▲ K-pop supergroup BTS poses for photos after winning Artist of the Year at the 2026 American Music Awards in Las Vegas on May 25, 2026, in this image provided by BigHit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

BTS-Spotify streams

BTS' 'Swim' hits 500 mln Spotify streams milestone

SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- "Swim," the latest hit from K-pop supergroup BTS, has surpassed 500 million streams on Spotify, becoming the first song released this year to reach the milestone globally, the group's agency BigHit Music said Wednesday.

The track from the septet's fifth studio album, "Arirang," is an upbeat alternative popsong about navigating life's challenges, with lyrics co-written by BTS front man RM.

Released in March, "Arirang" made history as the first K-pop album to spend three consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200. "Swim" also topped the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's seventh chart-topping single.

All tracks from the album have exceeded 100 million streams on Spotify, including "No. 29," an experimental piece composed solely of the sound of the Sacred Bell of Great King Seongdeok. Songs, such as "Body to Body" and "Hooligan," have each surpassed 200 million streams as of this month.

BTS won three awards at the American Music Awards in Las Vegas on Monday (U.S. time), including Artist of the Year.

In an acceptance speech, the members said they hoped their music would encourage listeners to "keep swimming forward" in any circumstances.

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