ILLIT’s ‘BREAK EVEN’ Debuts in Billboard 200 Top 10 at No. 6

ILLIT scores a career best as a classic album makes a seasonal comeback after 40 years

The group ILLIT has solidified its standing in the global music market, reaching the top 10 on Billboard’s main albums chart for the first time since its debut.

According to a chart preview published by Billboard on the 9th (local time), ILLIT’s new mini album, BREAK EVEN, debuted at No. 6 on the latest Billboard 200 chart, covering the period from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5. It marks the group’s fifth appearance on the Billboard 200 and its first time entering the top 10.

The Billboard 200 ranks albums based on a combination of physical and digital album sales, streaming equivalent album units (SEA), which convert streams into album sales, and track equivalent album units (TEA), which convert digital song downloads into album sales. According to Billboard’s figures, BREAK EVEN sold 32,500 physical copies in its first week and earned 4,500 SEA units, equivalent to about 4.87 million streams. The album’s 24 different CD package versions, each containing randomly selected photo cards and stickers, are believed to have fueled initial sales by appealing to collectors.

Meanwhile, Thriller, the landmark album by the late King of Pop Michael Jackson, made a dramatic return to the chart at No. 2, drawing widespread attention. It was the album’s first time near the top of the chart since it reached No. 1 on the chart dated April 14, 1984—about 40 years ago. Global streams of the title track, Thriller, surged during the Halloween season, while reissues on cassette and in three vinyl versions helped physical sales jump 335% from the previous week. Thriller recorded 32,000 streaming equivalent units, or about 34.34 million streams; 22,000 physical copies sold; and 1,000 track equivalent units, once again proving its enduring status as a classic.