Lugano – Korean-American artist EJAE was the most-streamed K-pop artist in the US in 2025, according to data released by entertainment analytics company Luminate.
The singer recorded approximately 2.1 billion on-demand streams across audio and video platforms, placing her at the top of K-pop streaming rankings in the American market.
Born Kim Eun-jae, EJAE is a Korean-American singer, songwriter, and producer who built her career in the K-pop industry as a songwriter before gaining wider recognition as a performer.
EJAE previously trained as a K-pop idol before shifting her focus toward songwriting and music production.
She later studied at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she developed her skills in songwriting and composition.
Over the years, EJAE has written music for several major K-pop acts including Red Velvet, Aespa, TWICE, and Le Sserafim.
Success driven by film soundtrack
Much of EJAE’s streaming success is connected to the soundtrack of the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters”.
EJAE provided the singing voice for Rumi in the film, with songs from the fictional group Huntr/X reaching number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart multiple times.
According to Luminate, the film’s songs ranked second with around 1.8 billion streams.
Alongside it, eight of the top ten most-streamed K-pop acts in the United States in 2025 were connected to the film’s soundtrack, a testament to the widespread popularity of the project.
EJAE’s growing international recognition has also been driven by the success of the song “Golden,” featured in “KPop Demon Hunters”.
At the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, the track won Best Original Song – Motion Picture, becoming the first K-pop song to receive the honor.
The song, performed by EJAE alongside Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami as part of the fictional group Huntr/x, became a global hit and contributed significantly to the film’s popularity.
Her work has also received recognition at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, where “Golden” won Best Song Written for Visual Media.
The track was also nominated for Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, marking a major milestone for the rtist.
Expanding global influence of K-pop
Following her recent success, EJAE has also begun expanding her solo catalog.
In October last year, she released the single “In Another World,” marking one of her first major solo releases as a recording artist.
She later followed with “Time After Time,” released in February, further establishing her presence as a solo performer beyond her work as a songwriter and soundtrack contributor.
EJAE’s streaming milestone reflects the continued global growth of K-pop, particularly in the US, where the genre has gained a strong following over the past decade.
Industry analysts point out that projects similar to “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” namely collaborations between film, animation, and music, can introduce new audiences to K-pop artists and broaden the genre’s international reach.
With record-breaking streaming numbers and major international awards, EJAE continues to emerge as one of the most influential new voices in the global K-pop industry.
