BLACKPINK Rosé and Bruno Mars’ “APT.” Enormous YouTube Views Spark Heated Debate Between KPOP and Non-KPOP Fans
While fans celebrated its success, the staggering number of views of “APT.” has ignited a heated debate among K-Pop enthusiasts and general music listeners.
The song, released over a month ago, became an instant global sensation, topping charts in South Korea and abroad. Recently, an X (formerly Twitter) user, @jah_boy01, drew attention to the jaw-dropping milestone reached by the music video, tweeting, “Is this even possible man???” after the video amassed 501 million views in just over a month.
Western Fans Question the Numbers
The explosive success of the video left many non-K-Pop fans scratching their heads. Skeptics questioned how it was possible to achieve such high numbers so quickly, with some accusing the video of employing tactics like “fraud” or relying heavily on ads to inflate its views.
One commenter remarked, “Broo YouTube and Spotify have killed Music… All these artists hardly get 200M on Apple Music in a month.” Another added, “Heavy use of fraud ads, mind you her other music videos are yet to cross 300 million views, and it’s 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 unmatched dominance on YouTube and their record-breaking track record.
One fan tweeted, “Why is everyone forgetting that BLACKPINK runs YouTube???? They’re the most subscribed musicians on YouTube. They have two videos of the same song with 2B views. They get 100M streams a day!”
Another shared, “500M views as a BLACKPINK stan is very normal. We have a dance performance video that hit 1B+ views. Even I still couldn’t process that.”
A Cultural Divide in Streaming Expectations
For many K-Pop stans, the skepticism from Western fans was humorous, as such streaming numbers are standard fare for BLACKPINK and other major K-Pop groups.
*“…it’s hilarious to see Western fans shocked by the views, like this is standard for K-Pop, especially BLACKPINK,”* one fan wrote. “We are committed to streaming, so calling it inorganic misses the point. BLACKPINK consistently gets these numbers, and they’re currently the #1 most subscribed artist.”
Others celebrated the global impact of the song, emphasizing how dedicated K-Pop fans are to supporting their idols. “It’s so funny seeing people mention how impossible this is. Meanwhile, we’re talking about a K-Pop artist from one of the biggest K-Pop groups in South Korea. This is light work for their fans. Mind you, this song broke several records and rightfully so. I’m so proud of Rosé.”
Rosé and Bruno Mars Set New Milestones
The collaboration between BLACKPINK’s Rosé and Bruno Mars has not only delighted fans but also set new industry benchmarks. The music video, as of December 10, has surpassed 545 million views, solidifying its position as a viral phenomenon. Fans have pointed out that the massive success of “APT.” is a testament to both Rosé’s international appeal and the unwavering dedication of BLACKPINK’s fanbase, BLINKs.
Source: Koreaboo