Nearly a month and a half ago, Jung Kook officially kicked off his music career outside of BTS by releasing what is being called as his first proper single, “Seven.” The track swiftly garnered global acclaim and has maintained a healthy and notable performance on charts in the following weeks.
While “Seven” continues to amass millions of streams and thousands of purchases per week, it has begun a slow descent on the Billboard charts. Now, a recent development on those rankings indicates that the song might have a promising future, especially on the Hot 100.
This week, “Seven” makes its debut on Billboard’s Radio Songs chart at No. 46. Known for tracking the tunes that command the largest audience on radio across the United States, the Radio Songs chart is known for its competitiveness. While the initial placement might be modest, the mere fact that the song secures a spot on this tally at all bodes very well for both Jung Kook and the tune’s featured rapper, Latto.
The presence of “Seven” on the Radio Songs chart signifies that the track is receiving proper promotion to stations and DJs nationwide. Earning a place on this esteemed list is no small feat, indicating that resources are being strategically channeled to sustain the song’s momentum. It’s likely that Jung Kook’s team has undertaken a comprehensive radio campaign to further boost the song’s reach.
Radio plays constitute one of the three primary forms of consumption that factor into the Hot 100 ranking. Billboard derives the weekly ranking of the most-consumed songs in the U.S. by examining sales, streams and radio spins. At present, “Seven” holds the No. 30 position on the Hot 100, a mere two-spot dip from the previous week.
This placement is noteworthy considering that the song has spent almost all of its five weeks on the chart predominantly fueled by sales and streams, with radio play playing a comparatively minor role in its success, as is evidenced by the fact that it is only now reaching the Radio Songs tally.
Now that “Seven” is gaining traction on the Radio Songs chart, its trajectory on other rankings may see a positive shift. As public streaming and purchasing habits gradually recede, radio airplay could potentially pick up the slack. While it might not propel Jung Kook’s hit to rapidly ascend on the Hot 100, an uptick in radio spins, if sustained, could contribute to extending the song’s presence on the chart beyond what would have been achievable without such support.
Although “Seven” has already achieved the summit of the Hot 100, its position on the chart is no longer the main focus. Rather, the emphasis shifts to how long the track can sustain its presence on the chart. Jung Kook and Latto made history by debuting their collaboration at No. 1 on the ranking, so it can’t possibly climb any higher than it’s already reached.
As the song’s ranking experiences fluctuations, its longevity on the Hot 100 remains uncertain. But, “Seven” already stands as one of the longest-charting hits by a South Korean soloist in U.S. history, signifying that each additional week it retains its place on the list is a significant triumph. Radio may help Jung Kook continue to keep his tune on the list, and it could keep charting for weeks to come.
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