“Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters almost returns to No. 1 on both of Billboard’s global charts, but a new leader blocks the award-winning smash. 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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The awards season has ended for another year, as the Academy Awards are in the rearview mirror. KPop Demon Hunters was one of the top winners during the biggest night for movies, as the Netflix giant scored two golden trophies. The film itself claimed Best Animated Feature, while “Golden,” the most popular single from its soundtrack, came out on top in the hugely competitive Best Original Song vertical.
“Golden” became the first K-pop track to be honored with an Academy Award, and it was one of only two of the five nominated cuts that were performed during the telecast. The Oscars remain one of the most highly watched televised events, and whenever any song is highlighted for any reason, either with a performance or a win – or in the case of “Golden,” both – it typically climbs on the Billboard charts the following week.
“Golden” nearly becomes the biggest smash in the world again, but it is blocked from another stint atop Billboard’s global rosters by an even more popular tune.
“Golden” Nearly Reconquers the Global Charts
“Golden” rockets to the runner-up spot on both the Billboard Global 200 and the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. Last time around, the Grammy and Oscar winner sat at No. 7 on the list of the most-consumed tracks all around the planet – with streams and sales from America excluded from its methodology – and one space lower on the Billboard Global 200, which does take into account consumption from every nation.
“Stateside” Blocks “Golden” From Another Week at No. 1
Only “Stateside,” the viral collaboration between PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson, keeps “Golden” from finding its way back to the top spot on both the Billboard Global 200 and the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. The two Grammy-nominated artists each collect their first worldwide leaders as “Stateside” ascends.
“Golden” Remains One of the Biggest Global Hits Ever
“Golden” already ranks as the longest-running No. 1 in the half-decade-long history of the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. Between 2025 and this year, the track – credited to the girl group Huntr/x, as well as singers Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami – lived as high as a composition can climb for 20 frames.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 15: (L-R) Rei Ami, Ejae, and Audrey Nuna attend the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 15, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
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“Golden” nearly makes history on the Billboard Global 200 with another stint at No. 1. Currently, the KPop Demon Hunters tune is tied with “Die With a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, as both of those smashes ruled for 18 periods. Only Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which returns to the summit annually, has earned even more time in the spotlight. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has spent a total of 20 weeks running the show between 2020 and last year, and that figure may very well grow again when December rolls around.
Had “Golden” outpaced “Stateside” on the Billboard Global 200, Huntr/x, Ejae, Nuna, and Ami would have passed Gaga and Mars and solely claimed the second-longest-running No. 1 of all time.
“Golden” Climbs on Multiple Billboard Charts
This frame, “Golden” lives on nine different Billboard charts, and it climbs on nearly every roster. In addition to both the Billboard Global 200 and the Billboard Global Excl. U.S., the upbeat dance-pop track improves on the Billboard Hot 100, Streaming Songs, and Adult Pop Airplay tallies. The smash also surges all the way to No. 1 on the Digital Song Sales chart.
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 04: (L-R) Rei Ami, Ejae and Audrey Nuna attend the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 04, 2026 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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“Golden” only manages to descend – and by a small number of pegs – on both the Adult Contemporary and Pop Airplay charts. The track is steady in eighth place on the Radio Songs roster, where it has already taken a turn in the driver’s seat.
“Soda Pop” Joins “Golden” on Billboard’s Global Rankings
“Golden” is one of two songs taken from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack that remain on both of the planet-spanning lists. “Soda Pop,” which comes from the boy band in the film Saja Boys, as well as the five men who lent their voices to the tune, climbs on both the Billboard Global 200 (No. 123) and the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. (No. 170).