“How It’s Done” earns KPop Demon Hunters — as well as musical acts Huntr/x, Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami — a second Pop Airplay chart hit, a rarity in K-pop. ELMONT, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 07: (L-R) Audrey Nuna, EJAE and REI AMI of HUNTR/X from ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ attend the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 07, 2025 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for MTV)
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For months, the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack has been powered largely by lead single “Golden.” The tune, which hit No. 1 on several Billboard charts and helped the animated film become Netflix’s most watched movie of all time, will be remembered as one of the biggest hits of 2025.
As a new year begins, the tune is nominated for multiple Grammys and was recently named one of the five nominees for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards, becoming the first track connected to the K-pop genre to earn such a distinction.
“Golden” is no longer the No. 1 song in America, and it has started to descend on a handful of airplay rankings in the country. Just as “Golden” begins what may be a very slow descent, “How It’s Done,” the second official promotional cut from the KPop Demon Hunters album, makes history as it debuts on one radio tally.
“How It’s Done” Makes Radio History
“How It’s Done” opens at No. 40 on the Pop Airplay chart, Billboard’s list of the tracks that reach the largest audience at pop radio throughout the U.S. The tune opens in last place on the top 40 roster, and in a few days, the chart company reports that the cut will rise several spaces to a new high of No. 37.
Huntr/x and Singers Double Their Hits
“How It’s Done,” just like “Golden,” is credited to four musical acts. The girl group Huntr/x, as well as human vocalists Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rey Ami. All four names earn a second career win on the Pop Airplay chart as “How It’s Done” arrives.
“Golden” And “How It’s Done” Appear on the Same Chart
Huntr/x nearly bookends the Pop Airplay chart this frame. As “How It’s Done” opens in last place, “Golden” is a non-mover at No. 2. The latter cut, which has already spent time running the show, celebrates 26 weeks, or exactly half a year, as one of the 40 most successful tunes at pop radio.
Huntr/x Joins Blackpink, Twice and (G)I-dle
INDIO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 19: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been processed using digital filters.) Blackpink perform at Sahara Tent during the 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 19, 2019 in Indio, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella)
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As “How It’s Done” reaches the Pop Airplay chart, Huntr/x becomes only the fourth K-pop girl group to score more than one win on the roster. Blackpink leads all the female troupes with three successes, as “Ice Cream” with Selena Gomez, “Pink Venom,” and “Jump” all took turns on the poppy roster.
Huntr/x is on the same level as Twice and (G)I-dle, tied for the second-most smashes among girl groups connected to K-pop. Twice landed on the list with both “The Feels” and “Strategy,” while (G)I-dle appeared with “Nxde” and “I Do.”
BTS Stands Alone Among K-Pop Groups
Among all K-pop groups, only one act has beat Blackpink, and it’s BTS. The septet, which is scheduled to return in 2026 with a new album and an already sold-out global tour, leads all South Korean musical artists with nine Pop Airplay chart hits.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 21: (L-R) Jimin, Jungkook, RM, J-Hope, V, Jin, and SUGA of the K-pop boy band BTS visit the “Today” Show at Rockefeller Plaza on February 21, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/WireImage)
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Ejae, Audre Nuna and Rei Ami Join a Special Club
Singers Ejae, Nuna and Ami are now tied for the fourth-most placements on the Pop Airplay list among solo female artists attached to a K-pop tune. Three of the four singers that make up Blackpink – Lisa, Rosé, and Jennie – lead the charge. Lisa is in first place with five hits, while Rosé and Jennie are matched with one another with three apiece.
The trio of singers that powered KPop Demon Hunters to historic heights find themselves on the same level as Bibi, whose “The Weekend” and “Feeling Lucky” helped her join this special grouping.
“How It’s Done” Faces High Expectations
“How It’s Done” faces incredibly high expectations, as its predecessor “Golden” is one of only two tracks by K-pop musicians to lead the charge on the Pop Airplay chart. “Golden” spent three weeks ruling, while “Apt.,” the team-up between Roset and Bruno Mars, commanded the roster for five.
Those tunes are also counted as the longest-charting successes by K-pop musicians, and the only ones that have spent at least half a year somewhere on the roster.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2026/01/26/kpop-demon-hunters-joins-blackpink-and-bts-with-another-radio-smash/
