Golden Week: Fictional K-pop Trio Claims Billboard Crown

The music charts witnessed a historic shift this week as a fictional K-pop group claimed the top spot for the first time in over two decades. The Apple Music Global Top 50, Billboard Hot 100, and Hits Daily Double Top 50 all reflect a landscape where animated soundtracks compete with established stars for streaming supremacy.

HUNTR/X Makes History

HUNTR/X’s “Golden” from Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” ascended to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking a significant milestone for both animated soundtracks and Korean pop music. The fictional group, voiced by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI, becomes the first all-woman group to top the Hot 100 in 24 years—since Destiny’s Child dominated with “Bootylicious” in August 2001.

The track also represents the ninth Korean pop song to conquer the Hot 100, but the first by female lead vocalists. This achievement follows previous K-pop chart-toppers from BTS members and collaborations, cementing the genre’s mainstream American appeal.

Alex Warren’s Historic Run Ends

After nine consecutive weeks at No. 1, Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” slips to No. 2, ending one of the year’s most impressive chart runs. Warren’s breakthrough hit, which made him the first male soloist to earn an initial Hot 100 No. 1 in 2025, demonstrated remarkable staying power across all chart platforms before finally yielding to the streaming surge of “Golden.”

Chappell Roan Reaches New Heights

Pop sensation Chappell Roan achieves her highest Billboard Hot 100 position yet with “The Subway” debuting at No. 3. The track marks her fourth top 10 hit and surpasses her previous peaks of No. 4 with both “Good Luck, Babe!” and “Pink Pony Club.”

The song generated immediate streaming success, topping Spotify’s Daily Top Songs USA chart with 3.9 million streams in its first day—a 2025 high. Despite debuting at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, radio support remains limited in the U.S., with most stations still prioritizing her established hit “Pink Pony Club.”

This Week’s Chart Comparison

Each chart continues to measure different aspects of music consumption:

• Apple Music reflects global streaming patterns
• Billboard Hot 100 combines U.S. streaming, radio airplay, and sales
• Hits Daily Double focuses on revenue-based metrics and radio strength

Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 This Week:

1. HUNTR/X – “Golden” (first week at No. 1)
2. Alex Warren – “Ordinary”
3. Chappell Roan – “The Subway” (debut)
4. Morgan Wallen feat. Tate McRae – “What I Want”
5. Justin Bieber – “Daisies”
6. Ravyn Lenae – “Love Me Not”
7. Morgan Wallen – “Just in Case”
8. Saja Boys – “Your Idol”
9. Teddy Swims – “Lose Control”
10. Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

Crossover Performance

Songs appearing across multiple chart platforms this week:

• “Golden” by HUNTR/X (streaming dominance crossing to sales)
• “Ordinary” by Alex Warren (maintaining radio strength)
• “The Subway” by Chappell Roan (strong debut across platforms)
• “What I Want” by Morgan Wallen feat. Tate McRae (country-pop staying power)

Weekly Chart Notes

• Animation’s unprecedented impact proves fictional artists can generate real chart success when backed by authentic talent
• K-pop’s female breakthrough represents a significant milestone for Korean music on American charts
• Streaming vs. radio dynamics continue to evolve, with “Golden” succeeding primarily through streaming power
• Established stars’ resilience shows in Warren and Wallen maintaining top positions despite new competition

The battle between fictional and real artists highlights the changing nature of music consumption, where compelling soundtracks can compete directly with traditional recording artists for chart dominance.