The global impact of K-pop continued to surge in 2025, with Korean artists and soundtracks dominating worldwide streaming charts. According to the 2025 Year-End Music Report released by U.S. entertainment data firm Luminate, the OST “Golden” from Netflix’s animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters emerged as one of the most-streamed songs in the world.
“Golden” Becomes a Global Streaming Powerhouse
The track “Golden”, featured in Netflix’s K-pop animation K‑Pop Demon Hunters, recorded 2.43 billion global streams, ranking No.2 worldwide. The song trailed only Die With a Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, which topped the chart with 2.85 billion streams.
This milestone highlights the growing influence of K-content soundtracks, especially those backed by global streaming platforms like Netflix.
Rosé’s “APT.” Secures Top 5 Worldwide
BLACKPINK’s Rosé, collaborating with Bruno Mars, also made a strong showing. Their song APT. accumulated 2.326 billion streams, placing No.4 globally.
In the global music video streaming ranking, “APT.” climbed even higher, ranking No.2 with 1.403 billion views, while “Golden” followed at No.4 with 1.146 billion views, proving both tracks’ massive visual and audio appeal.
K-Pop Dominates U.S. Top CD Album Sales
K-pop’s dominance extended beyond streaming into physical sales. In Luminate’s “U.S. Top 10 CD Albums” chart, K-pop acts claimed seven of the ten spots.
- Stray Kids stood out with three albums in the Top 10:
- KARMA (No.2)
- DO IT (No.3)
- HOP (No.6)
Other K-pop artists featured in the Top 10 included ENHYPEN (No.4), ATEEZ (No.5), KATSEYE (No.7), and TXT (No.10). The only non-K-pop album in the Top 10 was Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl, which ranked No.1.
K-Pop’s Expanding Global Footprint
From animated film soundtracks to chart-topping collaborations and dominant album sales, the 2025 data confirms that K-pop is no longer a niche genre but a central force in the global music industry. With both streaming and physical markets responding at record levels, Korean artists and content continue to redefine global pop culture.