BTS’ Taehyung’s ‘Layover’ Breaks Records as First Asian Soloist Album of 2020 to Hit 110 #1s on iTunes

On October 23, 2024, BTS member Taehyung made history with his album Layover, which marked the first record by an Asian solo artist in the 2020s to achieve the number one ranking in more than 110 countries. Globally, it stands as the second album ever to reach this impressive milestone. In addition to this, Layover has also broken several other records.

Featuring seven tracks that have each topped iTunes charts over 100 times, Taehyung has become the first K-pop solo artist to achieve this remarkable feat.

The album is notable for being the first-ever by an Asian soloist to produce at least three songs that have hit 100 number ones on the platform. Even a year post-release, Layover continues to set new records and dominate music charts.

Taehyung’s Layover Shatters iTunes Records

V’s solo album Layover not only highlights his musical range but has also set a series of records on iTunes and beyond.

In the 2020s, Layover emerged as one of the most successful albums on iTunes, ranking high in the list of albums with the most number one hits:

Speak Now by Taylor Swift – 126
Layover by V – 110
D-2 by Suga – 109

The 110 number ones for Layover span numerous countries, including:

UK
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Cambodia
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Estonia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gambia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guatemala
Guinea-Bissau
Hungary
Honduras
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldavia
Mozambique
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Norway
My own
Palestine / Israel
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
UAE
Uganda
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zimbabwe

Taehyung’s earlier release, Sweet Night, made history as the first song by an Asian solo artist to achieve #1 in 119 countries on iTunes. Furthermore, with the hits Sweet Night and Christmas Tree, he became the first artist to have two K-OSTs claim #1 in over 100 countries.

This year, his single FRI(END)S reached the milestone of 100 number ones on iTunes, making it a global first. It also marked Taehyung as the first K-pop artist to top the U.S. iTunes chart in 2024 with this song.

Beyond iTunes, Taehyung’s accomplishments are impressive. He is the first K-pop solo artist to have each track from Layover earn over 100 million streams on Spotify. He also made history in the U.S. by being the first Asian solo artist to sell over 100,000 units for every track on his album, showcasing his streaming supremacy.

Layover made a remarkable entry at #2 on the Billboard 200, with tracks like Slow Dancing and Love Me Again making an appearance on the Billboard Hot 100.

Additionally, he set a new precedent as the first K-pop solo artist to have every song from an album chart on both the Billboard Global 200 and the Global 200 Excl. US lists.

Worldwide Acclaim

Taehyung’s creative prowess is not only celebrated by fans but also recognized by music critics. The British publication NME characterized Layover as,

“An artistic choice rather than a commercial one, the wait was worthwhile.”

Moreover, the Portuguese media outlet FNAC incorporated Layover into their “Top 10 Albums You Should Know,”praising its fusion of jazz, soul, and pop, and its lyrical exploration of love, sorrow, and intimacy.

Taehyung’s solo career continues to break barriers and achieve new heights in both artistic and commercial realms.

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