In a historic achievement that has redefined the boundaries of K-pop, BLACKPINK’s Rosé has officially been crowned the No. 1 Global Artist of 2025 by Billboard.
This milestone follows a year of unprecedented chart dominance driven by her viral smash hit “APT.,” a collaboration with Bruno Mars, and the successful release of her first full-length studio album, rosie.
Historic Year-End Chart Performance
Billboard’s 2025 year-end charts, released in mid-December, solidified Rosé’s status as a global powerhouse.
Her single “APT.” achieved the rare feat of topping both the Billboard Year-End Global 200 and the Billboard Year-End Global Excl. U.S. charts.
The song’s success was not limited to global metrics; it also made a massive impact on the domestic U.S. market, finishing at No. 9 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Singles chart.
This accomplishment makes Rosé the first K-pop solo artist in history to secure a top 10 placement on the year-end Hot 100, surpassing previous records held by legends like Psy.
Key Milestones and Breaking Records
The “APT.” era has been defined by a series of broken records and industry firsts:
- Streaming Giant: “APT.” was the most-streamed song worldwide in 2025, recording nearly 4.9 billion official on-demand global streams. It also became the first song to surpass 200 million weekly global streams twice.
- Grammy History: Rosé became the first lead K-pop artist to be nominated in the “Big Four” categories at the Grammy Awards, receiving nods for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
- Guinness World Records: Following her solo success, Rosé now holds eight Guinness World Records, the most for any K-pop solo artist, including the record for the fastest K-pop song to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify.
- Radio Success: She became the first female K-pop soloist to break into the top 10 of the Billboard Radio Songs chart, bridging the gap between digital success and mainstream U.S. radio play.
Critical Acclaim and the “rosie” Era
Beyond the charts, Rosé’s debut studio album, rosie, was both a critical and commercial success, placing at No. 112 on the Year-End Billboard 200 albums chart.
Also Read: Rosé Secures Exclusive Performance at GRAMMY Museum Following Historic Nominations
Critics have praised the album for its vulnerability and artistic range, with Rosé herself describing 2024 and 2025 as the “most rewarding” years of her career.
Her collaboration with Bruno Mars has been hailed as a masterclass in cultural fusion, blending a Korean social drinking game with global pop sensibilities.
As she graces the cover of Billboard’s “No. 1s” edition, Rosé’s ascent to the top of the global music scene serves as a testament to her individual star power and the continued evolution of K-pop as a dominant force in the international industry.
While 2025 was a blockbuster year for many Western artists, Billboard’s data makes it clear: the year belonged to Rosé.
