BTS’s V Dominates Global Charts As ‘FRI(END)S’ Surpasses 500 Million Spotify Streams

BTS’s V continues to prove his undeniable global influence with his solo single “FRI(END)S,” which has recently surpassed 500 million streams on Spotify. Released on March 15, 2023, shortly after V’s military enlistment, the digital single has captivated listeners worldwide with its soulful pop-R&B melody and witty lyrics.

Critics have praised V’s vocal performance on “FRI(END)S,” highlighting his rich lower tones and elegant falsetto transitions. Upon its release, the track debuted at No. 65 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 3 on Billboard Global Excl. US, and No. 5 on the Global 200, solidifying his position as a successful solo artist beyond BTS.

In the UK, the single made an impressive entrance, landing at No. 13 on the UK Official Singles Chart and charting for two consecutive weeks. On the Official Big Top 40, a major UK radio chart, “FRI(END)S” debuted at No. 3 despite only two days of tracking.

The track also set a remarkable record by becoming the first song released in 2024 to top iTunes charts in 100 countries, including No. 1 overall in Europe. Globally, it debuted at No. 7 on the Spotify Global Chart.

“FRI(END)S” continued to dominate in the first half of 2024, ranking in the top 10 longest-charting K-pop solo songs on Spotify’s global chart and becoming the most-streamed K-pop solo track during this period. It was also selected as one of the ‘Best K-pop Songs of 2024’ by both Apple Music and Amazon Music.

Beyond audio platforms, the music video—which was filmed in the UK—has also achieved viral success. It topped YouTube’s World Trending Music chart for 14 consecutive days and became the first music video by a K-pop artist to hit No. 1 on Tidal Top Videos.

The video’s artistic and technical brilliance was recognized by its nomination for “Best Pop International” at the 2024 UK Music Video Awards (UKMVA), cementing its high-quality production on a global stage.

Meanwhile, fans eagerly await V’s return from military service, scheduled for June 10.