BLACKPINK’s “Deadline” Sells 1.46 Million Copies on First Day – Highest Figure for Any K-Pop Girl Group

BLACKPINK set a new sales record for K-pop girl groups with their third mini-album, “Deadline.” Released on February 27, the album sold 1,461,785 copies in its first day, marking the highest first-day sales figure among K-pop girl groups. Initial sales—sales within the first week of release—are expected to exceed 2 million copies.

Not only album sales but also digital metrics are exceeding expectations. The music video for the title track “Go” immediately topped YouTube’s Worldwide Trends page upon release and rose straight to the top of the global daily most popular music videos chart. It has now surpassed 30 million views and secured first place on iTunes album charts in over 30 regions. It also entered the top ranks on China’s QQ Music, further solidifying the group’s position in the global pop market.

“Deadline” consists of five tracks. Starting with the EDM-based preview track “Jump” released in July last year, it includes the title track “Go,” “Me & My,” which features a retro hip-hop style, “Champion” with an inspirational theme, and the ballad “f(x)xxxBoy.” While expanding across various genres, the album maintains the group’s signature direct energy.

The music video for “Go” attracted attention for its grand visual presentation, blending furious waves, cosmic spaces, and massive terrain. Within a surreal aesthetic that merges mythology and science fiction, the four members transform into mythological machines symbolizing infinite cycles and the source of hidden energy. The contrast between Korean traditional patterns and pale visuals is also notable.

The guest musicians involved are equally distinguished. Chris Martin from Coldplay, Rosé, and Grammy-winning producer Serkis collaborated on composing “Go,” while Teddy, head of The Black Label, handled the arrangement. For “Champion,” songwriter Lee Jae, who contributed to the soundtrack of Netflix’s animated series “K-Pop Demon Hunters” and sang the hit song “Golden,” wrote both the lyrics and music.

Behind BLACKPINK’s successful comeback is the rarity of their full-group return after 3 years and 5 months. During the group’s hiatus, each member expanded their individual influence through solo albums and collaborations with global brands. Analysts believe this accumulated individual momentum combined during group activities triggered a surge in initial demand. Additionally, the group’s platform fanbase, built on reaching 100 million YouTube subscribers recently, also contributed to accelerating these results.