Los angeles: "Golden," a track from the animated U.S. film "KPop Demon Hunters," has climbed to the top of Billboard's Hot 100 main singles chart, marking a significant milestone for Korean pop music. The achievement makes "Golden" the ninth song associated with Korean pop to conquer the Hot 100 and the first to do so by female vocalists.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Billboard announced that "Golden" ascended one spot to secure the No. 1 position, surpassing Alex Warren's "Ordinary" this week. The Hot 100 chart is a comprehensive ranking of the most popular songs in the United States, incorporating streaming, radio airplay, and sales data.
During the latest chart tracking period, "Golden" garnered 31.7 million streams, reflecting a 9 percent increase from the previous week. Additionally, it achieved 8.4 million radio airplay audience impressions, a remarkable 71 percent increase, and sold 7,000 copies, up 35 percent, in the U.S. from Aug. 1-7.
The song "Golden" was performed by Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami as the fictional girl group Huntr/x featured in the Netflix original film. Ejae, a composer trained at SM Entertainment, along with the other performers, are all Korean American, with Ejae and Rei Ami originating from South Korea. The track was co-produced by Teddy and 24, renowned for their work with major K-pop agency The Black Label.
Since its debut at No. 81 last month, "Golden" has steadily risen through the ranks, progressing to No. 23, No. 6, No. 4, and No. 2 before ultimately reaching the No. 1 spot. Among K-pop acts, only the boy group BTS and its members Jimin and Jungkook have previously topped the chart.
"Golden" also set a record by simultaneously topping the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the British Official Singles Top 100, achieving the latter on Aug. 1. The track has become a standout hit in this summer's K-pop market, drawing attention for its catchy melody and impressive high notes.
The song has sparked a "Golden Challenge" trend in the K-pop world, with many female stars participating. The high-note section has become a benchmark for vocal ability, attracting notable participants such as Bada from the now-disbanded group S.E.S., Lee Haeri of Davichi, Solar of Mamamoo, and several others.