TWICE ranked second on the U.S. Billboard’s main chart, “Billboard 200,” once again achieving their own highest ranking.
According to Billboard’s official website on March 22nd (Korea Standard Time), TWICE ranked second on the Billboard main chart “Billboard 200” on March 25 with their 12th mini album “Ready to Be” released on March 10.
With a total of 153,000 albums and streaming sales, TWICE showed a significant increase compared to 100,000 copies of their previous and 11th mini album “Between 1&2.”
“Billboard 200” 6th place → 3rd place → 2nd place: Step-by-step growth
TWICE, who first entered the “Billboard 200” chart in June 2020 with their 9th mini album “More and More,” raised their ranking to second place in about two years and nine months and stood out on the chart.
Following 72nd place in December 2020, 6th place in the 10th mini album “Taste of Love” in June 2021, 3rd place in “Formula of Love: O+T=<3” in November 2021, and 2nd place in the 11th mini album “Ready to Be” in August 2022. TWICE, who has recorded a total of four albums in the top 10, the most in the history of K-pop girl groups, is finally reaching their highest point in terms of total album and streaming sales as well as ranking.
In addition, TWICE topped four Billboard charts, including Top Current Album Sales, World Album, and Taste Maker Album, as well as the third top spot on the Top Album Sales chart with their 12th mini album and title song “Set Me Free,” and 21st place on the Billboard charts.
9th year of debut, new “Career High”: Keen attention from foreign media
TWICE recorded “Career High” again on the Billboard chart as well as various indicators that gauge the group’s growth. As of March 7th, three days before its official release, TWICE’s new album exceeded 1.7 million pre-orders and received the highest record with 651,205 albums sold in the first week based on Hanteo Chart.
After topping the weekly chart of Hanteo Chart albums (03.06~03.12) and the weekly chart of retail albums (03.05~03.11) in 2023, it was also ranked at the top in major European albums charts such as France, Germany, and Switzerland, confirming its worldwide influence and popularity.
In addition, it drew attention by ranking second in the top album debut global and USA charts (03.10~03.12) and the top album debut UK charts (03.06~03.10), respectively, released by Spotify, the world’s largest music streaming platform.
Foreign media also praised the album, which has a different transformation and solid determination of TWICE, which has entered their ninth year of debut.
In a review article that begins with the English version of the title track “Set Me Free,” “I want it all and I ain’t ever gonna settle Even if all of this is just a fantasy,” British music magazine NME noted their bold and subjective attitude and expressed expectations for greater growth potential.
Rolling Stone, a leading U.S. music magazine, also highlighted, “The nine members of TWICE, who are recognized K-pop veterans, are becoming stronger as bold artists who pursue what they want.”
Launching their own largest world tour
TWICE gave off a special presence on the world stage ahead of their comeback, foreshadowing a new record for their new album. The English single “Moonlight Sunrise,” which was pre-released on Jan 20, succeeded in entering the Billboard Hot 100 for the second time in TWICE’s career after the first English single “The Fields” in October 2021.
TWICE was honored as the first K-pop artist to lift the trophy at the big awards ceremony “Billboard Women in Music” held at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on March 1 (local time).
Celebrating TWICE’s comeback, New York’s flagship landmark Empire State Building changed to TWICE’s official colors, and TWICE hosted a comeback live here and had fun communicating with ONCEs around the world.
Shortly after winning the Billboard Women in Music award, TWICE expressed special gratitude to ONCEs who have always been by their side, saying, “We will continue to challenge endlessly and break down barriers.”
TWICE, who has discovered their growth momentum and meaning from nine members and ONCEs, is expected to respond to the precious dreams that fans have achieved with a dreamlike time.
Starting with Seoul on April 15 and 16, TWICE will launch their fifth world tour, “READY TO BE,” including a total of six stadium shows in Australia, Japan, and North America. Among them, TWICE will hold the first-ever Japanese stadium concert by K-pop girl group history at Yanma Stadium Nagai in Osaka and Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo in May, and enter SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in June and MetLife Stadium in New York in July.
Source: Daum.
