BlackPink makes history as first music artist to reach 100 million YouTube subscribers

SEOUL, South Korea — K-pop sensation BlackPink has become the first musical act in the world to reach 100 million subscribers on YouTube, the group’s management announced.

The milestone places the girl group in an elite tier of content creators and media powerhouses, joining the ranks of MrBeast and T-Series. In reaching the century mark, BlackPink surpassed the subscriber counts of other global superstars including BTS, Justin Bieber, and Taylor Swift.

Since their debut in 2016, the group has remained a dominant force on the video platform. Several of their music videos have eclipsed the 1 billion view mark, with hits such as "Ddu Du Ddu Du" and "Kill This Love" each garnering more than 2 billion views.

The record-breaking achievement comes just ahead of the release of the group's new album, "Deadline," later this month. The album features the lead single "Jump" and the title track "GO," both of which are scheduled to debut on Feb. 27.

BlackPink recently concluded their "Deadline" world tour, which marked the group’s high-profile reunion following a three-year hiatus.

BlackPink’s ascent to the 100-million subscriber milestone on YouTube represents more than a digital record; it serves as a definitive case study in the global dominance of South Korean cultural exports and the strategic pivot toward platform-based distribution. For the music industry, YouTube has evolved from a secondary promotional tool into a primary theater of operations, allowing K-pop entities to bypass traditional Western media gatekeepers and cultivate direct, high-frequency engagement with a borderless audience.

This achievement marks the peak of a decades-long industrial strategy orchestrated by Seoul. By integrating high-fidelity visual production, intricate choreography, and luxury fashion into a cohesive cultural product, South Korea has engineered a medium that transcends linguistic barriers. BlackPink’s ability to outpace established Western icons confirms that K-pop’s "soft power" is no longer a transitory trend, but a permanent, structural force in the global creative economy.

The timing of this milestone—aligned with the impending release of their "Deadline" album—underscores the surgical precision of YG Entertainment’s marketing cycles. By manufacturing maximum media momentum ahead of a product launch, the agency ensures a high-conversion environment for new IP. For YG, this is a clear commercial victory in the monetization of digital footprints, transforming raw subscriber data into diversified revenue streams across ad-share models, luxury brand endorsements, and global equity.

For many young Vietnamese Americans, K-pop—and BlackPink in particular—has become a cornerstone of their cultural landscape. From the vibrant hubs of Little Saigon to the social media feeds of the younger generation, the group’s milestones are a major point of discussion. Their success has solidified their status as global cultural icons, directly shaping the fashion trends and digital narratives that resonate throughout the community.