BTS vs EXO: Album Sales and Streaming Dominance in K-Pop
As of August 2023, BTS has surpassed EXO in overall album sales. BTS's consistent success can be seen in their numerous record-breaking album sales, both domestically and internationally. As of 2021, BTS has sold a total of 276 million pure and digital units, while EXO has sold 189 million. However, the streaming era has significantly impacted these numbers. BTS holds the title for the most streams globally with over 52 billion across all streaming platforms, whereas EXO has sold around 11 billion streams.
Album Sales Breakdown
BTS has achieved remarkable commercial success, particularly during the Love Yourself era, where their albums have cumulatively sold 68 million units worldwide. In contrast, the Dont Mess Up With Me era marked EXO's best-selling period, with around 68 million units sold. While these figures highlight EXO's strong performances, it is clear that BTS has consistently outperformed EXO in terms of album sales over the years.
Commercial Success
BTS has cemented its place in the K-pop industry by surpassing 40 million album equivalent sales by 2019 alone. Their most recent release, Map of the Soul: 7, sold over 5 million physical copies, not including digital or streaming sales. This achievement, combined with their four consecutive Daesang Awards (the highest award in the Korean music industry) at both the Melon Music Awards (MMAs) and Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMAs) in 2019, further solidifies BTS's dominance in the K-pop landscape. No other group has achieved such an accolade, making BTS a historical landmark in the Korean music scene.
Digital Sales and Streaming Impact
The streaming era has given BTS a competitive edge in digital sales, significantly boosting their overall performance. With a global streaming total exceeding 52 billion streams, BTS has led the pack in digital consumption. On the other hand, EXO's digital market share, while still significant, has scaled down to around 11 billion streams.
Conclusion
In summary, BTS has not only outperformed EXO in album sales but also established itself as a streaming powerhouse. BTS's consistent commercial success and innovative approach to digital music have set a new standard in the K-pop industry. While EXO has remained a popular and successful group, BTS's sales and streaming numbers demonstrate a clear lead in overall album sales and digital consumption, making them the indisputable leaders in the K-pop album market.