After more than a week since their new music release, the competition between BLACKPINK’s Lisa and BTS’s Jimin on the Billboard charts has intensified. Fans of both international stars are fervently streaming to secure top positions for their idols.
Initially, Jimin’s lead single “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” took the lead on iTunes and Spotify rankings upon release, overshadowing Lisa’s “ROCKSTAR.”
However, the tables turned significantly with the latest Billboard Hot 100 chart update. Lisa’s “ROCKSTAR” made an impressive debut at #70, setting a new personal record, while Jimin’s “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” entered at #88.
Jimin’s drop in rankings sparked controversy, with criticisms focused on the song’s perceived quality and accusations of fan-driven streaming manipulations. Fans questioned the song’s widespread appeal outside fan circles and raised suspicions of VPN usage to boost US streams. Meanwhile, Lisa faced accusations of playlisting to inflate her chart performance despite Spotify’s efforts to limit playlist impact.