ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JUNE 17: Rapper Cardi B performs onstage during 2023 HOT 107.9’s Birthday Bash at … [+]
Two new singles competed against one another last week to become the bestselling track in America on the charts. A winner emerged when Billboard revealed its latest roundup of rankings, and as one superstar claims the No. 1 spot on the sales-only ranking, another is blocked from making history.
Cardi B rules the Digital Song Sales chart this week, Billboard’s ranking of the tunes that actually sold the most copies in the U.S.–which is different from the Hot 100, which includes all forms of consumption. Her new single “Enough (Miami)” launches in first place with just over 37,000 copies purchased, according to Luminate.
As “Enough (Miami)” debuts at No. 1 on the Digital Song Sales chart, V lands in second place. The BTS singer’s single “Fri(ends)” is new to the runner-up rung.
For a while last frame, it looked like Cardi and V were competing for the top spot on the Digital Song Sales chart, but once the final numbers were revealed, it became clear that the second-place cut didn’t have a real shot at winning the week. “Fri(end)s” opens at No. 2 with just under 19,500 copies sold. That’s a little more than half of what Cardi’s latest managed in the same time period.
If V had reached the No. 1 space, he would have made history on the Digital Song Sales chart. So far, the singer has claimed just one leader on that tally. His single “Christmas Tree” conquered the tally in January 2022–though it sold well in late December.
With a second No. 1 to his credit, V would have broken out of a tie with several other South Korean musicians in the history of the Digital Song Sales chart. He’s currently on the same level as several other acts for the fourth-most winners ever among soloists from the Asian nation. He’s tied with Ha Sung-woon, IU, Psy, Jin, RM, and Youjeen, who have all topped the tally once.
Currently, both Jung Kook and Jimin lead all solo South Korean artists when it comes to the most No. 1s on the Digital Song Sales chart. They have accrued five champions. Just one more leader would have helped V inch closer to their record and claim the third-most champions among soloists, but for the moment, he’ll have to settle for another top 10 instead.