ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’s ‘APT’ has secured its fourth consecutive week at #1 on Billboard Global 200 with 146.4 million streams (down 10%) and 14,000 units sold (up 2%) during November 8-14, 2024. The track, which debuted on October 18, 2024, as the lead single from ROSÉ’s upcoming solo album ‘Rosie’ (due December 6), has accumulated four of the top five streaming weeks among 2024 releases:
- 224.5 million streams, “APT.,” ROSÉ & Bruno Mars, Nov. 2
- 207.5 million streams, “APT.,” ROSÉ & Bruno Mars, Nov. 9
- 176.8 million streams, “Fortnight,” Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone, May 4
- 162.2 million streams, “APT.,” ROSÉ & Bruno Mars, Nov. 16
- 146.4 million streams, “APT.,” ROSÉ & Bruno Mars, Nov. 23
The collaboration marks ROSÉ as the first female K-pop soloist to reach #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. On Spotify, ‘APT’ shattered records with 14.18 million streams in a single day, surpassing BTS member Jimin’s previous record of approx 9.999 million for “WHO” (July 19).
South Korean students preparing for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT/Suneung) have expressed apprehension about the song’s addictive hook. “I’m worried that the song will play in my head even during the exam,” a student told Yonhap News. Professor Lim Myung-ho from Dankook University explained: “Our psychology is more fragile than we realize, and simple, repetitive sounds can easily trigger emotional bias.”
The CSAT, scheduled for November 14, 2024, spans eight hours and determines university admissions. South Korea traditionally suspends air traffic and construction work during the exam to maintain silence. Students have reportedly avoided certain songs before past exams to maintain focus.
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Co-produced by Cirkut, Omer Fedi, and Rogét Chahayed, ‘APT’ draws inspiration from a Korean drinking game called “Apateu.” ROSÉ revealed to Vogue: “I remember going home [from the studio] kind of freaked out. Is this OK, that I’ve written a song about a drinking game?” The track maintains the Korean pronunciation “Apateu” throughout, preserving its cultural authenticity.
Chart Performance and Streaming Metrics
- YouTube: 300 million views
- TikTok: 1 billion views in four days
- iTunes: Topped charts in 63 countries
- Spotify: Second-biggest debut week for a K-Pop act
- Perfect All Kill (PAK) achievement on Korean charts
- #1 on MelOn, Genie, FLO, and Bugs simultaneously
As of November 8-14, 2024, ‘APT’ leads the Billboard Global 200, with Lady Gaga and Mars’ “Die With a Smile” at No. 2, Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” at No. 3, Oscar Maydon and Fuerza Regida’s “Tu Boda” at No. 4, and Gracie Abrams’ “That’s So True” at No. 5.
‘APT’ arrives as ROSÉ’s first release since her 2021 project ‘R,’ which included “On the Ground” and “Gone.” The track’s success potentially positions ‘Rosie’ (December 6 release) for strong commercial performance, while raising questions about K-pop’s evolving relationship with global pop markets and local cultural dynamics.
Music industry analysts note the track’s fusion of pop-punk energy with dynamic vocals, drawing comparisons to Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” as stated in Vogue’s coverage. The preservation of Korean pronunciation amid global success adds layers to ongoing discussions about cultural authenticity in cross-market collaborations.
