Stray Kids have done it again — and this time, they’ve etched their name into music history.
With their fourth full-length album KARMA, released on August 22, the group topped the Billboard 200 chart dated September 6, marking their seventh consecutive No. 1 debut. This achievement is unprecedented in the 70-year history of the chart, which first launched in 1956.
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| Photo Credit - JYP Entertainment |
According to Billboard’s preview article, KARMA sold approximately 313,000 album units in the U.S. during its first week — their best performance yet. Of this, nearly 296,000 were pure album sales, also a personal record for the group. The new tally surpasses their previous high of 249,500 copies with ★★★★★ (Five Star) in 2023, cementing KARMA as the top-selling K-pop album of 2025 in its opening week.
This feat also places Stray Kids above BTS, who previously held the record with six No. 1s, making them the K-pop act with the most Billboard 200 chart-toppers ever.
A Global Chart Sweep
Beyond the U.S., KARMA stormed charts worldwide. It hit No. 1 in France and Germany, reached No. 22 in the UK Official Albums Chart (their highest yet), and entered the Top 10 in Australia, New Zealand, and Lithuania. The title track, Ceremony, even debuted at No. 37 on the UK Official Singles Chart.
Stray Kids also set a record i Korea with "Karma," which posted the highest first-week sales of any K-pop album this year, the group's agency said Friday.
JYP Entertainment said the group's fourth full-length album, released on Monday, sold 3.03 million copies in its first week, citing data from Hanteo Chart, a local tracker of K-pop album sales.
It was the only K-pop album this year to surpass 3 million sales in the first week.
The Music and the Message
KARMA is Stray Kids’ first studio album in over two years, featuring 11 tracks centered on resilience, self-belief, and growth. Produced largely by their in-house team 3RACHA (Bang Chan, Changbin, Han), the record stays true to the group’s “mala-tang” musical identity — fiery, unapologetic, and genre-bending.
At a recent press conference, member Changbin reflected on the journey:
“In the beginning, we doubted whether our music was the right path. But with the faith of our members and STAY, we gained confidence. Overcoming those struggles brought us to this dreamlike moment.”
Sweeping Awards and Stages
The momentum doesn’t stop at the charts. Stray Kids swept all four major Korean music shows during the last week of August with Ceremony and earned two MTV VMA nominations this year, including their first nod for Best Group.
Meanwhile, their global tour continues to expand their fanbase, with sold-out shows across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, proving their reputation as one of K-pop’s most electrifying live acts.