BTS continue to dominate Australia's music scene as their latest release Arirang holds the top spot on the ARIA Albums Chart for a second consecutive week. The album, released via Virgin Music Group/Geffen, marks BTS' second project to spend multiple weeks at No. 1, following Map Of The Soul: 7, which ruled the chart for two weeks in 2020. Previous No. 1 debuts include Map Of The Soul: Persona and Proof, each spending one week at the summit in 2019 and 2022 respectively. Fans in Australia will get a live dose of BTS fever when the group's world tour hits Melbourne on February 12 and 13, followed by Sydney on February 20 and 21 next year.
Meanwhile, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, lands at No. 3 with his independently released album Bully, marking his seventh solo top 10 album in Australia. His past chart successes include Yeezus, YE, Jesus Is King, and Donda, all of which reached No. 1. Collaborative projects like Watch The Throne and Vultures 1 and 2 also topped the chart. Melanie Martinez debuts at No. 4 with Hades, her first album since 2023's Portals, which briefly led the chart. Raye scores a career-best No. 6 with her sophomore release This Music May Contain Hope, a major leap from her debut's No. 97 peak. Robyn enters at No. 12 with Sexistential, her highest ARIA position to date. Courtney Barnett also returns, landing at No. 19 with Creature Of Habit, her fourth solo album.
BTS holding strong in Australia proves their global pull hasn't dimmed, even as Afrobeats artists fight for similar longevity abroad. While Nigerian acts dominate local charts, few have matched this kind of sustained international chart run — a benchmark worth aiming for.
