BTS member Jimin has set a new record in global music. He became the first and only K-pop solo artist to reach number one on the Billboard Artist 100 chart. This achievement happened during the week of April 8, 2023, powered by the success of his first solo album, FACE, and its hit song Like Crazy. The news has sparked massive celebration online, with fans calling him “the undisputed king” of K-pop.
How Jimin Reached the Top of the Billboard Artist 100
Jimin’s jump to the top of the Artist 100 was sudden and powerful. He moved from the 10th spot directly to 1st place in a single week. This chart measures an artist’s overall popularity by combining data from album sales, individual track sales, radio play, and streaming numbers.
The main force behind this record was his debut solo album, FACE. The album itself started at an impressive No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 164,000 equivalent album units. At the same time, the album’s English version track, Like Crazy, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This made Jimin the first South Korean solo artist ever to have a song top the Hot 100. Reaching number one on both the Hot 100 and the Artist 100 at the same time is a very rare feat.
“Jimin jumps from No. 10 to No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart, becoming the top musical act in the United States for the first time.”
This achievement also placed Jimin ahead of his very successful BTS bandmates. He is the first member of BTS to hit No. 1 on the Artist 100 as a soloist. Before this, only full K-pop groups like BTS, BLACKPINK, and Stray Kids had led the Artist 100 chart.
Fan Reactions and Online Celebration for Jimin’s Record
The news of Jimin’s Billboard record created an immediate wave of excitement across social media platforms. Fans, known as ARMY, used hashtags like #JIMIN and #Artist100 to spread the word and celebrate.
Many fan posts highlighted the historic nature of being “first and only.” One fan page wrote, “Jimin makes HISTORY as the FIRST & ONLY K-pop soloist to rank #1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart!”. This sense of pride in a “first-ever” achievement was a common theme. Discussions also compared Jimin’s sustained success on the charts with other artists. Some fans pointed out his long-term presence, noting he has spent 77 weeks on the Billboard Japan Artist 100 chart as of January 2026.
A frequent comment from the fan community focused on Jimin’s global impact with less traditional promotion. “He stays consistent with his records!” noted one reaction, with many fans adding calls for a “JIMIN WORLD TOUR NEXT!”. The accomplishment was seen not just as a one-time win, but as proof of his lasting power as a solo artist.
Jimin’s Lasting Chart Success and Streaming Records
Jimin’s record on the Artist 100 was not a one-time event. It marked the beginning of a pattern of long-term success on Billboard charts. For instance, as of January 2026, data shows he has spent many weeks on various charts, including 34 nonconsecutive weeks on the Artist 100 and 77 weeks on the Billboard Japan Artist 100.
His success is even more clear on streaming platforms. As of January 2026, Jimin has reached a huge milestone on Spotify. He has surpassed 6.5 billion streams using only his pure solo songs—tracks with no featured artists. This makes him the first K-pop soloist to hit this number with solo-only work.
- Leading Track: The song Who from his second album MUSE has over 2.25 billion streams.
- Historic Hit: The track Like Crazy has more than 1.4 billion streams.
- Album Performance: His albums FACE and MUSE have a combined 6.4 billion streams on Spotify.
These streaming numbers show that Jimin’s music continues to be discovered and played by millions of people worldwide long after its release, building a strong foundation for his chart achievements.
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The Bigger Picture for BTS and K-Pop Soloists
Jimin’s breakthrough on the Artist 100 is a significant moment in the larger story of BTS members’ solo work. The group announced a period of focus on individual projects, and each member has found success. Jimin’s feat, however, broke a new barrier that no other Korean solo act had crossed before.
Several BTS members had placed songs on the Hot 100 before Jimin’s Like Crazy. The list includes entries from J-Hope, Suga, V, Jung Kook, and Jin. But Jimin was the first to reach the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100, and subsequently, the Artist 100. This has opened the door and set a new standard for what K-pop soloists can achieve on the global stage.
The record adds to BTS’s own history of breaking barriers in the Western music industry. They were the first South Korean act to top the Billboard charts back in 2020. Jimin carrying that legacy forward as a soloist shows the group’s deep and lasting influence, as well as the individual strength of its members.
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