“Golden” rises to a new high nearly a year after its release and misses out on becoming K-pop’s first No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart by one space. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 01: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (L-R) Audrey Nuna, EJAE and Rei Ami of Kpop Demon Hunters attend the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
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In a little more than a month, “Golden,” the historic smash from KPop Demon Hunters, will turn one year old. The tune was pushed as a single from the blockbuster on July 4, 2025, only a few weeks after the animated film was released on Netflix. Once it became clear that the movie was not going to be just another success, but that it was headed for greater heights than perhaps anybody expected, the move made perfect sense. KPop Demon Hunters would quickly become the platform’s most-viewed project of all time.
“Golden” was sent to radio stations, and amazingly, even after being played nonstop for nearly a year and winning both a Grammy and an Oscar, “Golden” remains a huge hit in America. This week, the cut, which is credited to the fictional girl group Huntr/x, as well as vocalists Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, rises to a new peak position on one of Billboard’s three pop radio rosters, and it almost sits on the throne.
“Golden” Almost Hits No. 1
34 weeks into its time on the Adult Contemporary chart, “Golden” establishes a new peak. The electropop banger pushes from No. 3 to No. 2, missing out on ruling by just one space. That “Golden” continues to grow is remarkable, even when taking into consideration the fact that the Adult Contemporary chart is perhaps Billboard’s slowest-moving airplay tally.
Alex Warren Keeps “Golden” From No. 1
Only Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” keeps the K-pop song from hitting the summit on the Adult Contemporary chart. The singer-songwriter’s breakout smash has now ruled for an even 30 frames. It is the fifth-longest-running ruler of all time, coming in behind only “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims, “Girls Like You” by Maroon 5 and the Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights.” Those tunes sat at the pinnacle of the list for 57, 49, 36 and 35 weeks, respectively.
“Golden” Brings K-Pop to a Never-Before-Seen Peak
“Golden” has ranked as the most successful K-pop tune in the history of the Adult Contemporary chart for months at this point. It is the only top 10 performed at least partially in Korean, or by an artist typically associated with K-pop, and it could soon become the first No. 1, if “Ordinary” will ever step aside. Before KPop Demon Hunters, Lisa’s “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me)” beat tunes from BTS and her Blackpink bandmate Rosé when it stepped up from No. 16 to No. 15, which stood as the highest any K-pop artist had risen for a short time.
“Golden” Holds Inside the Top 10 at Radio
“Golden” long ago disappeared from the Pop Airplay chart, the most competitive of the three in the genre, but it remains one of the most heard tracks on the Adult Pop Airplay list. 42 weeks into its tenure on that tally, “Golden” is comfortable once again at No. 4, which seems to suggest that it won’t disappear anytime soon.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 08: (L-R) Rei Ami, EJAE and Audrey Nuna attend the KPop Demon Hunters NY Music Focused Tastemaker on December 08, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Netflix)
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“Golden” Keeps Selling
“Golden” can also be found on both of the company’s worldwide lists, the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. Expectedly, the K-pop track performs better on the roster that excludes American consumption, where it only now slips outside the top 10, dipping from No. 10 to No. 15. On the Billboard Global 200, the tumble is more dramatic, as the cut steps from No. 13 to No. 28. Notably, “Golden” improves when it comes to purchases, soaring from No. 20 to No. 15 on the Digital Song Sales chart.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2026/05/31/kpop-demon-hunters-misses-making-k-pop-history-by-one-space—for-now/
