Stray Kids Set Record for Seven No. 1 Albums in 70 Years of Billboard 200 

Stray Kids adds to their achievements by topping Billboard’s main album chart, the Billboard 200, with their newest release, “KARMA.” Released on August 22, their 4th studio album sold about 313,000 units in the US in its debut week. This achievement marks the group’s seventh consecutive No. 1 album, a feat no artist has accomplished since the chart launched.

The streak started with their 2022 mini-album “ODDINARY.” They then topped the chart with “MAXIDENT,” “5-STAR,” “ROCK-STAR,” “ATE,” “SKZHOP HIPTAPE,” and “合 (HOP).” Previously, only BTS, Linkin Park, and Dave Matthews Band had achieved multiple No. 1 albums in the 2000s. Stray Kids now stands alone with seven consecutive Billboard 200 No. 1 albums.

“KARMA” also broke the band’s own sales record. The album sold 313,000 units, including 296,000 physical copies, 16,000 streaming equivalent units (SEA), and 1,000 track equivalent units (TEA). This is 63,500 more than their previous record with the 3rd full “5-STAR” in 2023. It is the highest first-week US sales for a K-pop album in 2025 and the third highest overall, after Morgan Wallen and The Weeknd.

“KARMA” also performed strongly overseas. On the UK Official Albums Chart, it reached No. 22, their highest ranking in the UK. The title track, “CEREMONY,” hit No. 37 on the singles chart. 

The album topped the French SNEP Top Albums chart and the German Official Top 100 Albums chart. Plus, it ranked in the top 10 in the Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, and Lithuania.

Domestically, “CEREMONY” swept first-place positions on all major music shows during the final week of August. This included M Countdown (August 28), Music Bank (August 29), Show! Music Core (August 30), and Inkigayo (August 31).

“KARMA” is the group’s first full-length release in more than two years, produced entirely by their in-house team, 3Racha (Bang Chan, Changbin, Han). It has 11 tracks that explore growth, self-discovery, and overcoming challenges. 

Meanwhile, Stray Kids achieved a career first with a nomination for Best Group at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMA). They were also nominated for Best K-Pop for the fourth consecutive year for their previous hit, “Chk Chk Boom.”