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TWICE claim their third No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated March 25) as Ready to Be: 12th Mini Album debuts atop the list with the act’s best sales week ever. The nine-member South Korean pop act previously led the list with Between 1&2: 11th Mini Album (2022) and Taste of Love: The 10th Mini Album (2021).
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Ready to Be launches with 145,500 copies sold in the United States in the week ending March 16, according to Luminate. That sum also marks the second-largest sales week of 2023 for any act, following the debut week of TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s The Name Chapter: Temptation (153,000; chart dated Feb. 11).
Ready to Be also logs a big week in vinyl album sales (nearly 18,000) – the largest for any all-female group since Luminate began electronically tracking sales in 1991.
Also in the top 10 on the new Top Album Sales chart, Miley Cyrus achieves her biggest sales week in nearly a decade – and 14th top 10 – as Endless Summer Vacation enters at No. 2 with 55,000 copies sold. Endless also collects Cyrus’ biggest ever sales week on vinyl. Plus, rock band Periphery nets its third top 10 – all consecutive – as Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre debuts at No. 10.
Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.
Of Ready to Be’s 145,500 copies sold, physical sales comprise 143,000 (125,000 on CD and nearly 18,000 on vinyl) and digital downloads comprise 2,500.
Like many K-pop releases, Ready to Be was issued in collectible physical format packages (11 different CDs [including exclusives for Barnes & Noble, Target and the group’s official webstore] and two vinyl LPs [one exclusive to Target and one exclusive to the act’s webstore). CD variants of Ready contain a standard set of items and randomized elements (such as a postcards, photo cards, etc.).
Unusually, Ready to Be had a vinyl version of the album available on the same wide release date as the CD edition of the album, as most major K-pop titles in the past were initially available only as a physical album on CD and on no other physical formats (like vinyl or cassette). The vinyl editions of the album did not include randomized items, but were packaged with a lenticular postcard, poster and slipmat. Target’s exclusive LP is marbled orchid-colored, while the act’s webstore exclusive is an ultra-clear vinyl edition.
Ready to Be’s nearly 18,000 vinyl sales marks the largest week for a vinyl album by a female group since Luminate began electronically tracking sales in 1991. It’s also the second-largest sales week on vinyl for any K-pop album, following the debut week of BTS’ Love Yourself: Her earlier in 2023 (18,000; chart dated Jan. 21). Unlike Ready to Be, the Love Yourself: Her vinyl LP arrived to market more than five years after the album’s original release on CD and digital download in 2017.
Beyond the physical editions of the album, TWICE’s U.S. webstore also issued four alternative digital album downloads of Ready to Be – each with a different cover, digital replicas of individual group members’ signatures, and a bonus track (a voice memo from different group members).
Miley Cyrus’ Endless Summer Vacation debuts at No. 2 on Top Album Sales with her biggest sales week in nearly a decade, as it bows with 55,000 copies sold. Cyrus last had a larger sales week when Bangerz sold a little more than 63,000 during Christmas week of 2013 (reflected on the Top Album Sales chart dated Jan. 11, 2014). Bangerz earlier debuted at No. 1 on Top Album Sales with 270,500 copies sold (Oct. 26, 2013 chart).
Of Endless Summer Vacation’s 55,000 copies sold, physical sales comprise 37,500 (12,500 on CD and 25,000 on vinyl) and digital downloads comprise 17,500. Endless logs Cyrus’ largest sales week for a vinyl album since Luminate began electronically tracking music sales in 1991. On the Vinyl Albums chart, Endless debuts at No. 1 – her second leader on the list following Plastic Hearts in 2021.
Endless was released in four vinyl variants: standard black vinyl, a white-colored edition exclusive to Target and two color editions exclusive to Cyrus’ webstore (red and silver). All vinyl LPs came packaged with a poster.
CD sales were also aided by two deluxe boxed sets (one with a puzzle and a CD, the other with a beach towel and a CD) sold exclusively through her webstore.
Endless is Cyrus’ 14th top 10-charting effort on Top Album Sales, including those albums credited to her Disney Channel character Hannah Montana.
A trio of former No. 1s is next on Top Album Sales: Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time (1-3 in its second week with 21,000; down 81%), TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s The Name Chapter: Temptation (6-4 with 11,000; up 5%) and Taylor Swift’s Midnights (7-5 with 10,000; up 3%).
NCT 127’s Ay-Yo: The 4th Album Repackage falls 2-6 on Top Album Sales (9,500; down 67%), P!nk’s former leader Trustfall rises 9-7 (8,500; down 5%), Gorillaz’s chart-topping Cracker Island is a non-mover at No. 8 (6,000; down 37%) and Stray Kids’ former No. 1 MAXIDENT climbs 13-9 (6,000; up 17%).
Closing out the top 10 is rock band Periphery, which scores its third top 10 – all consecutive – as Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre debuts at No. 10 with nearly 6,000 sold. 55% of the sales came from the vinyl edition of the set.
In the week ending March 16, there were 1.961 million albums sold in the U.S. (down 0.9% compared to the previous week). Of that sum, physical albums (CDs, vinyl LPs, cassettes, etc.) comprised 1.605 million (up 5.3%) and digital albums comprised 355,000 (down 21.9%).
There were 733,000 CD albums sold in the week ending March 16 (up 10% week-over-week) and 862,000 vinyl albums sold (up 1.8%). Year-to-date CD album sales stand at 6.925 million (up 2.5% compared to the same time frame a year ago) and year-to-date vinyl album sales total 9.678 million (up 25.4%).
Overall year-to-date album sales total 20.609 million (up 8.1% compared to the same year-to-date time frame a year ago). Year-to-date physical album sales stand at 16.705 million (up 14.7%) and digital album sales total 3.904 million (down 13%).
TWICE‘s Chaeyoung apologized on Tuesday (March 21) after posting an Instagram photo in which the 23-year-old K-pop star is seen wearing a t-shirt featuring a swastika.
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The shirt in the since-deleted photo had a graphic of a 1970s picture of Sex Pistols‘ Sid Vicious wearing a T-shirt with a swastika on it. The symbol was used as an emblem of the German Nazi party, as Adolf Hitler made it the centerpiece of the Nazi flag.
“Hello, this is Chaeyoung from TWICE. I sincerely apologize regarding the Instagram post. I didn’t correctly recognize the meaning of the tilted swastika in the t-shirt I wore,” her statement, written in both English and Korean, read. “I deeply apologize for not thoroughly reviewing it, causing concern. I will pay absolute attention in the future to prevent any situation similar from happening again. Sincerely apologize again.”
TWICE recently released their 12th mini-album, Ready to Be, and the set debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart dated March 25, 2023. The group’s English single “Moonlight Sunrise” is included in the seven-track album, in addition to songs like “Got the Thrills,” “Blame It on Me,” “Wallflower,” “Crazy Stupid Love” and “Set Me Free.”
The girl group was also honored with the Breakthrough Award at Billboard’s Women in Music event on March 1, where they chatted with Billboard on the red carpet about the album. “We are ready to show more of our beautiful inner side to the world and ready to show more of ourselves,” Tzuyu shared of Ready to Be.
TWICE dropped by The Kelly Clarkson Show on Tuesday (March 14), where they chatted with the American Idol alum about visiting the U.S. and the things they like to do in the country.
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Sana revealed that, of course, she loves meeting TWICE’s passionate fanbase, affectionately called ONCE, face-to-face. Hilariously, she added that she love Takis chips.
Momo noted that she enjoys visiting the grocery stores in the United States, while Dahyun revealed that she loves eating hamburgers, pizza, chocolate, pasta and potatoes. “I found my sister in the group,” Clarkson playfully replied.
The group also performed their sparkling new single, “Moonlight Sunrise,” which is featured on the idols’ new mini-album, Ready to Be. The recently released project also contains fan favorite tracks such as “Set Me Free,” “Got the Thrills” and “Blame It on Me.” The full-length’s release marks the first time TWICE has been in the U.S. for a comeback and on March 2, TWICE was also honored with the Breakthrough Artist Award at Billboard’s Women in Music event. After receiving the award from Sabrina Carpenter and giving a sweet acceptance speech, the girl group performed “Moonlight Sunrise” onstage.
Watch their Kelly Clarkson Show performance below.
ONCE, the day has arrived. TWICE unveiled their 12th mini-album, Ready to Be, on Friday (March 10).
The group’s previously released second English single “Moonlight Sunrise” is included in the seven-track set, in addition to songs like “Got the Thrills,” “Blame It on Me,” “Wallflower,” “Crazy Stupid Love” and “Set Me Free.” “Set Me Free” is the only track on the record that will receive a version in both English and Korean. “I think it’s the songs of ours that carry TWICE’s color rather than the language in which the song is sung,” Jihyo previously told Billboard. “I don’t think the language is that relevant in carrying out TWICE’s [identity].”
The K-pop group’s last mini-album, Between 1&2, was on the Billboard 200 for eight weeks and peaked at No. 3.
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TWICE was honored with the Breakthrough Award at Billboard’s Women in Music event on March 1, where they chatted with Billboard on the red carpet about the album. “We are ready to show more of our beautiful inner side to the world and ready to show more of ourselves,” Tzuyu shared of Ready to Be.
Listen to Ready to Be in full below.
Billboard’s 2023 Women in Music event took over the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on Wednesday (Mar. 1), and the night was filled with love, support and celebration for the music industry’s most impactful women.
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Beyond honoring the 2023 Woman of the Year SZA and her many accomplishments — including her 10th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with her latest album, SOS — artists like Rosalía, Lana Del Rey, Kim Petras, TWICE, Lainey Wilson, Doechii, Becky G and Latto were also honored with their own awards at the ceremony. Rosalía was the event’s first-ever Producer of the Year, Lana Del Rey was the night’s Visionary, Kim Petras took home the Chartbreaker award, TWICE was the Breakthrough artist, Lainey Wilson was awarded the Rulebreaker honor, Doechii was honored as the Rising Star, Becky G accepted the Impact award and Latto was 2023’s Powerhouse.
Additionally, a number of the star-studded honorees took the stage to deliver some incredible performances and celebrate their achievements.
If you happened to miss out on the official Women in Music livestream or you’re hoping to relive some of the night’s musical moments, we’ve got you covered. See below for all of the 2023 Billboard Women in Music onstage performances.
TWICE
Kim Petras
Becky G
Latto
Doechii
Lainey Wilson
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Next month, TWICE will make history as the first K-pop group to be honored at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards, and fans can celebrate by purchasing a collectible zine to mark the historic achievement.
Ready for a photo fix? This gorgeous, 36-page printed magazine shines with a special cover and 11 other exclusive photos — including stunning solo shots of Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu — that you won’t find anywhere else!
The special publication will also feature an additional 11 photos of each of the nine group members as featured in Billboard’s Women in Music issue and be available exclusively at the Billboard Shop.
Inside the zine, ONCE can follow the definitive story of TWICE’s success. From the group’s debut in 2015 to its sold-out North American arena tour to the launch of each member’s individual Instagram accounts and everything fans need to know about TWICE’s music making waves on the Billboard charts. Plus, zine-only quotes from TWICE gushing over its beloved fandom.
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Billboard Collector’s Zine featuring TWICE $35
Order your exclusive zine today and toast to the first K-pop stars to be honored at Billboard’s Women in Music. Fans can watch live as TWICE receives the Breakthrough Award during this year’s event at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on March 1 (click here for tickets).
Earlier this week, TWICE treated fans to a snippet of “Set Me Free,” the new single off the K-pop collective’s upcoming Ready to Be mini album. The song will be released in English and Korean and follows the single “Moonlight Sunrise,” which dropped last month.
In April, TWICE will hit the road for the Ready to Be tour, which kicks off with back-to-back shows at the KSPO Dome in Seoul before heading to Australia and Japan.
The North American leg of the tour launches at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in June. From there, the tour will head north to Oakland and hit cities such as Chicago, Toronto, Houston and New York.
The tour is scheduled to wrap in Atlanta in early July, but more show dates are expected to be announced soon. In the meantime, fans can commemorate TWICE’s success with Billboard’s collectible zine.
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