K-pop’s biggest names are lighting up the Circle Chart this week! From TWS and NMIXX’s powerful album debuts to the unexpected dominance of fictional group HUNTR/X from “KPop Demon Hunters,” and TWICE’s continued social media reign, the October 12-18 chart period showcases the industry’s incredible diversity. Let’s dive into who’s winning across physical sales, digital downloads, streaming, and social engagement.
Table of Contents
Circle Chart Weekly Winners (Oct 12-18)
| Chart Category | #1 Position | Artist/Group |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Album | No. 1 (Regular) | TWS – “play hard” |
| Digital Download | No. 1 | NMIXX – “Blue Valentine” |
| Overall Digital | No. 1 | HUNTR/X – “Golden” |
| Streaming | No. 1 | HUNTR/X – “Golden” |
| Global K-Pop | No. 1 | HUNTR/X – “Golden” |
| Social Chart 3.0 | No. 1 | TWICE |
Physical Album Chart: TWS and NMIXX Dominate Top 5
TWS claimed the throne on this week’s physical album chart with their mini album “play hard.” The regular version debuted at No. 1, while the Weverse version charted separately at No. 5—proving the rookie group’s massive fanbase growth since their debut.
NMIXX’s first full album “Blue Valentine” swept positions No. 2 and No. 3. The regular version landed at No. 2, with the POCA version at No. 3. This dual dominance demonstrates NMIXX’s evolution from their experimental sound to a more cohesive musical identity that resonates with fans.
Jang Min Ho’s “Analog Vol.1” (POCA version) rounded out the top five at No. 4, showcasing trot’s continued popularity alongside K-pop releases.
For more K-pop album sales analysis and chart updates, visit our music section.
Digital Download Chart: NMIXX Takes the Crown
NMIXX’s title track “Blue Valentine” conquered the digital download chart, debuting at No. 1. The emotionally charged song showcases the group’s vocal prowess and marks a significant artistic leap for the six-member group.
RIIZE’s Sohee made waves at No. 2 with “Love on the canvas” from the hit dating show “EXchange 4” soundtrack—proving that OSTs remain powerful chart performers. TWS’s energetic “OVERDRIVE” debuted at No. 3, followed by Davichi’s nostalgic “TIME CAPSULE” at No. 4 and MAMAMOO’s Hwasa’s “Good Goodbye” at No. 5.
Discover more about K-pop digital releases and streaming trends on Technosports.
The HUNTR/X Phenomenon: Triple Crown Domination
Here’s where things get interesting: fictional girl group HUNTR/X from the animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” maintained their triple crown, topping the overall digital chart, streaming chart, and global K-pop chart with their viral hit “Golden” (performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami).
This unprecedented success for a fictional group demonstrates how compelling storytelling combined with exceptional music can transcend traditional boundaries. The “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack completely dominated the global K-pop chart, sweeping all top five positions:
- HUNTR/X – “Golden”
- Saja Boys – “Your Idol”
- Saja Boys – “Soda Pop”
- HUNTR/X – “What It Sounds Like”
- HUNTR/X – “How It’s Done”
The film’s boy band Saja Boys (featuring Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, U-KISS’s Kevin Woo, and samUIL Lee) also charted strongly with “Soda Pop” at No. 4 on both the overall digital and streaming charts.
Overall Digital & Streaming Charts
The top five remained identical across both charts:
- No. 1: HUNTR/X’s “Golden”
- No. 2: WOODZ (Cho Seung Youn)’s “Drowning”
- No. 3: BLACKPINK’s “JUMP”
- No. 4: Saja Boys’ “Soda Pop”
- No. 5: Kenshi Yonezu’s “IRIS OUT”
WOODZ’s “Drowning” holding strong at No. 2showcases the soloist’s continued relevance, while BLACKPINK’s “JUMP” proves the group’s enduring power even without active promotions.
Social Chart 3.0: TWICE Maintains Their Reign
TWICE continued their dominance atop the social chart, demonstrating why they’re called K-pop’s “Nation’s Girl Group.” Their consistent engagement with fans through social media, variety content, and behind-the-scenes glimpses keeps them at the forefront of K-pop conversations.
The social chart top five:
- TWICE – Continued reign
- BABYMONSTER – Jumped to No. 2
- BLACKPINK – Stayed strong at No. 3
- aespa – Holding at No. 4
- Choi Yu Ree – Entered at No. 5
BABYMONSTER’s jump to No. 2 reflects YG Entertainment’s successful debut strategy and the rookie group’s rapidly growing global fanbase.
Watch TWS and NMIXX’s latest performances on Inkigayo via Viki for official streaming.
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What These Charts Tell Us
This week’s Circle Chart reveals several industry trends: rookie groups like TWS are selling massive physical albums, established acts like NMIXX are evolving artistically, fictional groups can achieve real-world chart success through quality music, and legacy acts like TWICE maintain dominance through consistent fan engagement.
The diversity across charts—from physical sales to streaming to social metrics—proves that success in K-pop requires mastery across multiple platforms.
For daily K-pop chart updates, comeback news, and exclusive industry analysis, bookmark Technosports and stay ahead of the trends!
FAQs
Q1: What is the Circle Chart and how does it work?
Circle Chart (formerly Gaon Chart) is South Korea’s national music chart that tracks various metrics including physical album sales, digital downloads, streaming, and social media engagement. Charts are updated weekly, reflecting sales and streams from the previous week. The chart is divided into multiple categories to measure different aspects of an artist’s success, from album sales to global streaming reach.
Q2: Who is HUNTR/X and why are they dominating the charts?
HUNTR/X is a fictional K-pop girl group from the animated film “KPop Demon Hunters.” Despite being fictional, their song “Golden” (performed by real artists EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami) achieved a triple crown by topping the overall digital, streaming, and global K-pop charts for the week of October 12-18. The entire “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack swept the global K-pop chart’s top five positions, showcasing how compelling music and storytelling can create real chart success.
