Jennie’s “Less than a Lover” Opens at No. 1 on Global YouTube and iTunes Charts

Jennie’s new solo single “Less than a Lover” has made a fast international impact, giving the BLACKPINK member one of the most visible K-pop solo launches of the year. Released on July 24 at 1 p.m. KST with an accompanying music video, the track quickly moved across major digital platforms and charted strongly in multiple markets within its first full day.

By 1:30 p.m. KST on July 25, “Less than a Lover” had reached No. 1 on iTunes Top Songs charts in at least 27 regions. The list included major K-pop markets such as the Philippines and Indonesia, as well as Brazil, showing that the song’s early response was not limited to one part of the world. OA Entertainment described the result as the highest number of No. 1 regional iTunes placements achieved by a K-pop solo song released in 2026.

The music video also became a major part of the single’s opening performance. “Less than a Lover” rose to No. 1 on YouTube’s worldwide Top Trending Music Videos list, while also leading YouTube’s trending video rankings in both South Korea and the United States. That combination is especially notable because it points to simultaneous domestic attention and international discovery, two measures that often determine whether a K-pop release becomes a short-lived fan event or a broader cultural moment.

A Fast Global Start

The first-day numbers reinforce Jennie’s position as one of K-pop’s most closely watched solo performers. While BLACKPINK’s global reach remains a defining part of her profile, “Less than a Lover” shows how strongly her individual releases can travel on their own. The single arrived with the kind of coordinated digital visibility that has become central to modern pop rollouts: music video views, platform trends, download charts, and social media conversation all moving at once.

Its iTunes showing is particularly meaningful because regional No. 1 placements still serve as a clear snapshot of concentrated fan activity. Although streaming platforms now dominate everyday listening behavior in many countries, download charts can move quickly when a release has an organized and engaged audience. For a solo K-pop act, reaching the top spot in more than two dozen regions within roughly 24 hours signals both scale and speed.

The YouTube results add another layer. Music videos remain a core part of K-pop’s global language, often functioning as the first full introduction to a song’s concept, styling, and performance identity. A worldwide No. 1 trending position gives “Less than a Lover” visibility beyond existing fans, placing it in front of viewers browsing music and entertainment trends across markets.

Momentum Across Asia and Beyond

The single also performed strongly in China, where it reached No. 1 on three major music platforms: QQ Music, NetEase Cloud Music, and KuGou Music. For Korean pop releases, attention on Chinese platforms remains an important sign of regional influence, even when promotion and distribution patterns differ from market to market. Jennie’s ability to chart across multiple services there suggests that the new single is drawing broad interest from listeners who follow her as both a BLACKPINK member and a solo artist.

In South Korea, “Less than a Lover” reached No. 2 on Melon’s Hot 100 chart. That result places the song near the top of one of the country’s most closely watched real-time music indicators and adds a domestic benchmark to its international performance. For global K-pop stars, Korean chart traction can be just as important as overseas milestones because it shows that the release is connecting at home while also traveling abroad.

The opening performance comes at a time when solo releases from major group members are being evaluated with increasing attention. Fans and industry watchers no longer look only at whether an idol can attract initial curiosity; they also track whether a solo project can establish its own musical identity and sustain momentum after release day. With “Less than a Lover,” Jennie has started from a strong position across several types of charts, giving the song a platform for continued attention in the days ahead.

What happens next will depend on how the track holds across streaming services, video platforms, and domestic charts after the initial surge. Still, the early data already shows a decisive launch. “Less than a Lover” has entered the market as a global K-pop solo event, backed by strong fan response, rapid platform movement, and clear visibility in multiple regions.