BTS Sells Over 500 Million Units, Matching The Beatles

• BTS sold 500 million units and received 104 billion streams, making them globally the biggest band.
• Following military service, the members trained together in Los Angeles, with Arirang receiving 4.06M pre-orders in its first week.
• HYBE earned ₩2.65 trillion in 2025, with BTS now aiming to boost it even more while prioritizing longevity over industry accolades.

BTS is on track for a supercharged return, generating excitement throughout the music sector. In its Feb 13, 2026 cover story, GQ dubbed the seven-member band "The Biggest Band in the World," noting their milestone achievement of selling more than 500 million units with over 104 billion global streams. This scale positions them beside The Beatles as the only groups to have surpassed the 500M milestone.

Discipline Rebuilt BTS’ Core

GQ notes that by 2025, when all members had completed their mandatory military service, RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook had relocated to Los Angeles. The report revealed they lived together, trained together, and followed a set schedule. Reportedly the schedule was set to rebuild unity within the group with great discipline. It began with gymming together in the morning while working in the studio from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. post lunch, six days a week.

The result of this hard work is their fifth studio album, Arirang, which is set to be released on March 20, 2026. The group album, named after Korea's traditional folk ballad representing unity and national identity, ends their hiatus, as it is set to become one of contemporary pop's most-awaited returns.

BTS: Market Impact, Chart Dominance

The early signals of success for BTS’ comeback are already being observed. Market analysts predict that their accompanying global tour is estimated to significantly impact the global music scene. Additionally, Arirang is already setting new records as it received 4.06M pre-orders in its first week, the most for any BTS album. Furthermore, Spotify pre-saves topped 1.4M in two days, thereby becoming the fastest album to top the platform's countdown chart.

The return also comes amidst a remarkable solo cycle of the members. Jungkook's Seven (feat. Latto) remained on the Billboard Global 200 for more than 117 weeks, eventually reaching No. 74 on the 2025 year-end list and No. 85 among Global 200 Artists. On the other hand, Jimin's Like Crazy debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100, while Who finished at No. 57 on the year-end chart and surpassed 2.25B Spotify streams. As for other members, RM crossed 3B solo streams, with V surpassing 4.7B. Completing the circle of success, the remaining three members, J-Hope, Suga, and Jin, have also charted multiple No. 1s in digital song sales.

HYBE’s Power BTS and Their Long Game

Behind everything is HYBE, the engine that powers BTS’ cultural revival. The label reported a staggering ₩2.65 trillion (~$1.8B USD) in income in 2025. This rapid expansion of HYBE, fueled by unwavering fan engagement and the strategic success of both individual projects and diversified artist roster, lays the groundwork for the label’s next chapter. 

While HYBE scales its diverse global roster, the success metrics for BTS, their most successful act, have evolved. As group leader, RM pointed out in the GQ interview, this new chapter stands out by the goal of longevity rather than chasing awards such as the Grammys. What is visible is that after four years of personal development and military service, the group isn't gathering just to replay the past. With Arirang, BTS is counting on their collective unity as the ultimate development strategy, moving beyond nostalgia to sustain their popularity for years to come.