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SPOTLIGHT NO. 412 · SINGAPORE · THU 20 AUG 2026 · 22:33 +00:00 Sign in Subscribe
Entertainment

BTS’ ‘Swim’ ties group record with 20-week Billboard Hot 100 run

BTS's 'Swim' has now spent 20 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, matching the group's previous record held by 'Butter'.

BTS’ ‘Swim’ ties group record with 20-week Billboard Hot 100 run
Photo:BTS' 'Arirang' remains on Billboard 200 for 20th consecutive week | yna PHOTOGRAPH

BTS has extended its chart dominance with the lead single from its fifth studio album Arirang, which has now spent 20 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. The track 'Swim' currently sits at No. 91 on the chart, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The 20-week stretch marks a significant milestone for the South Korean septet. It ties the record previously set by 'Butter', the group's 2021 megahit that held the same length of tenure on the Hot 100, making 'Swim' the group's longest-charting single to date.

The Arirang album itself continues to perform strongly on the Billboard 200, where it ranks at No. 14 this week, per Yonhap. The sustained chart presence underscores the enduring appeal of the group's catalogue among U.S. audiences, even as competition on the charts intensifies.

The milestone comes as BTS continues to tour in support of Arirang across North America. The group's presence on the Billboard charts has remained consistent throughout 2026, with the album and its singles maintaining visibility on both the main chart and the Hot 100 for an extended period—a feat that few acts, regardless of origin, achieve with regularity.

For context, charting for 20 weeks on the Hot 100 places a track among the more durable releases in popular music. Most songs peak and decline within a matter of weeks; sustained chart presence of this duration typically signals both listener retention and continued radio or streaming momentum. 'Swim' joins a relatively exclusive group of K-pop tracks that have maintained this level of chart longevity in the United States.

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