▲ A scene from "KPop Demon Hunters" is seen in this image provided by Netflix. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- The original soundtrack (OST) album for Netflix animated film “K-pop Demon Hunters” has reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 main albums chart for the first time, its distributor said.

 

With this, the “K-pop Demon Hunters” OST has topped both Billboard’s Hot 100 main singles chart and Billboard 200 albums chart, marking a rare feat.

 

Billboard reported on Sunday (U.S. time) that the soundtrack album climbed to the top of the Billboard 200, surpassing Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend.”

 

The album debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 in its first week and had spent a non-consecutive total of seven weeks at No. 2 before finally reaching No. 1 this week.

 

Its lead single “Golden” has remained at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for four consecutive weeks.

 

Billboard noted that this marks only the seventh time an OST album has topped the Billboard 200 and the first since Disney’s “Encanto” in 2022.

 

The Billboard 200 ranks albums based on album units, a composite measure that includes traditional album sales, streaming equivalent albums (SEA), and track equivalent albums (TEA).

 

The “K-pop Demon Hunters” OST album earned 128,000 album units during the latest charting period. Of that, SEA accounted for 103,000 units, up 1 percent from the previous week. The album also ranked No. 1 on the Top Streaming Albums chart. Physical album sales were 23,000 units, up 56 percent, while TEA came in at 2,000 units.

 

Billboard attributed the surge in streaming and sales to nationwide sing-along screenings of “K-pop Demon Hunters” in the United States and the re-release of a deluxe edition of the album.

 

“The deluxe album, featuring 23 tracks, added sing-along and a cappella versions to the existing hits,” Billboard said, adding that a vinyl LP edition is scheduled for release on Oct. 17.

 

Meanwhile, boy group Stray Kids’ latest full-length album “Karma” ranked No. 8, down four spots from the previous week, with 32,000 album units. The album, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, has remained on the chart for three consecutive weeks.

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