In 2021, K-pop musicians contributed significantly to increased CD album sales in the United States!

According to MRC Data (previously Nielsen Music), CD record sales in the United States increased for the first time in 17 years in 2021. In 2021, 40.59 million CD records were sold in the United States, up 1.1 percent from the previous year and reversing what had appeared to be an inevitable decreasing trend in CD sales.

K-pop musicians, in addition to Western vocalists like Adele and Taylor Swift, contributed to the uptick: K-pop groups accounted for four of the top ten slots on MRC Data's list of the best-selling CD albums in the United States in 2021.

TXT, NCT 127, and BTS not only had four of the top ten slots overall, but they also had the four best-selling albums by any group or male artist in the United States last year.

With 215,000 CDs sold, TXT's "The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE" was the No. 1 best-selling album by a group or male artist in the United States in 2021—and the No. 5 best-selling album by any artist.

With 211,000 CDs sold, NCT 127's "Sticker" was the No. 2 best-selling album by a group or male artist, and the No. 7 best-selling album overall.

While BTS's 2021 CD single "Butter" did not qualify as an album due to its short total playing time, the group nevertheless managed to land two slots in the top ten with albums released in 2020. With 210,000 CDs sold in 2021, "Map of the Soul: 7" was the No. 3 best-selling album by a group and the No. 8 best-selling album altogether, while "BE" was the No. 4 best-selling album by a group and the No. 10 best-selling album overall.

The following are the top ten best-selling CD albums in the United States in 2021:

1. Adele – “30” [898,000]
2. Taylor Swift – “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” [263,000]
3. Taylor Swift – “Red (Taylor’s Version)” [237,000]
4. Carrie Underwood – “My Savior” [217,000]
5. TXT – “The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE” [215,000]
6. Taylor Swift – “Evermore” [213,000]
7. NCT 127 – “Sticker” [211,000]
8. BTS – “Map of the Soul: 7” [210,000]
9. Olivia Rodrigo – “Sour” [195,000]
10. BTS – “BE” [187,000]