BLACKPINK’s Rosé has achieved another groundbreaking record, solidifying her status as a global solo powerhouse. According to Billboard’s latest chart update on December 16 (dated December 21), Rosé’s first solo album Rosie entered the Billboard 200 at No. 3, marking the highest-ever ranking for a K-pop female soloist.
The previous record was held by TWICE’s Nayeon, who reached No. 7 twice with IM NAYEON in July 2022 and NA earlier this year. Rosé’s achievement surpasses this milestone by four positions, reflecting her soaring popularity and strong fanbase in the United States.
The Billboard 200 ranks albums based on traditional album sales, track-equivalent albums (TEA), and streaming-equivalent albums (SEA). Rosie recorded an impressive 102,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. Of these, physical album sales accounted for 70,000 units, while SEA contributed 31,000 units (equivalent to approximately 40 million on-demand streams) and TEA added 1,000 units.
Rosé’s influence was also evident in the United Kingdom. Rosie debuted at No. 4 on the UK Official Albums Chart, solidifying her global reach. The album’s title track, Toxic Till the End, also entered the UK Official Singles Chart at No. 72, further demonstrating her international impact.
This success follows the momentum of Rosé’s pre-released track APT., which gained significant traction earlier in October. Featuring Bruno Mars, the collaboration skyrocketed to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the highest placement for a K-pop female solo artist in history. APT. also claimed the No. 1 position on both the Global 200 and Global 200 (Excluding U.S.) charts, surpassing BLACKPINK’s previous record with Ice Cream featuring Selena Gomez, which peaked at No. 13.
The track’s success extended beyond Billboard, topping iTunes Top Songs charts in 40 regions and earning a “Perfect All-Kill” on domestic Korean streaming platforms, a rare and highly coveted achievement.
On Spotify, APT. set unprecedented records for a Korean solo artist, achieving No. 1 on both the U.S. and Global Spotify Top Songs charts. It surpassed 100 million streams within just seven days of release, underscoring its immense popularity.
In the UK, APT. also performed strongly, debuting at No. 4 on the Official Singles Chart. The song later peaked at No. 2 and held steady at No. 3 for five consecutive weeks, remaining in the Top 100 for eight weeks overall.
Rosé’s remarkable achievements with Rosie and APT. reinforce her influence as a leading solo artist in the global music industry. With records broken across Billboard, Spotify, and the UK charts, Rosé continues to set new standards for K-pop artists on the international stage.
Sayart / Sharon Jung, guhuijeong784@gmail.com
