BTS’s Jimin has found himself at the center of controversy following a major drop in streams for his 2024 solo single “Who”.
According to viral posts on Korean online community TheQoo and X (formerly Twitter), “Who” has lost over 175 million streams on Spotify—a figure that some are claiming to be unprecedented in the platform’s history.
Between November 30, 2024, and May 1, 2025, the song experienced a significant drop in its monthly streams, with the largest decline occurring between January 31 and February 1, 2025, when it lost over 52 million streams.
The sudden loss of streams has prompted accusations of artificial inflation, with many netizens questioning whether the song’s popularity was inflated through mass streaming or the use of automated systems, also known as “bot streaming.”
The controversy has reignited ongoing concerns about streaming manipulation, especially as “Who” had been breaking records on Spotify since its release, sparking suspicions that the numbers didn’t align with the public’s actual interest in the song.
Whil Spotify has yet to comment on the situation, the sharp drop in streams has raised red flags for many users online.
Some have expressed embarrassment, criticizing the potential damage to Jimin’s reputation and questioning whether the use of bots was behind the drastic numbers.
The backlash from Korean netizens has been particularly harsh, with some expressing disbelief over the situation.
This controversy has stirred ongoing debates within the music industry, highlighting the ongoing concerns around the integrity of streaming platforms and the practices used by artists and their teams to boost numbers.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen whether Jimin or his agency, BIGHIT Music, will address the allegations of streaming manipulation.
