BTS’s “Swim” returns to the Adult Contemporary chart and reaches 20 weeks on the ranking, tying “Dynamite” and “My Universe” as the group’s longest-running hit. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 26: (L-R) Jungkook, V, Suga, Jin, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of music group BTS attend the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
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BTS has all but stopped promoting its latest album, Arirang, the group’s comeback set, which arrived this spring. The project was a massive commercial win when it dropped, and it brought the Grammy-nominated act back to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The title’s lead single, “Swim,” scored the boy band another leader on the Billboard Hot 100 as well, while follow-up cut “Normal” also proved to be a hit.
It is the former track that stands out as the only BTS tune to appear on any Billboard roster at the moment. As it mounts a minor comeback, “Swim” ties for a special place within the group’s discography.
BTS’s “Swim” Returns to One of Billboard’s Radio Chart
“Swim” returns to one roster in America this week: the Adult Contemporary chart, one of the three pop radio tallies published by Billboard. The cut settles into last place as it reenters the 30-space ranking.
As of this frame, “Swim” has spent 20 weeks on the Adult Contemporary chart. It ties as BTS’s longest-running hit on the radio rundown, matching both “Dynamite” and “My Universe,” the group’s team-up with Coldplay. In another bit of coincidence, all three of those smashes peaked at No. 16.
Only one other track by BTS has ever managed to carve out space on the Adult Contemporary roster. “Butter” debuted in June 2021, and by the following month, the tune reached its No. 25 peak. The song spent 10 weeks on the tally – exactly half as long as “Swim,” “My Universe” and “Dynamite.”
BTS Ties One of the Longest K-Pop Runs
As “Swim” makes it to an even 20 frames on the Adult Contemporary chart, it ties the aforementioned BTS wins as one of the fourth-longest-charting tracks by any K-pop act on the radio ranking.
The all-time record belongs to “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters, credited to Huntr/x as well as singers Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami. The award-winning smash remains inside the top 10 to this day and needs only two more frames before celebrating a full year on the Adult Contemporary tally.
Two Blackpink members also rank ahead of BTS’s longest-running hits. Lisa kept her solo smash “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me)” on the Adult Contemporary chart for 27 weeks, while Rosé’s “Apt.,” her Grammy-nomination collaboration with Bruno Mars, held on for 23.
BTS’s Arirang Moves in Different Directions on the Charts
Arirang can still be found on a trio of Billboard album rankings this week, and it experiences a different journey on each one. The full-length is steady at No. 29 on the Billboard 200, rises seven spaces to No. 18 on the Top Album Sales chart and slips one rung to No. 43 on the Top Streaming Albums roster.
Three BTS Releases Appear on the World Albums Chart
Arirang notably does not appear on the World Albums chart this week, though three other titles by BTS do take up space on the roster. Proof ranks highest among the trio, coming in at No. 6. The project is followed by Map of the Soul: 7 – The Journey at No. 9 and Love Yourself: Tear at No. 19.
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