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Stray Kids scores seventh No. 1 on Billboard 200 with KARMA

Stray Kids has surpassed BTS, Linkin Park, and Dave Matthews Band.
by PEP team
Published Sep 2, 2025
stray kids members
K-pop powerhouse Stray Kids have achieved their seventh consecutive No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with their latest full-length release, KARMA. Stray Kids is composed of (from left) Hyunjin, Lee Know, Seungmin, I.N, Changbin, Han, Felix, Bang Chan.
PHOTO/S: JYP Entertainment

K-pop powerhouse Stray Kids have made Billboard 200 history with their latest full-length album, KARMA, debuting at No. 1 and marking their seventh consecutive chart-topping release.

This accomplishment establishes them as the first act ever in Billboard's 70-year history to have their first seven entries debut at the summit.

With KARMA, they also now hold the record for most No. 1 albums by any musical group in the 21st century, surpassing iconic acts like BTS, Linkin Park, and Dave Matthews Band.

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Commercially, KARMA delivered 313,000 equivalent album units in its first week in the U.S.—including 296,000 in pure sales, both career highs for the group—and was the third-largest debut week of 2025.

In South Korea, the album started strong with over 2 million copies sold on day one and topped 3 million sales within its first week, earning the title of best-selling K-pop album of 2025 so far.

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On streaming platforms, KARMA garnered 18.26 million Spotify streams on its release day, marking the highest single-day streaming performance by a K-pop album in 2025.

JYP & Stray Kids React

JYP Entertainment hailed the achievement as “a historic record in the 70-year history of the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.”

Meanwhile, Stray Kids members expressed humility and gratitude in their statement, sharing their awe at how all seven of their entries have launched at No. 1—a testament to the support of their fans (STAYS)—and reinforcing their dedication to creating meaningful music.

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Seven Years of Milestones: Stray Kids' Rise to Global Stardom

Formed in March 2018, Stray Kids—Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N—have reached extraordinary heights:

They made history with their first six Billboard 200 entries (Oddinary, Maxident, 5-Star, Rock-Star, Ate, Hop) all debuting at No. 1. KARMA continues that unprecedented streak.

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In 2023, they became the first K-pop group ever to exceed 5 million album pre-orders, and their albums 5-Star and Rock-Star ranked among the world’s best-selling that year.

They’ve landed on prestigious global lists—including Time’s 2023 Next Generation Leaders and Forbes Asia’s 30 Under 30 (2025)—and ranked among the top-selling global artists in 2022–23 per IFPI.

As of December 2024, their combined Korean and Japanese album sales totaled over 31 million copies.

They headlined major international festivals and shows—including first-ever performances at Lollapalooza, Hyde Park, and beyond—and made history as the first K-pop boy band headlining such venues.

They marked a first by being featured on the cover of Rolling Stone UK and drew global acclaim for their record-breaking achievements.

dominATE World Tour: 54 Shows. 2.15M Attendees. $260M Gross

Stray Kids’ dominATE World Tour —their third world tour—ran from August 24, 2024 (Seoul) to July 30, 2025 (Rome), spanning 54 shows across Asia, Australia, Latin America, North America, and Europe.

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According to industry data, the tour:

  • Achieved over 2.15 million tickets sold and generated approximately $260 million in revenue, making it the biggest concert tour in K-pop history to date .
  • Set regional records:

- Latin America (8 shows): 361,000 tickets sold with $41.1 million grossed—the most for any K-pop tour leg in the region.

- North America (13 shows): 491,000 tickets sold and $76.2 million grossed—highest-grossing, best-selling K-pop tour leg in North America ever.

- Europe (8 shows): 391,000 tickets sold with $64.5 million grossed—record-setting attendance and sales in Europe.

  • Billboard reports the tour sold 1.3 million tickets (reported shows) and grossed $185.9 million, already a record for a South Korean artist

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K-pop powerhouse Stray Kids have achieved their seventh consecutive No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with their latest full-length release, KARMA. Stray Kids is composed of (from left) Hyunjin, Lee Know, Seungmin, I.N, Changbin, Han, Felix, Bang Chan.
PHOTO/S: JYP Entertainment
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