Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation have struck chart gold with “Golden,” the breakout hit from fictional K-pop girl group Huntr/x, soaring to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It notches the top spot with nearly 32 million streams, 8.4 million radio airplay audience impressions and 7,000 sold in the United States. Performed by singer-songwriters Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, the track marks a historic first: the only No. 1 Hot 100 hit by a female K-pop group in the chart’s 60-plus year history — previous top spots were held solely by BTS and its solo offshoots.
Also on the Hot 100, Saja Boys, Huntr/x’s rivals, climb from No. 9 to No. 8 for a new Hot 100 high with “Your Idol.”
The parent album, the “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack, holds steady at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, logging its best week yet with 100,000 equivalent album units. The record, tied to the animated action-fantasy film of the same name, has gained momentum every week since its debut seven weeks ago.
Released on June 20, the action-packed film has become a global streaming phenomenon on Netflix, landing in the platform’s Top 10 across all 93 tracked countries and hitting No. 1 in 33, including South Korea, Brazil, France, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Also making waves in the top of the Hot 100 is Chappell Roan’s much-anticipated “The Subway” arriving at No. 3. A ballad she performed for the first time more than a year ago, at the 2024 Governors Ball festival, “The Subway” is Roan’s first new music release since “The Giver” earlier this year.
“The Subway” is now Roan’s highest charting song of all-time on the Hot 100, surpassing “Pink Pony Club” and her breakout single, “Good Luck, Babe!” The song debuts on the list with 25 million streams, 787,000 in airplay audience.
Back on the albums chart, Morgan Wallen‘s “I’m the Problem” continues to dominate for a 10th week at No. 1. It’s a run that ties the country hitmaker with Elton John for the fourth-most weeks at No. 1 among male artists in the chart’s history (Elvis Presley leads with 67 weeks). Wallen is also the only act to spend at least 10 weeks at No. 1 with three consecutive full-length albums. (“One Thing at a Time” ruled for 19 nonconsecutive weeks in 2023-34 and “Dangerous: The Double Album” was notched 10 straight weeks in 2021.)
Reneé Rapp achieves her highest-charting album yet (and first top 10) as “Bite Me” debuts at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 64,000 album units earned. She previously peaked with one entry on the Billboard 200, “Snow Angel,” which entered at No. 44 in 2023.
$uicideBoy$ also earn their highest-charting album as “Thy Kingdom Come” debuts at No. 4 with 57,000 album units earned. It’s the fifth top 10 set for the hip-hop duo, behind their No. 5 entry of 2024’s “New World Depression.” Yeat, meanwhile, collects his sixth top 10-charted effort as “Dangerous Summer” starts at No. 9 with 34,000 album units earned. It collected nearly 26 million streams and 16,000 sales.
The remainder of the top 10 on the Billboard 200 is filled out by Justin Bieber’s “Swag”at No. 5; Alex Warren’s “You’ll Be Alright, Kid” at No. 6; Wallen’s “One Thing at a Time” at No. 7; and SZA’s “SOS” re-enters from No. 12 to No. 8. Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet” closes out the top at No. 10.
variety.com
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