ATEEZ Takes Billboard 200 No. 1 Again With Third Straight Crown…Sets Record for Most ‘Top 10’ in the 2020s

K-pop’s landscape is once again roiling. The group 'ATEEZ (ATEEZ)' has reclaimed the top spot on the U.S. 'Billboard 200' for the third time, proving it’s the ultimate apex predator at the very top of the global pop market. Their 14th mini album 'GOLDEN HOUR : Part.5' goes beyond a simple K-pop release, aiming anew at a milestone for the global music industry.

The grandeur of the most 'Top 10' of the 2020s—overwhelming pop legends

Billboard on the 5th (local time) made it official through a chart preview that 'ATEEZ' has clinched No. 1. The significance of this achievement is anything but ordinary. It’s because the group pulled off a triumph by sweeping aside new releases from today’s very best 'pop stars'—including 'Olivia Rodrigo' and 'Drake'—with a staggering margin.

This is the group’s third coronation in total following 'The World Episode Final : Will' in 2023 and 'GOLDEN HOUR : Part 2' this year. Billboard said, “'ATEEZ' has placed as many as nine albums in the 'Top 10' since 2022,” adding, “This is the most record among all global groups active in the 2020s.”

The box-office force that the numbers prove is unmatched as well. During the chart-tracking period, 'GOLDEN HOUR : Part 5' racked up an explosive 'album units' total of 228,000 copies. In particular, physical album sales nearly reached 223,000 units, earning 'Top Album Sales'—the No. 1 title. This is a historic figure where the group resets its 'career high' in both album units and physical sales.

Released last month on the 26th, this new album turns human instincts and senses into something fun through playful variations. The five tracks—including the title track 'BAD'—perfectly captivated the ears of listeners around the world. Based on South Korea’s 'Hanteo Chart', first-week sales, known as initial shipments (chodeung), easily surpassed 1.88 million copies, reaffirming the sturdy firepower of a 'fandom' that crosses borders.

The next move for 'ATEEZ', which holds sway over the global music market, is aimed at fans. The group will hold a large-scale 'fan meeting' at Korea University’s Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seoul from the 17th to the 19th, and will directly connect with fans during this blazing moment of glory.