South Korean boy band Stray Kids debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with their mini-album “THIS & THAT” this week.
The achievement cements the group's dominance in the American market and places them among the most successful musical acts in the history of the U.S. album chart.
The group recorded 369,000 equivalent album units [1] during the debut week. This figure represents the biggest U.S. sales week for Stray Kids to date. Traditional album sales accounted for 357,000 [1] of those units.
This marks the ninth time [3] the group has reached the top spot on the Billboard 200. The milestone has triggered differing reports regarding the historic records the group now shares with legendary Western acts.
Some reports state that Stray Kids have tied a record held by The Rolling Stones [5] for the most No. 1 albums by a group. Other reports indicate the group now holds the second-most No. 1 albums among groups, trailing only The Beatles [4].
The chart was officially announced on August 16 [5]. The surge in sales reflects a growing appetite for K-pop in the United States, a trend that has seen various South Korean acts break into the top 10 over recent years.
Stray Kids continues to expand its global footprint through high-volume physical sales and digital consumption. The group's ability to consistently debut at the top of the charts indicates a highly loyal and active fanbase in North America.
“Stray Kids recorded 369,000 equivalent album units during the debut week.”
The consistent chart success of Stray Kids illustrates the shift in the U.S. music industry, where non-English language acts can now compete with and match the historical milestones of legacy acts like The Rolling Stones. The high ratio of traditional sales to equivalent units suggests that the group's commercial power is driven heavily by physical collectibles, a hallmark of the K-pop business model.
