BTS member V’s “Velvet Red” LP has claimed the No. 1 spot in the vinyl category at FNAC, one of France’s largest and most prominent retail chains, ahead of the group’s highly anticipated Arirang album release.
BTS’s global comeback is already making waves before a single note has officially dropped. With the Arirang album set for release on March 20, 2026, pre-order activity across multiple continents has been nothing short of extraordinary. At the centre of it all sits V’s “Velvet Red” LP, which has repeatedly sold out across major markets and now sits at the top of FNAC’s vinyl bestseller chart in France.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
| BTS Album Title | Arirang |
| Album Release Date | March 20, 2026 |
| Album Type | Fifth Full-Length Album |
| V’s LP Version | Velvet Red |
| Pre-Orders Opened | January 2026 |
| Comeback Performance | March 21, 2026, Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul |
| City-Wide Project | BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SEOUL |
FNAC Chart Performance: What Happened
According to reports on March 17, V’s “Velvet Red” vinyl ranked No. 1 in the vinyl category at FNAC, one of France’s leading retail chains. Notably, the chart success did not stop there. Group versions of the Arirang album, including the B&W Deluxe edition and the Color Deluxe edition, also charted simultaneously within the Top 10 at FNAC, reflecting the enormous collective demand for the BTS comeback across France and broader Europe.
Global Sell-Out Streak: Market by Market
The “Velvet Red” LP has not just dominated in France. Here is a full breakdown of how V’s vinyl version performed across key global markets:
United States
- The LP sold out at Target, one of the United States’ largest retail chains
- It subsequently sold out again on the Weverse US Shop upon restocking, demonstrating sustained and repeat demand
Japan
- “Velvet Red” became the only individual member LP version to enter both the Bestseller and Hot New Release categories simultaneously on Amazon Japan
- It also sold out despite premium pricing on Rakuten and topped sales charts on Qoo10
South Korea
- The LP ranked No. 1 on the weekly bestseller chart at Naver Store based on just a single day of pre-orders
- The sell-out status occurred rapidly, reinforcing the strength of domestic demand
France and Europe
- FNAC vinyl category No. 1 ranking confirmed as of March 17, 2026
- Group album versions also appeared in the Top 10 simultaneously
The “V Effect”: What It Means
The pattern of sell-outs across Korea, the United States, France, and Japan has led fans and observers to refer to this phenomenon as the “V Effect”, a term used to describe the consistent commercial impact that V’s individual releases tend to generate across global music and retail markets. Each restock has been followed by another round of sell-outs, sustaining demand across weeks of pre-order activity.
About the Arirang Album and Comeback Plans
The Arirang album marks BTS’s fifth full-length studio album and represents the group’s return after an extended absence. Pre-orders opened globally in January 2026, with individual member LP versions available alongside group editions including the B&W Deluxe and Color Deluxe formats.
Beyond the album itself, BTS has planned a significant series of events tied to the release:
- March 20, 2026: Arirang album officially releases worldwide
- March 21, 2026: Live comeback performance at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul
- Ongoing: The city-wide project BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SEOUL will take place across Seoul, expanding the comeback into a broader cultural event
You can purchase the Arirang album and V’s “Velvet Red” LP version via Weverse Shop, FNAC (for France and Europe), Target (United States), Amazon Japan, Rakuten, Qoo10 (Japan), and Naver Store (South Korea), subject to stock availability.
Leave a Reply