Typically, when a single is promoted to radio stations in the United States, an artist and their team will focus on one format. Formats are largely centered around genres, though there are some that focus on subgenres or which straddle several styles.
“Dracula,” the incredibly popular collaboration between Tame Impala and Blackpink singer Jennie, is so difficult to classify that it is performing well across several radio formats in the United States at once. This week, “Dracula” reaches a new peak on multiple airplay tallies, and it helps Jennie make history on one of them.
Jennie and Tame Impala Reach the Top 10
28 weeks into its time on the Pop Airplay chart – only a portion of those saw “Dracula” credited to both Tame Impala and Jennie, instead of solely the alternative act, as was initially the case – the global smash breaks into the top 10. “Dracula” flies from No. 11 to No. 9 on Billboard‘s list of the tunes that rack up the largest total number of audience impressions across all top 40 pop stations in the country. Both Jennie and Tame Impala reach the competitive tier for the first time.
Jennie Makes K-Pop History
Jennie is now the fourth solo K-pop musician – any artist typically associated with that genre – to score a top 10 smash on the Pop Airplay chart. The only two No. 1s in the history of the ranking associated with K-pop come from solo females. Ejae, one of the three singers behind KPop Demon Hunters tune “Golden” – which is also credited to the girl group Huntr/x and Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, who aren’t primarily known for their work in K-pop – followed “Apt.” from another Blackpink star, Rosé, and Bruno Mars. Both of those tracks spent multiple weeks running the busiest of the three pop radio charts published by Billboard.
One other tune by a K-pop soloist, Psy’s “Gangnam Style,” also worked its way into the top 10 more than a decade ago. That K-pop smash, one of the first in American history, peaked at No. 10 back when such a performance was unheard of.
“Dracula” Joins Another Six K-Pop Top 10 Hits
Only seven songs that credit any K-pop act have reached the top 10 on the Pop Airplay chart. In addition to the aforementioned “Apt.,” “Golden” and “Gangnam Style,” a pair of BTS smashes have also pushed into the tier. “Dynamite” climbed to No. 5, while “Butter” stalled in seventh place a year later. Fifty Fifty’s “Cupid,” that K-pop girl group’s only hit in America, danced all the way to No. 7 and then turned around.
“Dracula” Misses the Top 10 on One Other Chart
At the moment, “Dracula” is missing from the Adult Contemporary chart, but it does improve its standing on the Adult Pop Airplay tally at the same time that it reaches the top 10 on the Pop Airplay list. On the Adult Pop Airplay rundown, “Dracula” misses the uppermost region by one space, hitting a new high of No. 11. It seems almost certain that the collaboration will soon also become the seventh top 10 among K-pop acts.
“Dracula” Rises at Dance Radio
“Dracula” debuted on the Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart just last week. After opening at No. 38, the tune ascends three rungs to No. 35 on the roster, which is centered around dance music and remixes. As it arrived on that tally, “Dracula” ruled the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart. Now, it steps back to No. 2 as it climbs higher than ever on both pop and dance radio rankings.
