BTS’s Anpanman Returns to No. 1 on Billboard Charts

• BTS’s Anpanman has returned to No.1 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart years after its release.
• The resurgence comes months ahead of BTS’s planned full-group reunion coming this spring.
• Solo releases and tours from Jungkook, Jimin, J-Hope, and Jin continue to perform strongly on global charts in 2025.

BTS's 2017 hip-hop track Anpanman has resurfaced on global music charts nearly seven years after its initial release. The surprising resurrection of the song shows BTS’s continued global appeal, as they prepare for their full-group reunion next spring.

Anpanman, the track from BTS's third full-length album “Love Yourself: Tear,” secured the top spot at Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart. This strong result was noticed during the Dec 20 tracking week, marking a bold return for an older release. Earlier this month, the song peaked at number one on the iTunes Top Songs chart in 75 countries around the world, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Italy.

The song's title and concept are inspired by a Japanese anime hero who, although lacks superpowers, offers pieces of himself to help others (anpan is a type of Japanese sweet bun). BTS uses the character as a symbol of optimism, solidarity, and endurance. The track’s rhythm and inspiring lyrics have resonated with audiences since its release, justifying its global resurgence. 

BTS Charting Solo Success Ahead of Full Group Return

The BTS members' individual chart momentum is also holding steady amidst the renewed interest in Anpanman. Jungkook's Seven and Jin's Don't Say You Love Me continue to rank on the Billboard Global 200. 

Furthermore, Jimin's title track, Who, from his second solo album “MUSE,” is placed at the 57th position in Billboard’s 2025 year-end Hot 100 chart. Along with that, industry reports suggest that BTS's anthology album “Proof” remained at ninth on the World Albums chart even after three years of its debut.

The member tours also yielded significant outcomes. As per Billboard data, J-Hope and Jin secured third and seventh position, respectively, in the Top 10 Highest Grossing K-Pop Tours of the Year 2025 list. Notably, J-hope received the highest ranking among solo artists.

The continuous success of BTS's individual efforts indicates one thing that BTS's global supremacy has not ceased, rather, it has diversified. Each member has been keeping the group's momentum going until their long-awaited reunion brings the exuberance back full force.