BTS Earns American Music Awards Nods as ‘SWIM’ Hits 100M Views and Charts Stay Strong

BTS has landed nominations at the American Music Awards, extended its Billboard run and pushed the music video for its new single “SWIM” past 100 million views on YouTube.

According to the AMA nominees list released April 14, BTS was nominated for Artist of the Year. The group previously won the category in 2021 as the first Korean act to do so. BTS also earned nominations for Best Male K-Pop Artist and Song of the Summer, bringing its total to three. “SWIM,” the title track from the group’s fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG,” was nominated for Song of the Summer less than a month after its release.

On Billboard’s latest charts released April 14, “SWIM” ranked No. 5 on the April 18 Hot 100. Other “ARIRANG” tracks also charted: “Body to Body” at No. 52, “2.0” at No. 67, “Hooligan” at No. 72, “NORMAL” at No. 82 and “FYA” at No. 90. Six songs from the album have now appeared on the Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks.

The group also held No. 1 for a third straight week on Billboard’s Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts with “SWIM.” All 13 vocal tracks placed within the top 50 of the Global 200 and the top 40 of Global Excl. U.S. Over the same period, BTS stayed atop the Billboard 200, Artist 100, Digital Song Sales and Top Album Sales charts for three consecutive weeks. A three-week run at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 is described as an unusual record for K-pop acts and for groups.

The “SWIM” music video, released March 20, surpassed 100 million views on YouTube on the afternoon of April 15, adding another 100-million-view video to the group’s catalog.

Shot against the sea in Lisbon, Portugal, the video features actor Lili Reinhart and was directed by Tanu Muino. The seven members appear as helpers aboard a ship cutting through waves, supporting a character who has faced setbacks and is trying to move forward.

“SWIM” is an alternative pop track about pressing ahead through life’s waves. RM participated in writing the lyrics. The song debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100 and has remained in the top five for three straight weeks. It has also held No. 1 for three consecutive weeks on Spotify’s Weekly Top Songs Global and continues a long-running No. 1 streak on Spotify’s Daily Top Songs Global.

The American Music Awards will be held May 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.