Stray Kids Achieve Historic Milestone on Billboard 200 Chart

Stray Kids have made history on the Billboard charts, marking their sixth consecutive entry at number one on the Billboard 200. This achievement places them alongside iconic groups like BTS (방탄소년단) and Linkin Park. On December 23, JYP Entertainment announced that Stray Kids' latest album, SKZHOP HIPTAPE '合 (HOP)', released on December 13, sold approximately 187,000 copies in its first week, securing the top spot on the December 28 Billboard 200 chart.

This remarkable feat establishes Stray Kids as the first artist to debut six albums at number one on the Billboard 200 since the chart's inception in March 1956, a span of nearly 69 years. With this record, they join the ranks of BTS, Linkin Park, and the Dave Matthews Band as the groups with the most number one albums on the Billboard 200 in the 2000s, achieving this milestone for the first time in three years.

Stray Kids first topped the Billboard 200 with their mini-album 'ODDINARY' in 2022, becoming the third K-pop act to do so, following BTS and SuperM. They continued their success with subsequent releases, including the mini-album 'MAXIDENT', the third studio album '★★★★★ (5-STAR)', and the mini-album '樂-STAR', culminating in their fifth number one with the mini-album 'ATE' in 2024.

In December 2024, just two years after their Billboard 200 debut, Stray Kids achieved the impressive milestone of six consecutive number one entries with '合 (HOP)'. Notably, this album was self-produced by the group’s production team, 3RACHA, adding significant value to their accomplishment.

Upon its release, '合 (HOP)' topped the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart on December 13, 14, and 16, and reached number one on the iTunes Top Albums Chart in 28 countries, including Japan and Brazil. The track 'Walkin On Water' also achieved number one on the iTunes Top Songs Chart in 25 regions, including Mexico and Chile. Additionally, the music video for 'Walkin On Water' trended at number one on YouTube for five consecutive days and ranked in the top trending videos in 43 countries, including the U.S., U.K., and Canada.

The album sold over 1.42 million copies on the day of its release, achieving million-selling status within just one day.

Stray Kids' global influence was further recognized at the '2024 Billboard Music Awards', where they were awarded the Top Global K-Pop Artist, marking their second consecutive win in this category. This recognition solidifies their position as a leading force in the global music scene.