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BABYMETAL Make Billboard 200 History with their latest album, METAL FORTH, debuting at No. 9 on the US Billboard 200.
This milestone marks the first time an all-Japanese group has cracked the top 10 of the overall US album chart.
The album achieved 36,000 equivalent album units in its first week in the US—33,500 of those being pure album sales—highlighting loyal fan engagement and strategic release planning. Globally, METAL FORTH has already amassed over 200 million streams, underscoring its widespread digital impact beyond physical and download metrics.
METAL FORTH also soared to No. 1 on Japan’s Oricon Rock Chart and reached No. 2 on the US iTunes Download Album Chart, cementing its cross-market dominance.
Why This Matters
This achievement surpasses BABYMETAL’s previous Billboard 200 high—No. 13 for Metal Galaxy in 2019—now resetting the record for Japanese-language releases in the US.
The addition of Momoko Okazaki as an official member and their signing to Capitol Records earlier in 2025 add further context to this breakthrough.
Streaming & Digital Performance
In addition to traditional sales, streaming has been a significant driver—METAL FORTH has already surpassed 200 million global streams, suggesting strong traction on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and beyond.
Including these digital performance indicators provides a more holistic view of the album’s success, which many coverage pieces overlook.
How to Create Even Stronger Coverage
Many current articles focus narrowly on chart positions and sales data but omit key insights like streaming figures, platform-specific impact, and listener demographics. Integrating Spotify or social streaming data, comparing performance across regions, and using historical trajectory—such as growth from Metal Galaxy to now—would enrich analysis.
Contextualizing the collaborations (Spiritbox, Poppy, Tom Morello, Bloodywood, Electric Callboy, Polyphia, Slaughter to Prevail) in terms of cross-genre reach or regional fandom influence also enhances relevance.
For example, WAS streaming performance boosted by high-profile features? Including sources like Billboard for charts and streaming, Oricon for Japan, and Wikipedia for background adds credibility.
Outbound Authority and Depth
Link to Billboard to confirm chart positions, Oricon for Japanese stats, and official streaming data sources or music industry analytics. This demonstrates transparency and builds trust with readers.
BABYMETAL’s METAL FORTH isn’t just historic—it’s a global success reflected in sales, streams, and chart performance.
To elevate coverage, future articles should incorporate comprehensive streaming trends, historical comparisons, and cross-market dynamics to remain authoritative and engaging.
