fun working in New York and London for a while, and I've missed (Korean) music shows... then I made it to No.1 on the Billboard charts. I'm so grateful and feel like I have to give back."
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