Kidede Hun’s “Golden” & 317M Streams: Meaning Explained

‘Golden’ ascends to No. 1 on US Billboard Hot 100, marking Historic K-Pop Breakthrough

A virtual K-pop girl group has achieved a monumental feat, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time with their single, “Golden.†The track, performed by Huntrix from the animated series K-Pop Daemon Hunters, surged to the No. 1 position on November 11,surpassing Alex warren’s “Ordinary.â€

A New era for K-Pop on the Global Stage

This achievement represents a watershed moment for the K-pop genre. Until now, only members of the group BTS had previously reached the top spot on the highly influential chart. “Golden†is the first song by a female K-pop act to claim the No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100, signaling a broadening of the genre’s appeal and influence in the US market. The song also simultaneously reached No. 1 on the UK Official Singles Chart ‘Top 100,’ securing a rare dual victory in both the US and UK pop landscapes.

Did you know?— Before Huntrix, BTS was the only K-pop act to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their first chart-topping song was “Dynamite” in 2020, followed by “Butter” in 2021 and “Permission to dance” in 2021.

Streaming Power Drives ‘Golden’ to the Top

The Billboard Hot 100 ranking is determined by a combination of US streaming data, radio airplay, and sales figures. “Golden†demonstrated notable gains across all metrics,with 31.7 million streams recorded — a 9% increase from the previous week. Radio broadcast scores saw a remarkable 71% jump to 840 million, while sales volume increased by 35% to 7,000 units.

According to a cultural critic, the song’s success is largely attributable to its widespread streaming activity. “It’s a lot of streaming, which means that I’ve heard a lot repeatedly.So, it’s not a fan, but it’s very influential despite being a fan, but it means that everyone enjoyed it.†This suggests that “Golden’s†popularity extends beyond dedicated fandoms, indicating broader mainstream appeal.

Pro tip:— The Billboard Hot 100 uses a formula weighting streaming activity (50%), radio airplay (30%), and physical/digital sales (20%) to determine chart positions.

Huntrix and the Rising Tide of Korean American Talent

Huntrix is a virtual group featured in the animated series Kedeheon. The song’s success is particularly notable as the composers and singers — Lee Jae-jae,Audrey sister,and Ray Ami — are all Korean Americans who were previously trainees at SM Entertainment. Their achievement highlights the growing presence and influence of Korean American artists in the global music industry.

Lee Jae-jae, who performs as Rumi within Huntrix and contributed to the song’s composition, expressed overwhelming emotion upon hearing the news. “I don’t think about what to say. Only tears come out,†she stated,adding,“Thank you to everyone for the love you sent.â€

The success of “Golden†underscores the evolving dynamics of the music industry and the increasing power of streaming in shaping chart dominance. it’s a landmark moment, not just for Huntrix and K-pop, but for the future of global music.

reader question:— How might the use of virtual groups like Huntrix impact the future of music and artist growth? What are your thoughts?