Stray Kids Achieves First Group in Billboard 200 History to Top Chart with Six Consecutive Albums via “HOP”

Stray Kids secured the first place on the Billboard 200 album chart (for the issue dated December 28, 2024) with their new album “HOP.” This achievement makes them the only artist in history to debut all six of their albums on the Billboard 200 at number one. Stray Kids had previously reached the top spot with “Oddinary” and “Maxident” in 2022, “Rock-Star” and “5-Star” in 2023, and “ATE” earlier in 2024. With this sixth number-one album, they join BTS, Linkin Park, and Dave Matthews Band as the groups with the most Billboard 200 victories since the 2000s. “HOP” entered the chart in the United States with 187,000 equivalent album units, of which 176,000 came from album sales, 10,000 from streaming equivalent albums, and 1,000 from track equivalent albums. Prior to this, Stray Kids were the only artists alongside the late rapper DMX to debut all five of their initial charting albums at number one. DMX set this record between 1998 and 2003 with albums such as “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot” (1998), “Flesh of My Flesh Blood of My Blood” (1999), “…And Then There Was X” (2000), “The Great Depression” (2001), and “Grand Champ” (2003). The 176,000 album sales for “HOP” were bolstered by seven different CD variations, each including collectible items like photo cards, posters, stickers, and trading cards (some containing random items). These variations were available exclusively at stores such as Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart, and the official website. Of the 176,000 album sales, 171,000 were physical CD sales, while 5,000 were digital downloads. The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums in the United States each week, based on equivalent album units calculated by Luminate. One unit is equal to one album sold, or ten individual songs from an album sold, or 3,750 ad-supported streams, or 1,250 paid or subscription-based on-demand audio or video streams.