The original soundtrack (OST) for the Netflix animated film "K-pop Demon Hunters" (hereafter Kedehun) topped both the U.S. Billboard main singles chart, the Hot 100, and the albums chart, the Billboard 200, at the same time. It is the first time in about five years that a K-pop album and a track from it have simultaneously taken No. 1 on both charts since BTS's 2020 album "BE" and its title track "Life Goes On."
Billboard said on the 15th (local time) that Kedehun OST track "Golden" held the top spot again this week following last week, marking its fifth week at No. 1 on the Hot 100. Golden debuted on the chart at No. 81 and steadily climbed to Nos. 23, 6, 4, 2, 2, and 1, remaining on the chart for 12 consecutive weeks to date.
Earlier, the Kedehun OST rebounded from No. 2 to take No. 1 for the first time this week on Billboard's main albums chart, the Billboard 200. With this, it set a record by simultaneously dominating Billboard's main singles and albums charts.
During the latest chart tracking period, "Golden" logged 33.8 million streams, 26.39 million radio audience impressions, and 8,000 in sales. Streams fell 2% from a week earlier, radio rose 19%, and sales declined 11%. It maintained No. 1 on the Streaming Songs chart for eight straight weeks, and advanced on the Radio Songs chart from No. 24 to No. 20.
"Golden" set the record for the longest run at No. 1 by a song performed by animated characters in the 67-year history of the Hot 100. The previous longest records were The Archies' "Sugar, Sugar" (1969) and "The Chipmunk Song" (1958) at four weeks each. Among K-pop songs, this is the second to log at least five weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, following BTS's "Butter" (10 weeks). Among songs by female groups, it ranks behind Destiny's Child's "Independent Women Part 1" (11 weeks) and TLC's "Waterfalls" (7 weeks).
Album tracks are also drawing attention. Rival group "Sajaboys" scored "Your Idol" and "Soda Pop" at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively, while Huntrix's other track "How It's Done" placed at No. 8, putting an extraordinary four songs in the top 10 at once. This is the first time four OST tracks have simultaneously entered the Hot 100 top 10.
Kedehun has earned praise for its original premise of a K-pop girl group defeating evil spirits with music to save the world and for its direction infused with Korean sensibility. Since its release on Jun. 20, it has broken Netflix's all-time record for most views among original content, with more than 290 million cumulative views.
It is the first time in about three years and six months that an OST has topped both charts simultaneously since "Encanto" and its track "We Don't Talk About Bruno" in 2022.