streaming isn't fixed, it's a consumption cycle. since bts is consumed in a lot of places around the world, it's normal for the numbers to peak and fluctuate. itโs also about hype peaks, people check it out out of curiosity, and when that general audience moves on, the streaming goes back to normal levels, sometimes it just goes up and down naturally
there are no bots here. we all know the kind of demand bts has. even before the enlistment ended, people were already talking about their return. whether you like it or not, bts' comeback was one of the most anticipated events of the year
and payola is about buying radio support, which barely exists in the promotion for arirang. honestly, there has barely been any promotion at all. everything this album has achieved so far comes from the members who worked on the project and from the fandom putting in a huge amount of effort to support and engage with the album