Ateez Lands Third No. 1 on Albums Chart With ‘Golden Hour : Part.5’

K-pop sensation Ateez has achieved their third career number-one album on the Billboard 200 chart with "Golden Hour: Part.5," which debuted at the top after moving 228,000 equivalent album units. A staggering 223,000 of those units came from pure album sales, a result largely driven by an aggressive physical release strategy that included 30 different CD variants and five vinyl editions. This milestone marks the group's ninth top-ten entry on the chart, following previous chart-toppers "Golden Hour: Part.2" in 2024 and "The World EP.Fin: Will" in 2023. Dr. Sarah Kim, a music industry analyst at Seoul National University's Pop Culture Institute, noted, "Ateez's systematic approach to physical album releases, combined with the unwavering support of their global fanbase known as ATINY, has consistently propelled them to historic chart performance." The group's success underscores a broader trend in K-pop, where physical album sales remain a critical metric even as streaming dominates the Western market. This phenomenon reflects a dedicated collector culture among fans, who often purchase multiple versions to support their favorite artists and unlock exclusive content.

With this latest achievement, Ateez now holds the record for the most top-ten albums of any musical act in the 2020s, surpassing a previous tie with fellow K-pop acts Stray Kids and Tomorrow X Together. The eight-member group—comprising Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho—released their thirteenth EP "Golden Hour: Part.4" in February before dropping "Golden Hour: Part.5" late last month. The project arrived just days before the group made history as the third K-pop act to headline the prestigious BST Hyde Park festival in London, an outdoor concert series that has previously featured headliners like The Rolling Stones and Taylor Swift. Ateez, formed by KQ Entertainment in 2018, has built a reputation for high-energy performances and complex lore-driven concepts, setting them apart in the competitive K-pop landscape. Their 2023 "Break the Wall" tour sold out arenas across North America, Europe, and Asia, demonstrating their growing international appeal that extends beyond album sales to live performance dominance. KQ Entertainment, a relatively small agency compared to industry giants like SM or HYBE, has leveraged Ateez's unique storytelling and theatrical stage presence to carve out a distinct niche in the global market.

"Golden Hour: Part.5" stands as the only new entry in this week's top ten, shaking up a chart otherwise dominated by established hits. Olivia Rodrigo's "You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love" slipped to number two after a two-week reign with 127,000 equivalent album units, while Ella Langley's "Dandelion" held steady at number three. Drake's "Iceman" dropped from second to fourth position, and Morgan Wallen's "I'm the Problem" climbed back one spot to number five. Noah Kahan's "The Great Divide" followed at number six, while the chart also features two entries from Michael Jackson's catalog—"Thriller" at number seven and "Number Ones" at number eight. Wallen's "One Thing at a Time" landed at number nine, with Olivia Dean's "The Art of Loving" rounding out the top ten. Notably, "Thriller," originally released in 1982, continues to demonstrate its enduring commercial power, having sold over 100 million copies worldwide and remaining a staple on Billboard charts decades later. This longevity highlights how classic albums can maintain relevance through streaming and reissues, a testament to Jackson's lasting influence on pop music.