Last week Billboard shared how Park Bom navigated through career-halting controversy, mentally exhausting insomnia and signing with a newly created independent record company all to put out new songs — and the journey seems to have paid off.
The solo singer and former 2NE1 vocalist occupies three of the top 5 entries on Billboard‘s World Digital Song Sales chart this week. Her new single “Spring” featuring fellow 2NE1 member Sandara Park leads the pack, debuting at No. 2 on the chart to become both its highest-selling K-pop song and highest-charting new entry. The last solo female to chart as high was Lee Sora when her track “Song Request” featuring BTS‘ Suga topped out at No. 2 as well at the top of February 2019.
Bom’s two other songs released on her three-track Spring single EP “Shameful” and “My Lover” start at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively, to give her three of the top five entries. Each track sold about 1,000 downloads for the week ending March 14, according to Nielsen Music. Spring dropped on Wednesday, March 13, meaning the songs technically only had about two days of charting to make an impact.
This is Park Bom’s first appearance on World Digital Song Sales as a solo star. While the star has released her own solo material and linked up with popular acts like BIGBANG and Epik High on tracks, none of these tracks have made their way to a Billboard chart. Despite this, “Don’t Cry,” which was released as a digital solo single in 2011, has sold 10,000 copies in America through the years and is currently her best-selling song.
Meanwhile, 2NE1 has earned 19 entries on World Digital Song Sales in their seven years together including two No. 1s with 2011 single “I Am the Best” and their final single “Goodbye” released in 2017. The girl group was the first K-pop group to top the tally and first K-pop act to hit No. 1 following PSY‘s breakthrough with “Gangnam Style” in 2012.