BTS Holds On To Its Album Record, Despite Competition From A Hip-Hop Star

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentBTS Holds On To Its Album Record, Despite Competition From A Hip-Hop StarByHugh McIntyre,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts.Follow AuthorJun 01, 2026, 02:30pm EDTDrake's Iceman scores a huge debut on the Billboard 200, but even the biggest rapper in the world couldn't topple BTS's 2026 record with Arirang. THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON — Episode 2272 — Pictured: Musical guest BTS poses after their performance on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 — (Photo by: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images2026 is nearly halfway over, and already several of the biggest names in the global music industry have dropped new albums. One of the most highly anticipated sets of the year, Drake's Iceman, arrived a little more than a week ago with much fanfare. The rapper had been promoting the project for nearly a year, but he still managed to shock millions by announcing only hours before they became available that not only was Iceman ready, but it would be accompanied by another two full-lengths. This week, Iceman launches atop the Billboard 200, followed by Habibti and Maid of Honour, which enter the ranking of the most-consumed albums in the United States at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. Drake is the first act to claim the highest three spaces simultaneously, and Iceman earns one of the top starts of the year – but even the most successful hip-hop musician of all time (at least in some respects) couldn't beat the top group on the planet right now.Drake Launches Iceman With 463,000 UnitsIceman arrives with 463,000 equivalent units shifted. That number comes from Luminate, which gathers sales and streaming data, which is then used to compile the Billboard charts each week. The figure comes almost entirely from streaming platforms, as the 18 songs featured on its track list racked u...