The original soundtrack (OST) from Netflix’s animated feature KPop Demon Hunters is rewriting Billboard history. Its breakout single Golden has reclaimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first OST track to dominate the chart for a second week.
Billboard announced Monday that Golden rose one notch from last week to secure its second overall week atop the Hot 100. The song first reached No. 1 on Aug. 11 but slipped to second place after Alex Warren’s Ordinary briefly claimed the crown.
The Hot 100 rankings combine U.S. streaming data, radio airplay and digital sales. During the latest tracking week, Golden logged 33.8 million streams, up 3% from the prior week, while its radio audience surged 39% to 16.2 million. Digital sales rose 11% to 8,000 copies.
The KPop Demon Hunters OST achieved another milestone: four tracks simultaneously entered the Hot 100’s Top 10. Alongside virtual girl group Huntrix’s Golden at No. 1, rival boy group Saja Boys’ Your Idol and Soda Pop debuted at No. 4 and No. 5, while Huntrix’s How It’s Done landed at No. 10.
Billboard confirmed it is the first time in chart history that four songs from a single OST have occupied the Top 10 simultaneously.
With this feat, Golden joins BTS’s Butter (10 weeks at No. 1) and Dynamite (3 weeks) as only the third K-pop track to rule the Hot 100 for more than one week. It is also the first K-pop single by a female artist to reach the summit. Earlier this month, Golden also topped the UK’s Official Singles Chart, achieving a rare double crown across the world’s two largest music markets.
Industry watchers say the film and soundtrack show no signs of slowing down. The synergy between KPop Demon Hunters and its music is driving both box office receipts and chart performance.
Billboard noted that the ongoing “sing-along” screenings sweeping North America could further boost streaming and sales, possibly extending Golden’s reign in the weeks ahead.
by Byung-Yeon Yoo
yooby@hankyung.com
