After 7 Weeks at #1, BTS Proved Billboard Isn’t Measuring Music
For seven straight weeks the #1 song in America is Butter by BTS. The Korean boy band has helped to make K-Pop one of the biggest genres in the USA, and they have amassed a huge fanbase. If you’re not part of the “BTS Army,” you’ve likely heard their music before. Last year the song Dynamite hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was played in commercials. This year, Butter has been the most popular song for over a month. It should be all over the place, right?
It’s possible the average listener is still unfamiliar with the song. While it’s not unsuccessful by any measure, it’s only exceptionally successful by one measure.
Out of all the songs in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, Butter had the lowest number of streams and the smallest audience on radio. Yet the song’s sales number is disproportionally high: greater than all nine of the other top 10 singles combined.
BTS has learned to game the Billboard Charts to reach the top for seven weeks. Depending on who you ask, this is either a genius move or a desperate scam. Regardless, it makes you wonder what the Billboard charts really measure.
How BTS Hit #1
Butter became the 54th song to debut at the top of the Hot 100. This is an impressive feat, but one that’s becoming…
