K-Pop band BTS is making news with its latest album, titled ARIRANG. Using a vinyl-first product strategy, and partnering with data and insights company Luminate (which powers the Billboard music charts), a case study of vinyl album success results. We learn that 208 thousand vinyl units were sold in the first week. That sales performance marks the sixth-largest vinyl week (“in the modern era,” the press release asserts) since tracking began in 1991.
Of course the release was produced in other formats as well; vinyl sales represented 40 percent of 532 thousand total sales. It launched as number one on the Billboard 200. More info HERE.
We learn that physical sales are a significant catalyst for chart placement: “Secure physical transactions such as CDs, Vinyl and cassettes can impact the Billboard 200 heavily,” according to Luminate.
