HUNTR/X’s Golden soars to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its first week, powered by the Netflix animated film soundtrack KPop Demon Hunters. The aspirational track marks the act’s first Hot 100 leadership, with vocals by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI, and it also rules Billboard’s Soundtracks chart for a seventh week.
Golden stands as the ninth Korean pop song to top the Hot 100 and the first by a group led by female vocalists. It joins the BTS hits of 2023—Seven (Jung Kook feat. Latto) and Like Crazy (Jimin)—and BTS’ earlier No. 1s from 2020-21: Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat) with Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo; Dynamite; Life Goes On; Butter; Permission To Dance; and My Universe with Coldplay. Notably, EJAE and REI AMI were born in Seoul, South Korea, while Nuna hails from New Jersey.
Golden also becomes the first “IRL” Hot 100 No. 1 by an act with a fictional background since We Don’t Talk About Bruno, which dominated for five weeks in early 2022. That track was released from a hit animated film (Disney’s Encanto) and performed by multiple vocalists in their character roles. Among all-women collectives of three or more members, HUNTR/X is the first to top the Hot 100 in 24 years, since Destiny’s Child’s Bootylicious in 2001.
Chappell Roan’s The Subway debuts at No. 3, her highest-charting entry to date and her fourth top 10.
The Hot 100 combines U.S. streaming (official audio and video), radio airplay and sales data, with digital singles sales from full-service retailers (direct-to-consumer purchases excluded). All charts dated Aug. 16, 2025 update on Billboard.com on Tuesday, Aug. 12. Luminate, Billboard’s data partner, reviews submissions for authenticity and removes any dubious data before finalizing the rankings.
Commentary and value add:
– This milestone underscores the continuing globalization of pop music and the growing influence of Korean acts in the U.S. mainstream, especially through cross-media projects like film soundtracks.
– The achievement by an all-female, multi-member group highlights progress in representation within K-pop’s international reach.
– Netflix film tie-ins remain a potent platform for chart movement, as audiences consume music tied to highly anticipated releases.
Summary: Golden’s ascent to the Hot 100 summit marks a landmark moment for HUNTR/X and Korean pop, driven by a high-profile soundtrack and a broader, positive momentum for female-led groups in global markets. The week also features a strong debut for Chappell Roan, illustrating continued diversity in the top tier of the chart. A hopeful takeaway is the ongoing fusion of film, streaming, and music that can propel fresh voices toward enduring mainstream success.