BTS’s Jung Kook Was Headed For A No. 1 Sales Hit… Then Jason Aldean Showed Up

In a highly competitive musical landscape, achieving a No. 1 hit on the sales charts is a coveted accomplishment for any artist. This week, BTS’s Jung Kook was on the cusp of securing his latest solo leader on the Digital Song Sales chart with his new single, “Seven.” However, just as he seemed poised to claim the top spot, country superstar Jason Aldean surged ahead with his surprise hit, “Try That in a Small Town,” leaving the BTS sensation narrowly edged out.

Unlike “Try That in a Small Town,” Jung Kook’s “Seven” has captured the No. 1 position on the Hot 100, the most prestigious songs chart in the U.S. It marks his first solo leader and his seventh chart-topper when taking into account the music he released as a member of BTS. The song’s impressive triumph on the tally is attributed to its staggering streaming and sales numbers, and it particularly excelled when it comes to pure purchases.

“Seven” debuts on the Digital Song Sales chart at No. 2 thanks to just under 138,000 digital copies sold. The song’s availability on CD format further bolstered its performance, propelling it to the top of the Hot 100 chart. While Jung Kook’s sales figures were impressive, they were surpassed by a considerable margin by “Try That in a Small Town.”

Aldean’s unexpected triumph on the Digital Song Sales chart not only marked his first leader on the tally, but also thwarted Jung Kook’s chances of securing the top spot. “Try That in a Small Town” achieved an astonishing feat, topping the ranking with just under 228,000 digital copies sold. This significant difference of nearly 90,000 copies would have been sufficient to propel any track to No. 1 on the sales chart in most weeks.

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So, what led to this dramatic shift in sales during the tracking week? Initially, Jung Kook appeared to be leading the race from Friday, July 14, until perhaps Wednesday, July 19. However, on July 18, the controversy surrounding “Try That in a Small Town” began to escalate, and its sales surged rapidly.

According to information published by Billboard via Luminate, on Tuesday, July 18, the country hit sold 12,000 copies. The following day, it reached an astounding 108,000 sales. The momentum continued on Thursday, July 20, with an additional 103,000 copies purchased, which was enough to ultimately secure the No. 1 position on the Digital Song Sales chart.

It is clear that the latter part of the tracking week played the significant role in the outcome of the chart race. Aldean’s loyal fanbase, along with supporters of the song’s oft-decried themes and message portrayed in its music video, rallied behind the track, driving its sales to impressive heights. According to Billboard, Aldean’s sales surged from just 1,000 copies per day between July 14 and 17 to over 100,000 copies sold per day in the final days of the tracking week.

The race for the No. 1 spot on the Digital Song Sales chart was indeed a tough one, with Jung Kook’s “Seven” coming agonizingly close to victory. Had the timeline been just slightly different, it’s likely that the BTS singer would have reached the summit, perhaps to be replaced the following frame by the country track. While “Seven” might not be the bestselling song in America this week, it is still the top track overall, while “Try That in a Small Town” arrives on the Hot 100 in the runner-up rung.

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