SINON

In the golden haze of summer’s final stretch, one thing’s clear: K-pop isn’t just a playlist—it’s a collectible culture. While most of the music world chases streams, K-pop fans are doubling down on physical CD purchases, propelling their favorite acts to the top of U.S. sales charts in 2025.

Luminate, the data company formerly known as Nielsen Music and the backbone of Billboard’s rankings, released its midyear CD sales tally this July—and it reads like a love letter to K-pop fandom.

From January 3 to July 3, five of the top ten CD albums sold in the United States belonged to K-pop artists. That’s not just genre domination—it’s a global takeover.

🌟 The Idols Leading the Charge

• Stray Kids stormed the chart with 合 (HOP), selling 149,000 copies—the highest for any group and second overall after The Weeknd.
• ENHYPEN took No. 3 with DESIRE : UNLEASH despite releasing it just weeks before the cutoff, moving a massive 145,000 copies.
• ATEEZ, never one to be overlooked, placed No. 4 with GOLDEN HOUR : Part.3 at 116,000 units sold.
• SEVENTEEN’s punchy and playful HAPPY BURSTDAY landed at No. 7, selling 79,000 CDs.
• And LE SSERAFIM made history as the only girl group to crack the top 10, sliding into No. 9 with their mini album HOT and 73,000 copies sold.

🧾 U.S. Midyear Top 10 CD Album Sales (Jan–July 2025)

In a season of endless streaming and bite-sized content, K-pop is reminding the world that music can be tactile, intentional, and lovingly unwrapped. It’s the CD era with a fan-powered twist—and summer’s final soundtrack belongs to Seoul.