K-pop music typically performs best on the charts in the United States thanks to healthy sales. Both soloists and groups have demonstrated that they can sell huge numbers of albums and songs whenever they release something new. In fact, some of the biggest names in the genre rack up sales sums that many homegrown favorites based in other styles cannot approach in today’s streaming-focused music industry.
Some K-pop artists also perform well on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, though they often trail hip-hop superstars and major pop acts. Radio is where South Korean musicians still have the most room to grow. Programmers have been slow to adopt K-pop and catch up with the wave that has taken over the U.S., but breakout hits are gradually changing that. This week, a K-pop artist nearly claims an extremely rare No. 1 on Billboard’s most competitive radio roster, but she is instead blocked from the summit by only one rung.
Jennie and Tame Impala Rises to No. 2
“Dracula,” Jennie’s collaboration with Tame Impala, rises from No. 3 to a new peak of No. 2 on the Radio Songs chart. One of several airplay rosters in America, the Radio Songs list reports the 50 tracks of any genre that rack up the greatest total audience impressions each week. A title may succeed thanks to a huge number of spins, or perhaps due to its popularity in the largest markets.
Olivia Dean Blocks Jennie From No. 1
Jennie and Tame Impala stop one space short of the summit as Olivia Dean continues to rule the Radio Songs chart. Her single “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” holds at No. 1 for a second period after climbing to the loftiest spot only last week.
Dean’s track record on the ranking is perfect. She has placed only two singles on the roster, and both have commanded it for multiple frames. “Man I Need” brought Dean to the Radio Songs chart for the first time last October. The tune eventually climbed to No. 1 in February and ruled for three periods. “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” may match that run in only a matter of days should it hold in the highest rung for one more frame.
Jennie Has Scored Her Two Radio Songs Chart Hits
“Dracula” gave Tame Impala its first appearance on the Radio Songs chart when it debuted in April. Jennie had reached the tally once before, alongside The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp. The three musicians collaborated on “One of the Girls,” which was featured in the television series The Idol. That tune launched on the Radio Songs roster in March 2024 and never climbed higher than No. 48 on the 50-position list.
“Golden” Remains the Only K-Pop No. 1 on the Radio Tally
So far, only one track that can be classified as K-pop has climbed all the way to the peak position of the Radio Songs chart. “Golden,” taken from KPop Demon Hunters, reached No. 1 last year. The blockbuster earned the fictional K-pop girl group Huntr/x, as well as Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, their first champions on the ranking.
Jennie Is Part of an Extremely Small Group of K-Pop Acts
“Dracula” is one of only four tracks that can be classified as K-pop — or that are attached to musicians typically known for creating K-pop music — to break into the top 10 on the Radio Songs chart.
Fellow Blackpink singer Rosé climbed all the way to No. 4 with “Apt.,” her collaboration with Bruno Mars. BTS became the first K-pop act to score a Radio Songs top 10 when “Dynamite” danced as high as No. 10.
