SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – DECEMBER 16: South Korean boy group Stray Kids attend the 2022 KBS Song … [+]
Since their debut, Stray Kids have been on an incredibly successful journey, rapidly becoming one of the biggest musical acts worldwide. With their latest releases, they have not only conquered the South Korean music scene but also demonstrated their global appeal, as evidenced by their remarkable CD sales in the U.S.
The impact of Stray Kids on the CD market is evident in Luminate’s list of the top 10 bestselling albums on CD in the U.S. at 2023’s midway point. The group occupies two spots on this prestigious chart, and they are the only act to achieve such a feat, a testament to their incredible ability to sell CDs even in a market that has seen a decline in physical music sales.
Leading the charge on the list for Stray Kids is their most recent release, 5-Star, which has sold a remarkable 322,000 copies on CD in the U.S. alone. This number pales in comparison to its global sales, as it has enjoyed immense success, especially in their home country, South Korea.
In the tenth spot on the top 10 ranking is Stray Kids’ 2022 offering, Maxident, which impressively sold an additional 114,000 copies on CD in America. The fact that this album continues to sell well even a year after its initial release is noteworthy.
Overall CD sales in the U.S. have seen a slight increase, with 17.5 million CDs sold at the halfway point of 2023. This represents a growth of a little more than 3% compared to the previous year. When focusing solely on Stray Kids’ two top 10 sellers, 5-Star and Maxident, their impact on the American market becomes even more apparent.
Stray Kids are responsible for at least 2% of all the CDs sold in the U.S. in 2023. It’s important to note that this figure only considers their latest releases and doesn’t take into account their older offerings, which have likely already been acquired by their devoted fan base and which may have sold a negligible amount.
The only act that surpasses Stray Kids in terms of selling copies of one title on CD this year is fellow K-pop favorite, Tomorrow X Together. Their album The Name Chapter: Temptation holds the distinction of being the bestselling CD in America so far this year, with an impressive 395,000 copies purchased.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2023/07/18/stray-kids-are-responsible-for-2-of-all-cd-sales-in-the-us-in-2023/