{
  "id": 14342945,
  "title": "BTS' 'ARIRANG' hits 5 bil. Spotify streams, topping 2026 releases",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/bts-arirang-hits-5-bil-spotify-streams-topping-2026-releases-14342945",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-14T01:52:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/k-pop/20261014/bts-arirang-hits-5-bil-spotify-streams-topping-2026-releases"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "BTS, the renowned K-pop supergroup, has achieved a major milestone with their fifth studio album, ARIRANG, surpassing the 5 billion stream mark on Spotify, according to a statement by the group's label, BigHit Music, on Wednesday. This accomplishment surpasses the streaming achievement of the second-place album, Olivia Rodrigo's third studio album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love, by a substantial 2 billion streams. ARIRANG's popularity has also eclipsed those of global pop stars such as Bruno Mars and Harry Styles, whose latest albums have garnered approximately 1 billion and 2 billion streams, respectively. The lead single from ARIRANG, \"Swim\", is on track to reach the 1 billion stream mark, and all 14 tracks on the album have managed to surpass the 200 million stream threshold. Notably, the track \"No. 29\", featuring a haunting rendition of the Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok from the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla (57 B.C.- A.D. 935), has also achieved the 200 million stream milestone. The release of ARIRANG marks the first full-group project for BTS in nearly four years, following the completion of their mandatory military service and their subsequent reunion.",
  "summary": "K-pop supergroup BTS' fifth studio album, \"ARIRANG,\" has surpassed 5 billion streams on Spotify, the group's label, BigHit Music, said Wednesday. This marks the most streams among albums released this year, registering 2 billion more than the runner-up, Olivia Rodrigo's third studio album, \"You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love.\" The streaming figures for \"ARIRANG\" outpaced the latest albums…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "BTS' 'Arirang' hits 5 bln Spotify streams, topping 2026 releases",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/bts-arirang-hits-5-bln-spotify-streams-topping-2026-releases",
        "published": "2026-10-14T01:23:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "BTS' 'ARIRANG' hits 5 bil. Spotify streams, topping 2026 releases",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/bts-arirang-hits-5-bil-spotify-streams-topping-2026-releases",
        "published": "2026-10-14T01:32:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}