Entertainment Talk

Stray Kids: 9 straight Billboard 200 No. 1 debuts, what the numbers mean

THIS & THAT debuted at No. 1 with 369,000 US units, 357,000 of those physical. That's 25% up on their last release and their best US week ever. First act to debut at No. 1 with nine consecutive albums.

It also ties Taylor Swift for most No. 1 albums of the 2020s, and among groups only the Beatles have more Billboard 200 No. 1s. Question for the K-pop people here: why is physical such a huge share? Is it collecting photocards or something else?