Rosé’s “APT.” Named World’s Top Hit Song of 2025... HUNTR/X’s “Golden” Ranks Second

[Financial News] Rosé of BLACKPINK has made history as her song "APT." became the first K-pop track to be the best-selling hit single worldwide.
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) on the 19th (local time), "APT.," a collaboration between Rosé and Bruno Mars, topped IFPI’s official Global Single Chart.
The chart aggregates streaming and download data to rank the songs that enjoyed the greatest global popularity over the year.
IFPI stressed that "this is the first time an artist from outside North America or Europe has taken No. 1 on the Global Single Chart, and also the first time a winning single has featured non-English lyrics."
In 2012, Psy became the first Korean artist to enter the chart with "Gangnam Style." BTS (in 2020 and 2021) and Jungkook (in 2024) also made the list, but none of them reached No. 1.
Second place went to the Netflix original film soundtrack song "Golden," performed in the movie by the fictional girl group HUNTR/X.
IFPI also noted that the 2025 hit songs highlight the growing importance of collaborations. Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga’s "Die With A Smile" ranked fourth, while Kendrick Lamar and SZA took eighth place with "luther."
jashin@fnnews.com Reporter Shin Jin-a Reporter