K-pop idol groups BTS and NCT 127 made it to the top 10 best-selling albums lists in the US for the first half of the year.
The two boy bands are the only K-pop acts listed in Nielsen Music/MRC Data’s 2020 Midyear Report on music consumption and sales in the US from Jan. 3 to July 2 this year.
In the pop category, the top 5 genre artists are Billie Eilish, 1.67 million based on album sales, TEA (track equivalent album) and on-demand SEA (streaming equivalent album); BTS, 1.41 million; Taylor Swift, 1.32 million; Justin Bieber, 1.12 million; and Halsey, 1 million.
Under the report’s 2020 Billboard Midyear Charts, BTS’ “Map of the Soul: 7,” released last February, placed ninth in the Top 10 Albums based on album sales, TEA and on-demand SEA, garnering 842,000 in total album equivalent consumption; 552,000 in album sales; and 388,000 in song sales.
BTS emerged as No. 1 overall in the Top 10 Albums based on total sales, recording 552,000 for “Map of the Soul: 7.” NTC 127’s “Neo Zone: The Final Round” copped eight place with 196,000.
In addition, BTS also claimed the top spot in Top 10 Physical Albums category with “Map of the Soul: 7” garnering 528,000 copies in sales while NCT 127’s “Neo Zone: The Final Round” placed fourth with 170,000 copies sold.
The report noted total album sales (physical and digital) from the first half of the year amounted to 45.5 million copies, down 18.1 percent compared to 55.6 million in the same period last year.
Digital album sales also decreased to 17.7 million copies this year from 20.6 million last year, or a difference of 14.3 percent.
Physical album sales (including vinyl LPs) amounted to 27.9 million copies this year, down 20.3 percent from 35 million last year.
The Top 10 Physical Albums in the US for first half of the year, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data:
1. BTS - “Map of the Soul: 7” - 528,000
2. Kenny Chesney - “Here and Now” - 219,000
3. Halsey - “Manic” - 174,000
4. NCT 127 - “Neo Zone: The Final Round” - 170,000
5. Billie Eilish - “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” - 143,000
6. Justin Bieber - “Changes” - 140,000
7. The Weeknd - “After Hours” - 134,000
8. James Taylor - “American Standard” - 129,000
9. Harry Styles - “Fine Line” - 128,000
10. Lady Gaga - “Chromatica” - 117,000