Virtual K-pop Group HUNTR/X’s “Golden” Claims Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 Spot

The single “Golden” by the virtual K-pop group HUNTR/X has reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. This marks HUNTR/X’s first-ever Hot 100 No. 1 achievement, and the song is part of the soundtrack for Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters.” The historical significance of “Golden” lies in its vocal arrangement, featuring performances from EJAE, O.de, and REI AMI. While this is the ninth time a K-pop-related track has topped the Hot 100, it is the first time a song led by female vocalists has achieved this position. This success follows BTS members’ No. 1 hits in 2023 such as Jung Kook’s “Seven” and Jimin’s “Like Crazy,” as well as BTS’s six No. 1 songs between 2020 and 2021 (“Save Me Love,” “Dynamite,” “Life Goes On,” “Butter,” “Permission to Dance,” and “My Universe”). “Golden” is also the first full-length chart No. 1 for an artist based in a fictional setting. This is the first time since Disney’s animated film “Encanto” held the No. 1 spot for five weeks from February to March 2022 with its track “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” Additionally, it marks the first time in 24 years that a female vocal group consisting of three or more members has reached the Hot 100 No. 1 position, following Destiny’s Child’s “Bootylicious” in August 2001. As of now, “Golden” has remained at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks and has also topped the movie soundtrack chart for seven weeks. The song recorded 31.7 million weekly streams (a 9% increase from the previous week), with music production handled by Grammy-winning members Lindgren, Teddy, and Ian Eisendrauss of The Black Label. “KPop Demon Hunters” is achieving remarkable success on Netflix. It has stayed on the English-language film chart for 15 consecutive weeks, setting a record for the longest duration in history. The previous record was held by “Red Notice” at 14 weeks, but “KPop Demon Hunters” maintained this streak for 15 weeks straight. Notably, it earned 325.1 million views in its first 91 days, making it Netflix’s most popular film to date and the only animated title among the top 10 films. EJAE and REI AMI, the vocalists of HUNTR/X, were born in Seoul, while O.de is from New Jersey. The three voice actors, along with the film’s production team, are set to appear on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on October 7 to deliver the group’s first live TV performance.