BTS' 'Arirang' tops 5 billion Spotify streams as 'Hooligan' MV crosses 100 million views

Even a track consisting entirely of a bell toll has now been streamed more than 200 million times. The track is a B-side on BTS' fifth full-length album "Arirang" — a recording of the Sungdeokdaewang Sinjong, the ancient Korean bell.

According to Big Hit Music on Wednesday, "No. 29" from BTS' album "ARIRANG" has surpassed 200 million streams on Spotify, the world's largest music streaming platform. The track is filled solely with the resonance of the Sungdeokdaewang Sinjong, also known as the Emille Bell, and contains not a single lyric. With even that wordless track crossing the 200 million mark, the album's cumulative stream count has surpassed 5 billion.

The milestone also makes "ARIRANG" the most-streamed album released this year. It leads second-place Olivia Rodrigo's third album — at around 3 billion streams — by roughly 2 billion plays. The title track "SWIM" is closing in on the 1 billion mark. Big Hit Music said the gap is striking compared with albums released around the same time by Bruno Mars and Harry Styles, which each logged roughly 1 billion to 2 billion streams. "ARIRANG" was released March 20 — the group's first full-member album in three years and nine months, following the completion of all seven members' mandatory military service.

The streaming records have now been matched by visual ones. At around 6:40 a.m. Wednesday, the music video for B-side "Hooligan" crossed 100 million views on YouTube — about six months after it was uploaded to the HYBE Labels YouTube channel on April 8. It is the third music video from "ARIRANG" to reach that threshold, following "SWIM" and "2.0."

The music video creates a striking color contrast by setting moss-covered gray structures against vivid red sets. When member Jin dons a black mask, dozens of dancers flood the frame, and the seven members perform a powerful synchronized routine at the center. The video was directed by Hannah Lux Davis, who has worked with Ariana Grande and Doja Cat.

"Hooligan" is an alternative hip-hop track that uses the sound of clashing blades as its rhythmic backbone. The song opens with a sharp blade sound layered over sweeping string melodies, underpinned by a deep 808 bass — the heavy low-end tone named after the Roland TR-808 drum machine. The track chronicles BTS' journey of forging their own path across the world, and it also serves as the opening number of their ongoing "ARIRANG" world tour. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 35 on the April 4 chart.

The album continues to show staying power. On the latest Billboard chart dated Oct. 17, announced Tuesday, "ARIRANG" ranked No. 43 on the Billboard 200. The album entered the chart at No. 1 on the April 4 edition, held the top spot for three weeks, and has remained on the chart for 29 consecutive weeks. "SWIM" ranked No. 27 on the Global 200 and No. 8 on the Global Excl. US chart.

The momentum is set to move to the big screen later this month. Lotte Cultureworks announced Tuesday that it will hold "HYBE Cine Fest 2026" at Lotte Cinema from Oct. 24 to Oct. 31. The event will screen live concert footage and music videos from HYBE artists at more than 1,100 screens across more than 60 countries, with Lotte Cinema serving as the exclusive domestic venue.

BTS' South American tour dates are at the heart of the event. Audiences will be able to watch "ARIRANG" world tour concerts live in theaters — the Buenos Aires, Argentina show on Saturday and the São Paulo, Brazil show on Oct. 31. BTS is currently making its way through South America this month, with stops including Peru and Chile.

Three concert films will also make their debut at the festival — one capturing Seventeen's Incheon concert and two featuring Tomorrow X Together and Enhypen's Seoul performances. All screenings will be held in a sing-along format, inviting audiences to join in. A "HYBE Cheering Party" will also take place, where fans can sing and cheer along to music videos and performance clips from 13 acts including BTS, Seventeen and Le Sserafim. The Lotte Cinema World Tower location in Seoul will feature a message wall where fans can leave notes for their favorite artists, along with a large photo zone.

"From the moment fans walk through the doors to the moment they leave the screen, we want the entire space to be filled with the energy of fandom culture and festival spirit," a Lotte Cinema official said.