Since Billboard introduced its worldwide rankings, the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S., more than half a decade ago, BTS has established itself as the most successful acts on both tallies in several regards. On the latter roster, the K-pop group has collected more champions than any other musical act.
Earlier this year, BTS returned after a years-long hiatus with Arirang, which was fronted by the single “Swim.” That track quickly topped both global rankings and has held on ever since. This period, another tune from the album nearly reaches No. 1 on one of the two rundowns, coming within one space of earning the Grammy-nominated act another historic leader.
BTS Nearly Scores a Ninth Global No. 1
“Normal” rises dramatically on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. this week, vaulting from No. 156 to No. 2. The track nearly earns BTS its ninth champion on the worldwide roster, but the South Korean superstars are blocked by Shakira and Burna Boy
BTS Already Claims the Most No. 1 Hits
BTS already claims the most No. 1 hits in the history of Billboard Global Excl. U.S. The K-pop act has sent eight tracks to the highest rung, twice as many as any other musician.
Bad Bunny, Blackpink, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande are tied for second place. All four acts have earned a quartet of champions apiece – only half of what BTS has racked up since the ranking was introduced.
- “Butter”
- “Dynamite”
- “Life Goes On”
- “My Universe” with Coldplay
- “Permission to Dance”
- “Swim”
- “Take Two”
- “Yet to Come”
“Normal” Reaches the Top 10 on the Global Chart
“Normal” surges after being selected as the second official single from Arirang, following “Swim.” The tune originally became a global top 10 when the album arrived, reaching as high as No. 5 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. during its earliest days on the charts.
“Normal” becomes one of 22 BTS tracks to reach the top 10 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S., while the group has collected 20 such wins on the Billboard Global 200. Both rankings use worldwide sales and streaming activity to determine the most-consumed songs. The Billboard Global 200 includes data from the United States, while Billboard Global Excl. U.S. ignores American consumption.
- “2”
- “Aliens”
- “Bad Decisions” with Benny Blanco and Snoop Dogg
- “Body to Body”
- “Butter”
- “Come Over”
- “Dynamite”
- “Film Out”
- “FYA”
- “Hooligan”
- “Life Goes On”
- “Like Animals”
- “Merry Go Round”
- “My Universe” with Coldplay
- “Normal”
- “Permission to Dance”
- “Run BTS”
- “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)” with Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo
- “Swim”
- “Take Two”
- “They Don’t Know ’bout Us”
- “Yet to Come”
BTS Has Seen Two Songs Peak at No. 2 Globally
“Normal” is now one of only two BTS tracks to peak at No. 2 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S. The other, “Body to Body,” is also featured on Arirang. “Body to Body” could not advance any higher because “Swim” was sitting at No. 1. “Normal” now experiences the same near miss, though it is blocked by Shakira and Burna Boy rather than another BTS smash.
BTS Reenters the Billboard Global 200
“Normal” also reappears on the Billboard Global 200, where it returns at No. 4. That position marks a new peak for the single. “Normal” currently lands half a dozen spaces above “Swim,” which slips one rung to No. 10.
BTS Returns to No. 1 on Billboard’s Sales Chart
While “Normal” barely misses out on ruling the Billboard Global Excl. U.S., it does reach No. 1 for the first time on another Billboard tally. The single reenters the Digital Song Sales chart – which looks only at purchases of tracks in the U.S. – in first place during only its second frame on the roster.
According to Luminate, “Normal” sold 20,700 digital copies throughout the United States during the latest tracking period. That figure is up several hundred percent from the period prior.
BTS Ties Drake With 15 No. 1s
- “Bad Decisions” with Benny Blanco and Snoop Dogg
- “Butter”
- “Come Over”
- “Dynamite”
- “Fake Love”
- “Film Out”
- “IDOL” with Nicki Minaj
- “Life Goes On”
- “My Universe” with Coldplay
- “Normal”
- “ON”
- “Permission to Dance”
- “Swim”
- “Take Two”
- “Yet to Come”
BTS Returns to the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 40
The improvement in sales helps bring “Normal” back to the Billboard Hot 100. The current Arirang single reenters the most important songs list in America at No. 33, and it establishes a career-best position on that tally as well.
