Could HUNTR/X’s “Golden” dethrone Taylor Swift on the Billboard Hot 100 next week?

HUNTR/X’s “Golden” could reclaim the Billboard Hot 100’s No. 1 spot next week, according to early tracking data from Luminate. The breakout anthem from KPop Demon Hunters is closing in on Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia,” which has dominated the chart for three consecutive weeks.

Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl album has maintained a historic run since its release, with “Ophelia” leading the Hot 100 since debuting at No. 1 on October 18. The track posted massive streaming numbers in its first week and has remained a powerhouse across streaming and radio airplay. However, new data suggests her momentum may be slowing.

Through the first four days of the current tracking week (October 24–27), “Ophelia” slipped 19% in U.S. on-demand streams, falling to 15.7 million. While it’s still gaining radio traction—up 20% in all-format audience—the drop in streams opens the door for a strong challenger.

Enter HUNTR/X. The trio’s “Golden,” performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, has surged back to No. 2 on the Hot 100, rebounding from No. 13 after Swift’s “Showgirl” takeover. So far this week, “Golden” has pulled in roughly 16.3 million on-demand streams—slightly down from last week, but still enough to edge ahead of “Ophelia.”

The track’s resurgence coincides with Halloween weekend, which could give it an extra boost as KPop Demon Hunters costumes and fan events dominate social media. Although “Ophelia” maintains a narrow lead in digital sales, “Golden” continues to build strength on radio, climbing Pop Airplay charts and holding a months-long head start over Swift’s single.

If trends hold steady, next week’s Billboard Hot 100 could come down to a photo finish between two of 2025’s biggest pop culture forces—Taylor Swift and the demon-slaying idols of KPop Demon Hunters.

Source: Billboard