"Golden" Achieves Historic Longevity on Billboard Charts, Tying Jimin and Setting New K-Pop Records

The K-pop phenomenon continues to captivate global audiences, and a prime example of its enduring power is "Golden," the lead single from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack. This collaborative track, featuring the girl group Huntr/x alongside singers Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, has cemented its status as a monumental hit, achieving significant milestones on various Billboard charts, most notably tying BTS star Jimin’s "Who" for the fourth-longest-running K-pop tune on the Streaming Songs chart.

Since its debut, "Golden" has demonstrated exceptional staying power, consistently challenging and surpassing the longevity records set by other successful K-pop acts. Its performance across multiple consumption metrics—streaming, sales, and radio airplay—underscores its widespread appeal among American consumers. The track’s persistent presence on these influential charts, particularly its current 34-week run on the Streaming Songs tally, is a testament to its sustained popularity.

"Golden" Nears the Top 10 on the Streaming Songs Chart

The Billboard Streaming Songs chart is a crucial indicator of a track’s popularity, ranking the most-played songs of any genre or language from streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, specifically accounting for activity within the United States. On this week’s iteration of the chart, "Golden" continued its impressive ascent, moving from No. 14 to No. 12. This upward trajectory, even more than half a year after its initial release, highlights the song’s consistent engagement with listeners. Its current 34 weeks among the 50 most-streamed tracks is a remarkable achievement for any song, and particularly noteworthy for a K-pop entry.

The longevity on such a competitive chart speaks volumes about "Golden"’s ability to resonate with a broad audience. Unlike many tracks that experience an initial surge in popularity followed by a rapid decline, "Golden" has maintained a steady presence, indicating a deep and lasting connection with its listenership. This prolonged success is a strong signal of the song’s cultural impact and its ability to transcend fleeting trends.

"Golden" Ties BTS’s Jimin With “Who”

In a significant display of its chart dominance, "Golden" has now tied for the fourth-longest run on the Streaming Songs chart among K-pop singles. This category includes tracks performed at least partially in Korean or originating from musical acts closely associated with South Korea’s vibrant K-pop industry. The song’s 34 weeks on the chart now places it on par with "Who" by BTS superstar Jimin, a track that debuted on the roster in August 2024, nearly a year before "Golden" made its appearance in mid-July 2025.

Jimin, as a member of the globally renowned group BTS, holds immense influence, and his solo work is keenly followed by millions. For "Golden" to match the chart staying power of one of his tracks underscores its own widespread acclaim and the strong foundation of its success. This achievement not only highlights the individual strengths of the artists involved in "Golden" but also signals the growing recognition and acceptance of diverse K-pop sounds in the American music landscape. The presence of Audrey Nuna, EJAE, and Rei Ami, members of the KPop Demon Hunters project, at the prestigious 68th GRAMMY Awards on February 1, 2026, further illustrates the burgeoning mainstream recognition of this musical endeavor. Their attendance at such a high-profile event reflects the increasing integration of K-pop artists and their associated projects into the global music industry’s most significant platforms.

Psy’s “Gangnam Style” Still Leads by a Mile

While "Golden"’s achievements are considerable, it stands in the shadow of a truly iconic K-pop track when it comes to overall chart longevity. By far the longest-charting song by any K-pop star on the Streaming Songs chart is Psy’s global smash, "Gangnam Style." This groundbreaking hit, which is widely credited with igniting the initial K-pop wave that continues to surge today, managed an astonishing 122 turns on the tally. Its viral success and catchy appeal introduced K-pop to a mainstream global audience on an unprecedented scale, setting a benchmark for future artists.

Following "Gangnam Style" is another unique K-pop-affiliated entry: "Baby Shark." Credited to the educational entertainment brand Pinkfong, this children’s song, while not a traditional K-pop idol group release, has transcended its genre to become a global phenomenon, spending an impressive 59 stints on the Streaming Songs rundown. Its enduring popularity, particularly among younger audiences, showcases the diverse ways in which Korean-originated music and media can capture widespread attention.

Just one more cut, "Apt." by Blackpink singer Rosé and Bruno Mars, surpasses "Golden"’s current longevity, though not by a wide margin. "Apt.," a cross-cultural collaboration that has garnered significant critical acclaim, managed 37 moments on the streaming-only list. This track recently made history by earning Grammy nominations for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year, marking the first time a K-pop composition has landed in either of these highly coveted general fields. This historic recognition for "Apt." further emphasizes the increasing mainstream acceptance and critical appreciation of K-pop within the Western music industry. Given "Golden"’s sustained performance and upward momentum, it is entirely possible that in the coming weeks, it will match, and potentially even surpass, "Apt."’s impressive showing.

“Golden” Ranks as the Longest-Running Streaming Songs No. 1

Beyond simply charting for an extended period, "Golden" boasts another exceptional achievement: it holds the record for the longest run at No. 1 on the Streaming Songs chart for a K-pop artist. Before "Golden" commanded the tally, only two of Psy’s hits, "Gangnam Style" and "Gentleman," had reached the top spot and held it for multiple periods. However, "Golden," which spent a phenomenal 13 consecutive weeks running the show, racked up more turns at No. 1 than both "Gangnam Style" and "Gentleman" combined.

This unparalleled dominance at the summit of the Streaming Songs chart signifies more than just initial hype; it reflects a deep and consistent engagement from the American streaming audience. To hold the No. 1 position for such an extended duration requires continuous, high-volume plays, demonstrating that "Golden" was not just a fleeting hit but a track that truly permeated the listening habits of a significant portion of the population. This sustained leadership on the streaming front is a powerful indicator of its pervasive appeal and makes it a standout success in the history of K-pop on Billboard.

“Golden” Climbs on Streaming and Sales Charts and the Hot 100

The widespread success of "Golden" is not confined to just one metric; its impact is visible across numerous Billboard charts. This week alone, "Golden" appears on an impressive nine different Billboard charts, showcasing its multifaceted appeal. Crucially, it manages to climb on nearly half of these rankings, indicating a renewed or sustained surge in listener interest.

While the tune experienced a slight dip of one space on the Radio Songs roster, falling from No. 5 to No. 6, its overall performance remains robust. A Top 10 position on the Radio Songs chart signifies significant airplay across American radio stations, broadening its reach beyond just streaming platforms. More importantly, "Golden" showed improvement on both the Streaming Songs and Digital Song Sales rankings, climbing to No. 12 on both. The Digital Song Sales chart measures individual track purchases, indicating that a substantial number of fans are actively buying the song, further contributing to its commercial success.

These three crucial consumption lists—Streaming Songs, Digital Song Sales, and Radio Songs—are primary components that feed into the Billboard Hot 100, the most important and comprehensive tally of all. Reflecting its strong performance across these metrics, "Golden" continued its upward trajectory on the Billboard Hot 100, pushing up two spaces to No. 7. Reaching the Top 10 of the Hot 100 is a significant achievement for any artist, let alone a K-pop act, and it underscores the track’s broad appeal across various demographics and listening habits. Its sustained presence and climb on the Hot 100 solidify its position as one of the most successful K-pop releases in recent memory, a true testament to the collaborative talent of Huntr/x, Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, and the compelling narrative of the KPop Demon Hunters project.