Stray Kids Reach New Heights on Billboard 200 Chart
Stray Kids Achieve Historic Milestone with HOP, Debuting at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart! As their latest album HOP claims the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart for the week dated December 28, Stray Kids make history as the first musical act to debut at No. 1 with their first six charting albums. This remarkable accomplishment highlights the group’s growing influence and popularity in the music industry, marking a significant moment since the Billboard 200 began weekly publications in March 1956.
Building on Their Success: Stray Kids’ Chart-Topping Albums. Stray Kids have previously risen to the top of the Billboard 200 chart with their earlier releases such as ODDINARY and MAXIDENT in 2022, followed by ROCK-STAR and 5-STAR in 2023, and their album ATE earlier in 2024. Their consistent ability to reach the summit of this prestigious chart underscores their artistic evolution and dedicated fanbase, further solidifying their position as leaders in the K-pop genre and beyond.
A Historic Comparison: Stray Kids and DMX’s Chart Achievements. Before this remarkable feat, Stray Kids were tied with the late rapper DMX, who also saw his first entries debut at No. 1 from 1998 to 2003 with albums like It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot (1998), Flesh of My Flesh Blood of My Blood (1999), …And Then There Was X (2000), The Great Depression (2001), and Grand Champ (2003). This comparison not only showcases the competitive nature of the Billboard 200 but also highlights the significance of Stray Kids’ accomplishment in the context of music history.
Understanding the Billboard 200: How Album Rankings Are Determined. The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums in the United States each week based on a multi-metric consumption model compiled by Luminate. This comprehensive evaluation includes various factors such as album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA), and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit is calculated as one album sale, or the equivalent of ten individual track sales from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported streams, or 1,250 paid/subscription streams of the songs from the album. The complete chart for December 28, 2024, will be available on Billboard‘s website on Tuesday, December 24. For the latest updates, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
The Evolution of the Billboard 200: A Look at Chart History. Since its inception in March 1956, over 1,200 different albums have reached the coveted No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart. Initially, until Luminate’s electronically monitored tracking system was adopted in May 1991, only six albums had debuted at No. 1. Following this change, debuting at No. 1 became a more common occurrence, transforming the landscape of the music industry. In 2024 alone, 22 out of 24 albums that held the No. 1 position achieved this status upon debut, showcasing the shifting dynamics and increasing competitiveness of the chart in contemporary music.
