BTS ARIRANG Streaming Guide & Resources
The countdown has begun! With the new BTS album, ARIRANG, arriving on March 20th, ARMY is entering a season of excitement and preparation. Whether this is your first comeback or your fifth, there’s nothing quite like the energy of global ARMY coming together to celebrate new music and support OT7.
We know that navigating the world of charts, playlists, and "algorithm-friendly" listening can feel a little overwhelming at first. That’s why we’ve put together a short guide to help you focus your efforts. We want to ensure that every ARMY has the basic tools and knowledge to stream effectively for this comeback!
ARIRANG teaser image from 2026bts.com
Regional Context: Although we are a US-based team and this guide focuses on Billboard US tracking, we are proud to have a diverse international community. To support global ARMY, we have noted country-specific differences wherever possible. We hope this helps everyone find their best path to supporting ARIRANG!
The Big Question: Premium vs. Free Accounts
While every stream is a show of support, Premium (paid) accounts carry significantly more weight on music charts.
Billboard US Math: It takes 2.5 streams from a free (ad-supported) account to equal 1 stream from a premium account.
The numbers vary by country and by chart, but the concept holds true: streams from paid accounts always count more than streams from free accounts.
If a subscription isn't in your budget, don’t stress! Most services (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, etc.) offer a 1-4 month free trial for new users. ARMY ON has easy links for free trial signup on their Carrd. Tip: Set a calendar reminder to cancel the day before the trial ends! You may also find someone who has an extra “seat” on their family account and is willing to set you up as an additional user.
The Golden Rule: Stream Like a Human
Streaming platforms use algorithms to detect ‘bot-like’ behavior. If you loop a single song 100 times, those streams will likely be filtered out and won't count toward the music charts. The exact guidelines per platform aren’t officially published, but these are our best tips to avoid having your streams filtered out:
Don't Loop: Always place 2-3 different songs between the track you are focusing on.
Interact: Occasionally ‘like’ or ‘heart’ a song, skip a track (after it has played for at least 30 seconds), or adjust the volume.
Avoid VPNs: Using a VPN to change your location can cause your streams to be flagged as spam and filtered out.
Where to Find Playlists
A sampling of playlists shared by ARMY ON for PTD Live released in 2025.
Using a focused playlist is the simplest and easiest way to stream effectively. The playlists linked below are curated by wonderful ARMY volunteers to reflect new release music as well as other current charting goals (for example: songs near an anniversary or other milestone).
ARMY ON: A comprehensive site for BTS streaming information including up-to-date playlists for new releases. This site contains a wealth of resources and has social media accounts you can follow for updates.
Berfy: An ‘evergreen’ Spotify playlist that is updated quickly after new music releases. The link never changes, so it's easy to save this playlist to your account and use it for a long time.
B-CD.app Playlist Generator: A tool that allows you to generate a custom playlist using songs of your choice. Note: the generator requires you to manually select a minimum of five songs, so its customization requires a little more effort than other options listed here.
Not all playlists are created equal—some of them don’t properly include filter songs or don’t reflect current charting goals. Feel free to ask in the #streaming-charting-voting channel of our Discord server if you need help. You can find the invite for the Discord server on our links page.
Gamify Your Support: b-cd.app
Home page of the b-cd.app website.
@btschartdata is a longtime supporter of BTS who primarily worked on Twitter/X for prior comebacks. In 2025 they launched a website with a variety of features to make streaming more fun and rewarding for the ARMY community.
How it Works: Make a free account at https://b-cd.app/. Connect your streaming platform (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.) in the BCD settings via Last.fm or Stats.fm. The site then gives you “missions” each day (e.g., "Stream the new title track 10 times today") based on current charting goals.
If checking a task off a list isn’t enough reward for you, you’ll also receive randomized digital photocards for completing missions. Just like physical cards, you can trade duplicates with other ARMY to complete your digital collection.
BCD also has fun daily games to test your knowledge of BTS music, music videos, and general knowledge. These games reward photocards for correct answers, so you’ll have even more PCs to trade.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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A: It is safer to not mute. If you need silence, plug in headphones or an AUX cord. Here is an inexpensive option for an aux cord, though you may already have one hanging around your home.
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A: Yes! Pre-saving on Spotify or Apple Music helps with ‘first-day’ momentum. You can find the pre-save links for ARIRANG at the bottom of this page.
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A: No. The best strategy for digital purchasing is to buy each track individually on or after the actual release day (March 20th). Why? Billboard US counts 10 track sales as 1 album sale. By purchasing the 14 individual tracks, your purchases will equal 1.4 album sales. Also, purchases made before the release date will not count towards debut week charts. Important Note: be sure to download the song after purchasing, otherwise it will not count toward music charts!
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A: As of January 2026, YouTube data is no longer included in Billboard US charts. However, YouTube remains critical for Korean Music Shows and global milestones! Please continue to stream official MVs, but focus your Billboard-specific goals on other platforms. Remember: Always watch the official MVs on BANGTANTV or HYBE LABELS channels.
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A: These platforms remain the primary drivers for the Billboard US charts: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal. Billboard also tracks data from these services, which can be useful for diversifying your streaming: Deezer, Pandora, SoundCloud, Napster, Qobuz, Audiomack, LiveOne (formerly LiveXLive).
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A: If you have a Premium Spotify or Apple Music account (premium account required), download the Stationhead app, link your streaming account, and follow the @btsofficial or @btschartdata accounts. If you listen to one of their streaming parties, it acts like a live radio station where a DJ plays the music for you and every listen counts as a stream. Also, the BTS members sometimes host Stationhead parties around the time of a comeback!
We know that comeback season can feel fast-paced, but remember: the most important part of this journey is enjoying the music. Don’t let anything overwhelm the joy of finally hearing new OT7 songs! Stream when you can, buy if you’re able, and always prioritize your own wellbeing.
If you have questions or just want to chat about the comeback, our Discord is always open. Let’s make ARIRANG a beautiful era for BTS and ARMY!
