Kpop

Stray Kids Shatter Records with 'KARMA': #1 on Billboard 200 & Top Selling US Album of 2025

Stray Kids continue their global domination with their 4th album 'KARMA,' setting a new world record on the Billboard 200 and becoming the top-selling album in the US for 2025.

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Stray Kids Shatter Records with 'KARMA': #1 on Billboard 200 & Top Selling US Album of 2025

Stray Kids are no longer just raising the 위상 (wi-sang), or status, of K-pop—they are rewriting music history. The group has achieved a monumental, world-first record with their latest 정규 4집 (jeong-gyu sa-jip), or 4th full-length album, ‘KARMA’.

On September 25, it was confirmed that ‘KARMA’ debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. This marks their seventh consecutive album to top the chart, making Stray Kids the first artist in the 70-year history of the Billboard 200 to have all of their first seven chart entries debut at #1. This incredible streak includes ‘ODDINARY’, ‘MAXIDENT’, ’★★★★★ (5-STAR)’, ‘樂-STAR’, ‘ATE’, ‘合 (HOP)’, and now ‘KARMA’.

Dominating the US Market

According to data aggregator Luminate, ‘KARMA’ is officially the #1 best-selling album in the United States for 2025 based on year-to-date sales, with a staggering 392,899 copies sold as of September 18.

This achievement also makes Stray Kids the first K-pop artist to surpass 1 million in total album sales in the U.S. for a single year, a feat they have now accomplished for two years in a row. The album’s chart longevity is equally impressive, remaining in the top tier of the Billboard 200 for weeks and holding the #1 spot on the World Albums chart.

Global Reach and a Golden Touch

Stray Kids’ influence extends far beyond the U.S. The group recently earned a Gold certification for ‘KARMA’ from the French record industry association (SNEP) for surpassing 50,000 units sold. This is their fifth album to receive this honor in France, proving their consistent and widespread popularity across Europe.

What’s Next? The ‘dominATE : celebrATE’ Tour

STAYs won’t have to wait long to celebrate these historic achievements with the group. Stray Kids will be holding a 단독 콘서트 (dandok konseoteu), or solo concert, titled ‘Stray Kids World Tour ‘dominATE : celebrATE” at the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium on October 18 and 19.

For global fans unable to attend in person, the final show on October 19 will be streamed online via the Beyond LIVE platform, ensuring everyone can be part of the celebration.

Korean Vocabulary for Global Fans

Here are 5 Korean terms from this article to add to your K-pop dictionary:

  1. 정규 4집 (Jeong-gyu Sa-jip)

    • Pronunciation: jung-gyoo sa-jip
    • Meaning: 4th Full-Length Album. ‘정규’ (jeong-gyu) means full-length or regular, and ‘4집’ (sa-jip) means 4th album.

  2. 누적 음반 판매량 (Nu-jeok Eum-ban Pan-mae-ryang)

    • Pronunciation: noo-juck eum-ban pan-mae-ryang
    • Meaning: Accumulated Album Sales Volume. This term refers to the total number of albums sold over a period.

  3. 그룹 통산 (Geurup Tong-san)

    • Pronunciation: goo-roop tong-san
    • Meaning: Group’s Total. Used to signify a cumulative achievement over a group’s entire career, like their “seventh #1 in the group’s history.”

  4. 위상 (Wi-sang)

    • Pronunciation: wee-sang
    • Meaning: Status, Prestige, or Standing. The article mentions Stray Kids are elevating the “status” of K-pop on the global stage.

  5. 단독 콘서트 (Dandok Konseoteu)

    • Pronunciation: dan-dok kon-suh-tuh
    • Meaning: Solo Concert. Refers to a concert held by a single group or artist, not a festival.