BTS' "Anpanman" Reclaims Billboard World Chart No. 1 After 7 Years; Full Group Return Imminent

BTS’s 2017 song “Anpanman” once again topped Billboard’s charts approximately 7 years and 7 months after its release. According to Big Hit Music on the 16th, “Anpanman” secured first place on the December 20 issue of Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart. Initially included as a B-side track on their third studio album *Love Yourself ‘Tear*, released in 2018, “Anpanman” is a hip-hop dance track conveying messages of hope and energy. It draws its name from the Japanese anime character Anpanman, who represents the power of a kind heart to defeat evil. The song features lyrics and melodies that portray BTS as heroes in everyday life. This resurgence of “Anpanman” was also observed on international music platforms. As of December 9, the track ranked first on iTunes Top Songs charts in 75 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Mexico. In the UK, it reached 12th place on the Official Singles Download chart, 24th on the Official Singles Sales chart, and 7th on Billboard Digital Song Sales chart. Big Hit Music explained that this chart comeback is the result of ARMY, the fanbase, uniting together ahead of BTS’s full group return scheduled for next spring. They stated, “The fact that this song is so beloved is proof that ARMY is coming together to support BTS’s comeback next spring.” BTS members’ solo activities also maintain strong performance on charts. Jung Kook’s solo track “Seven” (2023) is ranked 150th on Billboard Global 200 chart, while Jin’s “Don’t Say You Love Me” is at 166th. The members’ solo tours have also been successful. On Billboard’s 2025 K-pop Tour Revenue TOP 10 list, J-hope’s solo tour ranked 3rd, and Jin’s tour ranked 7th. J-hope attracted over 500,000 fans across 33 performances in Asia and North America, while Jin gathered approximately 300,000 fans through 18 performances in Asia, North America, and Europe.