Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack single “Golden” by fictional K-pop trio Huntr/x becomes America’s No. 1 song, breaking records and reviving girl group power on the charts.
The music charts have a brand-new champion, and the surprise is that the stars behind it don’t even exist outside of animation. “Golden,” the breakout single from Netflix’s animated hit KPop Demon Hunters, has officially climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Huntr/x—the fictional K-pop trio at the heart of the movie—the first female K-pop act to top the chart in America.
The success of “Golden” has drawn comparisons to the late ’60s, when another animated group, The Archies, topped the charts with “Sugar, Sugar.” But while that bubblegum classic belonged to a bygone era, Huntr/x has electrified a dull 2025 music summer with their soaring empowerment anthem.
Huntr/x is made up of three animated heroines—Rumi, Mira, and Zoey—who double as both demon-fighting warriors and pop idols in the movie. Their voices come courtesy of real-life performers Ejae, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna, all of South Korean descent. “Golden” is primarily led by Ejae, whose character Rumi belts out the song in both English and Korean while wrestling with her dual identity as half-demon and bandleader. The lyrics, powered by its chant of “up, up, up,” have resonated with fans as a rallying cry for self-belief.
The soundtrack’s success goes far beyond just one hit. Currently holding the No. 2 spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart, the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack has nine tracks charting on the Hot 100—seven of them in the Top 40. Rival group Saja Boys, the all-demon boy band from the film, have their own songs climbing the charts, including “Soda Pop” and “Your Idol.” Meanwhile, the duet “Free,” pairing Huntr/x’s Rumi with Saja Boys leader Jinu, has become a fan-favorite ballad.
Unlike most modern releases, which tend to peak quickly before sliding down, KPop Demon Hunters has built momentum week by week. “Golden” debuted at No. 81 before steadily rising to the top over six weeks. On streaming platforms, the track has dominated, holding the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart for three consecutive weeks. Downloads have been strong as well, while radio airplay has been slower to catch up—though the single has cracked the Top 20 on the Pop Airplay chart.
The last fictional ensemble to hit No. 1 was Disney’s Encanto soundtrack with “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” in 2022. But “Golden” makes history in several ways: it’s the first U.S. No. 1 by a female K-pop act, the first K-pop chart-topper not tied to BTS, and the first No. 1 from any girl group in nearly 25 years, dating back to Destiny’s Child’s “Bootylicious” in 2001.
The rise of Huntr/x and KPop Demon Hunters has been called the one genuine surprise of summer 2025. With Netflix’s animated feature climbing to become the streamer’s second-biggest movie of all time and the soundtrack now fueling chart domination, the phenomenon has reenergized a music season that had been dominated by aging hits and predictable ballads.
As fall approaches, Taylor Swift is set to reclaim the spotlight, but don’t expect Huntr/x to fade away quickly. With awards season on the horizon and the possibility of “Golden” taking the stage at the Oscars, this fictional trio has already secured their place in music history. Sometimes, imaginary idols can deliver very real results.
