BTS has made history as the first group and non-English act to have 16 albums surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify. The milestone came on January 10, 2026, when their 2014 debut full-length album Dark & Wild crossed the mark. Fans and music trackers celebrated the news right away. It extends BTS’s own record for the most albums hitting this level.
Dark & Wild came out over 11 years ago. It marked BTS’s first full album after earlier EPs. Tracks like “Danger” and “War of Hormone” showed their early hip-hop edge. At the time, the group was building a name in Korea. Few expected global success. Now, the album joins 15 others in Spotify’s Billions Club. That club tracks releases with over a billion plays.
BTS started in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment, now HYBE. The seven members—RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—brought personal lyrics about youth, mental health, and society. Their music mixed rap, pop, and R&B. Early albums focused on school life and dreams. As they grew, sounds evolved to include EDM, rock, and ballads.
Streaming changed everything for them. Spotify launched in South Korea in 2021, but fans abroad streamed heavily before that. Hits like “Dynamite” in 2020 broke barriers as an English track. It topped charts worldwide. But most of their catalogue stays in Korean. That makes the achievement stand out. No other non-English group comes close.
The 16 albums cover studio works, compilations, and repackages. Proof, their 2022 anthology, leads with billions across tracks. Map of the Soul: Persona and Love Yourself: Tear follow. Older ones like The Most Beautiful Moment in Life series took longer but got there through steady plays. Dark & Wild hitting now shows lasting appeal. Fans revisit early material often.
ARMY, the BTS fandom, drives much of this. They organise streaming parties and share playlists. During military service periods—most members enlisted starting in 2022—the group stayed active through solos and re-releases. Jin finished service first in 2024. Others follow through 2026. A full comeback is planned for later this year or early next.
This record puts BTS ahead in streaming history. They hold spots as the top-streamed K-pop act year after year. Solo projects add more. Jimin, Jungkook, and others have albums over a billion too. As a group, though, 16 stands alone. Artists like Drake or Taylor Swift have many, but mostly singles or features. Groups rarely match this depth.
Spotify data trackers like Kworb and Chartmasters confirmed the cross quickly. Posts on X and Reddit spread screenshots of counters. One fan account noted it ties BTS with acts like Future for total albums, but as a group and in one language mainly, it’s unique.
The news landed during a quiet period for new music. Members focus on service, but prerecorded content and solos keep momentum. Jungkook’s Golden and Jimin’s Face performed strongly. V’s Layover brought jazz vibes. Suga’s D-Day tour was big. These feed back into group streams.
K-pop owes a lot to BTS for global reach. They opened doors on platforms like Spotify. Now, groups like Stray Kids or Tomorrow X Together build on that. But BTS’s catalogue depth remains unmatched. Non-English acts from Latin music or elsewhere grow, yet none hit 16 full albums.
Reactions poured in online. Fans shared old performances from the Dark & Wild era. Clips of young BTS dancing or rapping trended. Some recalled buying physical copies back then. Others joked about streaming since debut to make this happen.
The milestone highlights longevity. Many groups fade after peaks. BTS built a catalogue that ages well. Themes resonate across generations. Translations and subtitles help non-Korean speakers connect.
Looking ahead, 2026 could bring more. A group album and tour are expected post-service. That might push streams higher. For now, this record cements their place in music history.
BTS started small but grew huge through talent and fan support. Sixteen albums and over a billion shows have a real impact. Music lovers worldwide keep playing their songs daily. Streams keep adding up. The story of BTS continues.
