Stray Kids Score 9th No. 1

Stray Kids' album 'THIS & THAT' has debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, marking their ninth number one album. The group earned 369,000 equivalent album units in the United States in the week ending August 13, with traditional album sales comprising 357,000 of the total.

The group extends their record for most number one albums among K-pop acts on the Billboard 200 chart, with nine number one titles. BTS is second, with seven number one titles. Stray Kids' 'THIS & THAT' is the 25th album or EP by a K-pop act to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart.

The first K-pop act to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart was BTS with 'Love Yourself: Tear' in June 2018. Since then, several K-pop acts have achieved this feat, including ATEEZ, SuperM, BLACKPINK, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, NewJeans, and TWICE.

Stray Kids have yet to crack the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, with their highest-charting single 'Chk Chk Boom' debuting and peaking at number 49 in August 2024. Despite this, the group has achieved significant success on the Billboard 200 chart, with 'THIS & THAT' being their biggest sales week yet.

## Why it matters The success of Stray Kids and other K-pop acts on the Billboard 200 chart is a significant milestone for the genre. It demonstrates the growing popularity of K-pop worldwide and its ability to compete with other genres in the US music market. The achievement of Stray Kids and other K-pop acts has paved the way for future generations of K-pop artists to break into the global music scene.

## What happens next The success of 'THIS & THAT' is likely to boost Stray Kids' global profile and increase their fan base. The group may embark on a world tour or release new music in the coming months, further solidifying their position as one of the leading K-pop acts. As the K-pop genre continues to grow in popularity, it will be interesting to see how Stray Kids and other acts navigate the global music landscape and achieve further success.