BTS's Jungkook has made a sensational debut on Billboard's main singles chart, "Hot 100", soaring to No.1 with his solo song "SEVEN". According to the chart preview article released by Billboard on July 24th, Jungkook's official solo debut track "SEVEN" debuted at the top spot of the "Hot 100" chart.
The "Hot 100" ranks songs based on a composite of US streaming data, radio broadcast scores (airplay), and sales data. "SEVEN" recorded 21.9 million streams, 6.4 million in radio broadcast scores, and a combined digital and CD sales volume of 153,000 during this ranking period.
This marks the second time a K-pop solo artist has reached No. 1 on the "Hot 100", following the same feat by groupmate Jimin with "Like Crazy". According to Billboard, Jungkook is the 68th artist in the chart's history to debut at No. 1.
Notably, BTS has now joined the ranks of The Beatles, Black Eyed Peas, and Destiny's Child as one of the few groups to have multiple members reach No. 1 on the 'Hot 100' as solo artists.
This track also marked a first for a Korean solo artist by topping the global chart on Spotify, the world's largest music streaming platform. It held the No. 1 spot for seven consecutive days and also shot to No.1 on the "Weekly Top Songs Global" (July 14-20) immediately upon entering the chart.
The song, which was expected to top the charts due to overwhelming streaming numbers, eventually surpassed American country singer-songwriter Jason Aldean's "Try That In A Small Town" after a fierce competition till the last minute of the counting period.
"SEVEN" is a passionate serenade, featuring an addictive melody, warm acoustic guitar sounds, and a rhythm influenced by UK garage, an electronic music genre from early 1990s Britain. Its lyrics express the desire to spend all seven days of the week with a loved one.
The track was produced by Grammy-winning music producer and songwriter Andrew Watt and Circuit, who have helped create a distinctively Jungkook-flavored song. Jungkook's mellifluous vocals are a highlight of 'SEVEN', where he fully showcases his personality and charm. The track also features American rapper Ratoo, adding a vibrant and exciting energy to the song.
The song had already predicted its Billboard success by reaching No. 3 on the UK Official Singles "Top 100" chart upon its release on the 21st. This achievement marked the second highest rank for a K-pop solo artist, following Psy's 'Gangnam Style' which topped the chart in 2012.
In addition, the "SEVEN" music video, which featured popular actress Han So-hee paired with Jungkook, also celebrated a milestone by surpassing 100 million views on YouTube, making it a double celebration.