As fans celebrated its success, “APT” saw an incredible number of views. has sparked a heated debate among K-Pop fans and music listeners in general.
The song, released more than a month ago, immediately became a global hit, topping the charts in South Korea and abroad. Recently, X (formerly Twitter) user @jah_boy01 drew attention to the music video’s staggering milestone, tweeting, “Is that possible, man???” after the video amassed 501 million views in just over a month.
Western fans question the numbers
The video’s explosive success left many non-K-Pop fans scratching their heads. Skeptics have questioned how it was able to reach such high numbers so quickly, with some accusing the video of using tactics such as “fraud” or relying heavily on advertising to inflate its views.
One commentator noted, “Broo YouTube and Spotify killed music… All these artists hardly make 200 million on Apple Music in a month.” Another added, “Massive use of fraudulent advertising, but keep in mind his other music videos have yet to surpass 300 million views and it has been 4 years.”
K-Pop fans defend BLACKPINK’s legacy
K-Pop fans, however, were quick to refute these accusations, reminding critics of BLACKPINK’s unparalleled dominance on YouTube and their record-breaking track record.
Why does everyone forget that Blackpink runs YouTube?????
They are the most subscribed musicians on YouTube
They have two videos of the same song with 2b views
They get 100 million streams a day! https://t.co/pHmXkw9KOO— ROSIE OUT NOW! (@yhemmie_Dblaq) December 8, 2024
One fan tweeted: “Why does everyone forget that BLACKPINK runs YouTube???? They are the most subscribed musicians on YouTube. They have two videos of the same song with 2 billion views. They get 100 million streams a day!”
Another shared, “500 million views as a BLACKPINK stan is very normal. We have a video of a dance performance that has reached more than 1 billion views. Even I still couldn’t process it.
A cultural divide in streaming expectations
For many K-Pop stans, Western fans’ skepticism was amusing, as such streaming numbers are standard fare for BLACKPINK and other major K-Pop groups.
it’s funny to see western fans shocked by the opinions, as if this is a standard for kpop, especially BLACKPINK. we’re in the business of streaming, so calling it inorganic misses the point. BLACKPINK consistently achieves these numbers and is currently the #1 most subscribed artist https://t.co/A05C81Jl9r
— ezi ★ (@cuntrs) December 9, 2024
*“…It’s funny to see Western fans shocked by the opinions, as if this is a standard for K-Pop, especially BLACKPINK,”* wrote a fan. “We’re committed to streaming, so calling it inorganic misses the point. BLACKPINK consistently achieves these numbers and is currently the #1 most subscribed artist.”
Others celebrated the song’s global impact, highlighting how devoted K-Pop fans are to supporting their idols. “It’s so funny to see people mention how impossible this is. Meanwhile, we are talking about a K-Pop artist from one of the biggest K-Pop groups in South Korea. This is a light work for their fans. Mind you, this song has broken several records and rightly so. I’m so proud of Rosé.
Rosé and Bruno Mars set new goals
The collaboration between BLACKPINK’s Rosé and Bruno Mars has not only delighted fans but also set new benchmarks in the industry. The music video has surpassed 545 million views as of December 10, cementing its position as a viral phenomenon. Fans pointed out the huge success of “APT”. is a testament to both Rosé’s international appeal and the unwavering dedication of BLACKPINK’s fan base, BLINK.
Source: Koreaboo
