BLAST OFF: A HISTORIC START FOR JUNG KOOK

Jung Kook's "Seven" f/Latto (HYBE/Geffen) set records in its first 24 hours on Spotify. The English-language single opened with nearly 16m global streams—the biggest debut of 2023 and all-time for a male artist and collaboration. Jung Kook's solo bow also surpassed all streaming peaks by BTS and its other solo members' releases. He becomes the first K-pop act to go #1 in the U.S. on Spotify and the first Korean soloist to debut at #1 worldwide.

At press time, the Spotify stream count could be subject to change—but if the number is corrected it will be larger than the published count on 7/14.

Those involved with Jung Kook's forthcoming debut album, which will be an all-English effort, are very bullish on the project and see it as a pivotal moment in the BTS solo campaign. Jung Kook's embrace of sexuality and profanity is giving new life to BTS fans—the Army is losing their shit.

HYBE Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk's trust in HYBE America CEO Scooter Braun is continuing to pay off. Braun found the song and connected Jung Kook with the Grammy-winning Producer of the Year he reps, Andrew Watt.

Between Bang, Braun, HYBE and BTS, alongside the team at Geffen, we'd say they know a thing or two about pop superstardom. Check out Jung Kook's new "performance" visual for "Seven" f/Latto below.