Golden dominates the Billboard Hot 100, marking a major milestone for HUNTR/X. The track has topped the chart four times, surpassing BTS’s Dynamite and nearing Butter’s historic run. Strong streaming, radio growth, and global viewership fuel its climb and ignite a debate over K-Pop identity.
Golden Claims Billboard Hot 100 Supremacy
HUNTR/X has firmly established its presence in global music with Golden, a track from Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunters. In the latest Billboard Hot 100 preview, Golden held the number one spot for the third consecutive week since week nine. The track has now topped the chart four times, first reaching the summit in week seven, and it shows no sign of slowing. This consistency reflects both the song’s broad international reach and the growing influence of HUNTR/X in the competitive K-Pop landscape.
HUNTR/X Challenges BTS in Chart History
When Golden entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 81, few expected the rapid climb that followed. Within eleven weeks, it secured a permanent place among the chart’s elite. This trajectory places HUNTR/X in direct comparison with BTS, a group synonymous with global K-Pop dominance. Remarkably, Golden has already surpassed the three-week number one run of BTS’s Dynamite, inching closer to the ten-week reign of Butter. For fans and industry watchers, the head-to-head chart race between the two acts adds another compelling chapter to the ongoing K-Pop story.
Billboard Confirms Golden as a Streaming Powerhouse
The latest tracking week showed minor dips in streaming yet notable gains elsewhere. Golden recorded 34.5 million streams, down just 2%, while radio impressions jumped 13% to 22.1 million. Digital sales also rose 4%, reaching 9,000 units. These figures kept the song at number one on the Streaming Songs chart for seven weeks, while it climbed five spots to 24th on the Radio Songs chart. This blend of streaming power, airplay growth, and solid sales is driving the track toward even bigger Billboard milestones.
Soundtrack Success Strengthens Album’s Chart Presence
The K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack is proving more than a one-song wonder. Alongside Golden, three other tracks have reached the Hot 100’s top ten: Your Idol at number four, Soda Pop at number five, and How It’s Done at number nine. With four out of twelve songs charting so high, the album is building long-term momentum. This collective success suggests the project has captured a diverse audience, extending its impact far beyond typical soundtrack expectations.
Golden Extends Billboard Impact Through Global Viewership
Momentum for Golden is not confined to the charts. In the United States, special sing-along screenings boosted visibility, while Netflix streaming numbers surged. As of September 3, total views reached an impressive 260 million. The combination of cinematic exposure, social media buzz, and repeat viewing positions the track as a serious contender for one of the longest Hot 100 runs in K-Pop history. Fans are already speculating about whether it can eventually challenge the benchmarks set by BTS’s Butter.
K-Pop Identity Debate Shapes Global Music Perception
While Korean music forums have hailed Golden as a landmark achievement for Korean pop, some voices urge caution. Critics argue that the song, though performed by a Korean-American group and written by Korean-American creators, does not qualify as Korean “gayo” due to its English lyrics and production context. By contrast, PSY’s Gangnam Style was written, composed, and performed entirely by a Korean artist, with lyrics in Korean, making it a definitive example of Korean gayo. This debate highlights the evolving boundaries of K-Pop in a globalized music market.
Golden gained Billboard Hot 100 traction through strong streaming numbers, rising radio play, and global exposure from Netflix and live sing-along screenings.
Thank you so much for reading this post! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to share them in the comments!
Every time I hear this song, I cry with emotion 💖(It happens to me with almost all the songs in this movie)
Thanks SONY 💘