‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Soundtrack Tops Charts as ‘Golden’ Marks a Historic Fifth Week at No. 1

The official "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack from Netflix has claimed the No. 1 position on the Billboard 200, following seven nonconsecutive weeks at No. 2. Luminate reports the album earned 128,000 equivalent units in the U.S. this week, a jump driven by the September 5 release of a deluxe edition. This expanded version introduced bonus songs and marked the soundtrack’s first physical CD release, drawing interest from both streaming audiences and collectors alike.

This achievement makes "KPop Demon Hunters" the first film soundtrack to top the chart since Disney’s "Encanto," which led for nine nonconsecutive weeks in 2022. The film blends K-pop spectacle with supernatural action, reflecting how animated features increasingly influence music trends. Industry experts point to the growing role of animation in music marketing; as media analyst Dr. Lena Cho recently stated, “Animated soundtracks are no longer side projects—they’re central to how labels introduce new music and build lasting fan engagement.”

On the Hot 100, the soundtrack’s lead single “Golden” by fictional girl group Huntr/x held the top spot for a fifth week in a row. This surpasses the four-week runs of animated classics like “Sugar, Sugar” by The Archies (1969) and “The Chipmunk Song” (1958). Huntr/x—voiced by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI—represents a new kind of hybrid act, merging real vocal talent with animated storytelling to create a uniquely engaging musical experience.

Beyond its No. 1 single, the soundtrack continues to dominate the upper reaches of the Hot 100. Four tracks remain in the top 10 for a fourth consecutive week, with Saja Boys’ “Your Idol” and “Soda Pop” each climbing one spot to reclaim their previous peaks at No. 4 and No. 5. Meanwhile, Huntr/x’s “How It’s Done” reached a new high at No. 8, underscoring the album’s sustained popularity.

Elsewhere on the Billboard 200, Justin Bieber’s "Swag" jumped from No. 17 to No. 4 after a deluxe reissue added 23 new tracks. Newcomer Sombr also broke into the top 10 for the first time, as her album "I Barely Know Her" debuted at No. 10. These moves highlight a broader industry shift: deluxe and expanded editions are becoming crucial for maintaining album relevance in the streaming era, allowing artists to re-engage audiences and extend chart momentum long after initial release.