In a colossal career achievement, globally celebrated artist Jungkook of BTS has officially become the first K-pop soloist in history to surpass the monumental milestone of 10 billion cumulative streams across all his tracks on the Spotify platform.
This historic benchmark was crossed on November 25, establishing him as the pioneering and, as of now, the only K-pop solo artist to achieve this ten-figure feat.
This remarkable accomplishment is a powerful indicator of Jungkook’s profound and sustained influence, cementing his position as one of the world’s most commercially dominant solo musicians.
The Global Streaming Phenomenon and Historical Significance
The 10 billion stream count reflects the exceptional speed and scale of Jungkook’s solo career, which officially launched in earnest with his album GOLDEN.
While K-pop groups have demonstrated strong streaming power, Jungkook is the first individual soloist from the industry to reach this level of global saturation.
This milestone doesn’t just represent high stream volume, but a significant cultural breakthrough, showcasing the ability of a Korean solo artist to command a consistent, massive, and dedicated listenership across every corner of the globe.
Jungkook’s journey to this figure includes streams from his full solo discography, collaborations, and soundtrack releases, illustrating a remarkably cohesive and high-performing body of work that has consistently engaged listeners.
His continuous ability to set new benchmarks solidifies his role as an indispensable figure in the ongoing global expansion of Korean music.
The Unprecedented Success of the GOLDEN Album
A primary driver of this 10 billion stream figure is Jungkook’s debut solo album, GOLDEN, released in November 2023.
The album itself has accumulated an astonishing 6.4 billion total streams on Spotify in just over a year.
BTS’s Jungkook (Credit: YouTube)
This figure is not only a demonstration of his overwhelming popularity but also of the album’s resonance with mainstream audiences worldwide.
The success of GOLDEN is further highlighted by its extraordinary track-by-track performance. In a rare and impressive display of consistent quality and widespread appeal, every single song included on the album has individually surpassed 100 million streams.
This comprehensive streaming success across the entire tracklist underscores a dedicated fan base and a broader public appreciation for his musical output beyond just the lead singles.
The Record-Breaking Reign of “Seven”
At the core of Jungkook’s record-breaking run is the single “Seven (feat. Latto),” which instantly became a global smash upon its release and continues to prove its staying power.
Upon its debut, “ Seven ” set a historical precedent by making Jungkook the first K-pop solo artist ever to top Spotify’s elite ‘Top Songs Global’ chart.
Its immediate commercial power was evident in its opening day streams, where it became the most streamed K-pop solo song on its first day with an immense total of 15,995,378 streams.
The song’s appeal also transcended the summer of its release, ranking as the third most streamed song globally for the entire Summer of 2023.
The single has achieved phenomenal longevity, accumulating over 2.6 billion cumulative streams, making it the first single by a Korean artist to reach this massive number.
Furthermore, the track holds the record for the longest run ever for an Asian solo artist on the Weekly Top Songs Global chart, having maintained a position for an unprecedented 123 weeks and currently sitting at nearly 2.7 billion total streams.
This endurance is a strong testament to the song’s status as a genuine worldwide, genre-defying hit, driving the artist’s overall stream count to the historic 10 billion mark.
The close of November and the start of December 2025 brought a flurry of significant news across the K-pop industry, marked by historic global chart achievements, major awards show victories, and unavoidable real-world tragedy.
The week was defined by the phenomenal record-breaking success of Stray Kids in the U.S. and the emotionally complex staging of the 2025 MAMA Awards in Hong Kong.
A Historical Week on the Global Charts
The most impactful commercial news of the week belonged to the eight-member powerhouse Stray Kids.
The group shattered a 70-year record on the Billboard 200 chart, solidifying their status as global chart royalty.
Their new album, SKZ IT TAPE ‘DO IT’, debuted at No. 1, extending the group’s own unprecedented K-pop record by marking their eighth consecutive album to top the chart.
This colossal achievement not only confirms their powerful album sales and dedicated international fandom but further illustrates K-pop’s deep and sustainable penetration into the American music market.
This chart milestone came alongside a sweep of accolades at the MAMA Awards, where Stray Kids’ impact was recognized with the coveted VISA Album of the Year Daesang (Grand Prize) for their previous work, KARMA.
The group’s consistent chart performance and ability to move massive units underscore their influence, proving that their rise is far from a temporary trend.
The 2025 MAMA Awards: Triumphs and Tragedy
The annual MAMA Awards were held in Hong Kong but proceeded under an unavoidable cloud of solemnity.
Due to the catastrophic Wang Fuk Court fire that occurred in the city just days before the ceremony, claiming numerous lives, organizers and artists made significant adjustments out of respect.
The traditional red carpet event was canceled, and a moment of silence was observed.
Furthermore, much of the production was scaled back, with fire effects and certain high-concept performances, such as the eagerly anticipated “Saja Boys” collaboration, being axed entirely.
Stray Kids (Credit: YouTube)
Artists across the two-day event were seen wearing black ribbons to express solidarity and grief.
Despite the necessary atmosphere of restraint, the show honored the year’s major achievements.
The highest honors, the Daesangs, were distributed among industry giants: G-Dragon won VISA Artist of the Year, Stray Kids secured VISA Album of the Year, and BLACKPINK’s Rosé (with Bruno Mars) won VISA Song of the Year for “APT.” ENHYPEN won the VISA Fans’ Choice of the Year, a victory met with overwhelming emotion on stage by the members, who spoke tearfully of their hard work and five-year journey.
Other major winners included aespa, who took home Best Dance Performance and Best Choreography, capping off a busy year of releases and touring.
Donations and Vocal Scrutiny
Amidst the awards and performances, the K-pop community demonstrated remarkable unity and compassion for the Hong Kong fire victims.
Major agencies, including HYBE, JYP Entertainment, and YG Entertainment, and numerous artists such as Stray Kids, WayV, i-dle, and THE BOYZ, came together to announce substantial financial donations toward the relief efforts.
WayV even postponed the release of their special winter album, Eternal White, to December 1st out of respect.
However, the event was not without controversy. Despite G-Dragon winning the prestigious Artist of the Year, his closing performance sparked significant backlash.
Online forums erupted with criticism over his “scratchy vocals” and unstable technique during his set, marking what was reported to be his third major live vocal issue in eight months.
The stark contrast between his awarded prestige and his live delivery became a major talking point, briefly overshadowing his historic Daesang win.
The industry’s attention now shifts to the upcoming 2025 Music Bank Global Festival in Japan. Scheduled for December 13-14, the event will be hosted by actor-singer Lee Jun-young and IVE’s Jang Won-young and will take place at the massive National Stadium in Tokyo.
This venue, previously reserved only for major sporting and Olympic events, marks a historic milestone as the first K-pop concert to be held in the 60,000-capacity arena.
The lineup features a blend of fourth- and fifth-generation powerhouses, with Day 1 including RIIZE, ATEEZ, ITZY, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and Day 2 headlined by Stray Kids, IVE, and TVXQ’s Yunho, setting the stage for a spectacular conclusion to the K-pop calendar year.
