Highlights
- BTS and BLACKPINK secured new Platinum certifications from the Recording Industry Association of Japan after their songs crossed 100 million streams.
- The latest RIAJ certifications show Japan’s music market is steadily embracing streaming alongside its strong physical album culture.
- BTS and BLACKPINK’s older hits continuing to perform strongly highlights the groups’ popularity in the country.
K-pop continues to maintain an iron grip on Japan’s digital music landscape as the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) revealed new numbers associated with BTS and BLACKPINK, which highlight the genre’s popularity in the country. RIAJ has also confirmed its latest batch of streaming certifications, in which BTS’ 2018 Japanese track Let Go and the Japanese version of BLACKPINK’s 2017 breakout anthem As If It’s Your Last crossed the 100-million mark, securing an official Platinum status in the world’s second-largest music market.
When did RIAJ start streaming certifications?
Since the launch of RIAJ’s dedicated streaming tier in 2020, Japan’s music industry has been undergoing a massive structural shift. It showcases that Japan, which has historically been a physical album-driven country, is now steadily adapting to streaming. Notably, RIAJ’s streaming tiers award the Silver certificate at 30M streams, Gold at 50M, and Platinum tiers starting at 100M. BTS and BLACKPINK, the two groups which function as long-term revenue drivers for K-pop in Japan, highlight that catalog hits are still very much popular amongst people, despite the release of newer songs.
BTS and BLACKPINK Japan streaming milestone
The BTS Let Go’s 100 million streams solidify the group’s deep foothold in the local ecosystem. The song from the Face Yourself album joins a powerhouse lineup of juggernauts like Dynamite, Butter, and Film out, Spring Day, and Yet To Come, who had been previously earning major certifications from the RIAJ.
Meanwhile, the BLACKPINK RIAJ platinum certification depicts an enduring shelf-life of their early discography with As If It's Your Last. The song, nearly a decade later, is certified alongside relatively newer hits like How You Like That and Ice Cream.
Image credit: Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ)
The results show that K-pop continues to capture reliable digital market share, further confirming both the groups’ monetization potential in Japan, which outlasts even its active promotional cycles.
Japan emerges as a long-term revenue engine for K-pop
This steady wave of certifications indicates a dual growth engine. Although collector-driven CD sales still thrive in Japan, the increasing streaming adoption provides the country with a better blueprint for growth for its music industry. As for South Korean entertainment agencies, the heavy investments they have made in localized releases, regional promotions, and arena-scale touring are now potentially paying off, turning Japan into an ultimate driver for recurring, long-term overseas revenue.
