BTS V's 'Layover' Debuts at No. 2 on Billboard 200...Ties K-pop Solo Record

Group 'BTS' member V (real name Kim Taehyung) set the highest record for a K-pop solo artist on the US Billboard main album chart 'Billboard 200' with his first solo album 'Layover.' This ties the previous records set by BTS teammates Jimin and Suga with their solo albums 'FACE' and 'D-DAY,' respectively.

BTS V.
[Photo by Big Hit Music]

According to Billboard's chart preview article dated the 23rd on the 17th (local time), 'Layover,' released on the 8th, debuted at number 2 on the 'Billboard 200' with sales equivalent to 100,000 units.

The 'Billboard 200' ranking is calculated by combining traditional album sales scores with SEA (streaming equivalent albums), which converts streaming counts into album sales, and TEA (track equivalent albums), which converts digital track downloads into album sales. 'Layover' sold 88,000 physical copies. SEA units accounted for 9,000, and TEA units were 3,000.

Previously, V, who has topped the 'Billboard 200' six times as a member of BTS, has now entered the top 2 on the chart as a solo artist for the first time. All the top records for K-pop solo artists on the 'Billboard 200' have been set by BTS members. Besides V, Jimin, and Suga, RM (Kim Namjoon) ranked 3rd with 'Indigo,' and J-Hope ranked 6th with 'Jack In The Box.' Jin and Jungkook have only released solo singles and have yet to release solo albums.

Through this album 'Layover,' V expressed that he temporarily set aside his glamorous stage persona to reveal his natural, authentic self. 'Layover' contains a total of six tracks, including the title track 'Slow Dancing,' which is in the pop R&B genre.

'Layover' attracted attention as Min Heejin, the CEO of ADOR and producer of the girl group 'NewJeans,' served as the executive producer. In its first week, it sold 2.1 million copies domestically and internationally, achieving 'double million-seller' status.

It set a new record by surpassing 2 million copies in initial sales (the first week after album release) for the first time as a solo album since the domestic album sales tracking site Hanteo Chart began compiling data.