Stray Kids Report More Than 2.2 Million In Pre-Orders For Upcoming ‘Maxident’ Album

Stray Kids are about to embark on a globally successful era according to the early numbers.

Ahead of the K-pop boy band’s Maxident EP release on October 7, reports revealed that the forthcoming record had earned more than 2.24 million in physical stock pre-orders. Even ahead of its release, this would make it one of the most sought-after Korean albums ever, as only two records had earned more in pre-orders: BTS’ Map of the Soul: Persona earned over three million pre-orders in 2019, only for BTS to outdo themselves with Map of the Soul: 7 posting four million in 2020.

Unlike most of the music business today, the K-pop industry focuses heavily on selling physical albums. While the LPs command a higher price point, fans consider Korean albums more than worth the cost as physical packages aren’t just plastic cases with a CD inside but include multipage booklets, lyrics, posters, collectible photo cards and other items. The number of reported stock pre-orders refers to the albums produced before the record’s release. These figures can give a sense of estimated demand by accounting for how many copies were pre-ordered by fans and anticipated sales come release day.

The numbers are particularly impressive for Stray Kids, with the massive hype coming more than a week before Maxident’s release. Previously, the group reported 1.3 million stock pre-orders earned just ahead of the release of their Oddinary album released in March. That EP was the group’s first after signing with Republic Records and landed them their first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 to become just the third-ever Korean act to top the U.S. albums chart.

Fans haven’t gone in blind when it comes to Maxident pre-orders either. While fans can count on Stray Kids’ involvement in their music production and writing (as they have since debut), the group is teasing various tracks from the album through quick visuals. Once the pre-order numbers were unveiled, Stray Kids had already revealed clips of five different tracks with each teaser earning more than half a million views on YouTube.

With such an increase in early demand, Maxident has the potential not only to once again top the charts in Korea and America but reach higher and further show Stray Kids’ reach in new markets as well.

Maxident, along with the new single “Case 143,” officially drops on Friday, October 7.