BABYMONSTER CHOOM Sells 387K Day 1, Tops iTunes in 15 Regions
BABYMONSTER CHOOM sold 387,871 copies on its May 4, 2026 release day — a 48% jump over the rookie group’s previous first-day record of 261,650 set by “WE GO UP” last year. By May 5 KST, the title track had topped iTunes Top Albums charts in at least 15 different regions worldwide, and its music video hit No. 1 on YouTube’s worldwide Top Trending Music Videos. For YG Entertainment’s flagship girl group rookie, the third mini album marks the moment “rising” shifts to “arrived.”
What the BABYMONSTER CHOOM numbers actually show
Per Soompi’s chart report citing Hanteo Chart data:
- First-day sales: 387,871 copies
- Previous record: 261,650 (“WE GO UP,” second mini album)
- Increase: ~48% (1.48x previous high)
- Album: “CHOOM” — third mini album
- Title track: “CHOOM”
- Release date: May 4, 2026
- iTunes Top Albums: No. 1 in 15+ regions worldwide (by May 5 KST)
- YouTube: No. 1 on worldwide Top Trending Music Videos
The 48% jump between the second and third mini albums is the more telling number than the absolute total. Compounding growth like that signals a fanbase that’s both buying physically and actively recruiting new members — not a saturated core audience leveling off.
Why BABYMONSTER’s growth marks a YG inflection
BABYMONSTER debuted in April 2024 with “BATTER UP.” YG Entertainment positioned the group as the structural successor to BLACKPINK as the four members increasingly pursue solo and individual projects. The trajectory was supposed to look like a measured 3–5 year build before BABYMONSTER could anchor YG’s flagship girl-group revenue.
Two years in, the third mini album just hit 387K first-day. That’s not BLACKPINK numbers (yet), but it’s well past the typical second-year rookie ceiling. For comparison: most YG and HYBE girl groups in their second year sell 100,000–200,000 first-day on a third release. Doubling that puts BABYMONSTER on a faster curve than YG’s internal projections likely budgeted for.
The structural implication: YG can now plan post-BLACKPINK-era flagship strategy around BABYMONSTER as the center, rather than as a hedge.
Why iTunes #1 in 15 regions matters more than it sounds
iTunes Top Albums measures digital purchases — not streaming, not physical CD sales. Reaching No. 1 in 15+ regions in 24 hours means BABYMONSTER’s overseas fanbase is large enough and coordinated enough to drive synchronized purchasing globally.
Historically, sustained iTunes #1 across multiple non-Asian markets precedes Billboard 200 chart entries by 1–2 weeks. Watch the May 9–16 charting period for whether the BABYMONSTER CHOOM cycle delivers its first Billboard 200 placement. If it does, that’s the structural ceiling moving up again.
YouTube Top Trending Music Videos #1 worldwide is the other signal that matters. Algorithm-driven discovery on YouTube is the entry point for non-fans encountering K-pop for the first time. Reaching the top of that chart compounds the fanbase growth that drove the first-day sales jump in the first place.
The bottom line
BABYMONSTER CHOOM puts the rookie group two years ahead of typical YG career trajectory. 387K first-day, 15-region iTunes #1, YouTube global trending #1 — the trio of metrics signals genuine fanbase compounding, not just a label push. Expect a tour announcement within the quarter and Billboard chart entries imminently. Track the cycle in our K-Pop & Drama News section.
