Taylor Swift leads, K-Pop dominates: 7 Korean artists among 2024's best-selling CDs in the U.S.
K-pop dominated U.S. CD sales in 2024, with artists like Stray Kids and ENHYPEN shining on Luminate's year-end list. Amid thriving streaming platforms, physical albums highlighted fan dedication and global appeal.
2024 has been a year of outstanding music. While artists have been thriving on various music streaming platforms, true value often comes from dedicated fans purchasing physical CDs. Last year, K-pop artists once again dominated CD sales in the United States, underscoring their immense global appeal.
According to Luminate (formerly Nielsen Music), the data provider for Billboard charts, the year-end list of 2024's best-selling CDs highlights a strong performance by K-pop. The tracking period ran from December 29, 2023, to January 2, 2025.
Taylor Swift leads
Taylor Swift's influence remains unparalleled, particularly in the U.S. With her record-breaking Eras Tour and chart dominance, Swift ranked No. 1 with her album The Tortured Poets Department, which sold a staggering 1,512,000 copies. Additionally, her re-recorded album, 1989 (Taylor's Version), secured the 8th spot with 175,000 CDs sold.
K-Pop artists dominate
Seven of the top 10 best-selling CDs of 2024 in the U.S. were by K-pop artists, emphasizing their powerful presence. These rankings exclusively focus on CD sales, excluding digital downloads and other formats.
Stray Kids: Their album ATE was the best-selling CD by a group or male artist, ranking No. 2 overall with 442,000 copies sold. Their special album ºÏ (HOP) followed at No. 5, selling 248,000 copies despite its late release in the tracking period.
ENHYPEN: Their album ROMANCE : UNTOLD took the No. 3 spot with 363,000 copies sold.
ATEEZ: With two entries, GOLDEN HOUR : Part.1 ranked No. 4 with 250,000 copies sold, and GOLDEN HOUR : Part.2 came in at No. 7 with 225,000 copies.
TXT (TOMORROW X TOGETHER): minisode 3: TOMORROW earned the No. 6 position with 240,000 copies sold.
TWICE: The only girl group on the list, TWICE achieved No. 9 with their album With YOU-th, selling 174,000 copies in the U.S.
Billie Eilish makes the cut
Rounding out the list was Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Soft, which sold 165,000 CDs.
These impressive figures reflect the enduring popularity of physical albums, driven by passionate fandoms and high-quality productions.
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Karen Noronha is a versatile journalist with a passion for sports and K-pop. With over 7 years of experience at publications like IBTimes UK, DNA, and OTTPlay/DesiMartini, she seamlessly transitions between covering global athletic events and the dynamic world of K-pop.
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