MONSTA X's 'The Phase' hits #6 worldwide on iTunes, tops charts in 11 countries
MONSTA X's *The Phase* hit #1 on the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart in five countries and earned a Forbes feature after release.
MONSTA X is back with The Phase. The numbers say it all.
The album debuted at #6 on the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart, then climbed to #1 in five countries—Finland, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It landed in the top 5 across 10 more, including Singapore, Turkey, and Thailand. On the K-pop Album Chart, it took #1 in six countries: the United States, United Kingdom, France, Brazil, and two others.
Forbes weighed in on September 4
Forbes ran a full feature on September 4, calling The Phase a record that keeps MONSTA X's identity intact while venturing into experimental and new territory. The group, now 12 years past debut, has consistently expanded their range across albums and concepts. This one follows suit.
On title track MAGIC, Forbes wrote: "It naturally transitions from MONSTA X's familiar hip-hop sound to ballad and pop dance sound, possessing diverse musical texture and emotion."
The publication also described the album's overall concept as expressing "the group's new 'Phase' and shows fresh change" through distinctive visuals and music.
What's inside the album
The tracklist spans R&B, dance synth, funk, and acoustic. Wide enough that it reads less like a single mood and more like a deliberate genre survey. Two members contributed original work: Jooheon wrote and produced four tracks, including title track MAGIC. Hyungwon wrote and composed B-side Sweet Night, Sweet Morning. (Twelve years in and the members are still building the catalog themselves.)
What's next
MONSTA X is running the 2026 MONSTA X WORLD TOUR [THE X : NEXUS] alongside domestic and international festival appearances. Broadcast promotion for MAGIC continues across music shows and additional content.
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