In a surprising turn of events that has shaken the music industry, the genre-bending track “Golden” has maintained its dominance at the top of the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart for 12 consecutive weeks, shattering expectations for KPop Demon Hunters‘ breakthrough hit. The song, which boldly fuses traditional K-pop elements with metalcore and hard rock instrumentation, has achieved top positions on iTunes charts in over 30 countries including South Korea, the United States, and Brazil.
The track’s unprecedented success extends beyond chart positions, with “Golden” surpassing 500 million Spotify streams globally within just three months of its release. Daily average streams exceeded 6 million during its peak charting period, while YouTube views topped 150 million in the first two months alone. This streaming dominance has translated into impressive sales, with combined digital and physical units reaching 1.2 million worldwide in just 12 weeks.
Streaming metrics tell the true story: “Golden” isn’t just charting—it’s rewriting the rules of digital music consumption.
Social media platforms have played an essential role in the song’s sustained popularity. The “Golden” hashtag on TikTok has generated over 2 billion video plays, while Twitter mentions peaked at 100,000 during release week. Fan-organized streaming parties have markedly contributed to the track’s consistent performance across platforms.
Critics have praised the song for its innovative approach, with Forbes featuring KPop Demon Hunters in its list of breakthrough music acts for 2025. The group’s strategic marketing campaign, which included exclusive streaming platform partnerships and early access listening events in key markets, helped build momentum from the outset.
Perhaps most importantly, “Golden” has expanded K-pop’s reach into previously underrepresented music markets, attracting rock and metal fans worldwide through its bilingual lyrics and genre-blending sound. The producers behind the track utilized a methodical workflow to carefully balance melodic elements with heavy instrumentation, creating a sound that appeals across genre preferences. The group’s success was further amplified by their effective use of editorial playlist submissions to reach new audiences across major streaming platforms. The song’s complex vocal arrangements mirror traditional K-pop style while maintaining aggressive energy, inspiring a wave of hybrid genre experimentation within both K-pop and rock communities.
As “Golden” continues its chart dominance, it stands as proof that musical innovation and cross-genre experimentation can lead to global success, even in today’s highly competitive streaming landscape.
