Singer JENNIE claimed the top spot on a music broadcast with her new song alone, without any promotional TV appearances.
JENNIE received the first-place trophy for her new song "Less than a Lover" on Mnet's "M Countdown" broadcast on the 30th. It is a result achieved purely through digital music scores, without any separate stage performances or broadcast appearances.
Domestic digital music performance also provided solid backing. "Less than a Lover" ranked first side by side on the Bugs real-time chart and Apple Music's "Today's Top 100: South Korea" chart, and continues to maintain the top spot on YouTube's top trending videos in Korea chart.
Overseas performance figures are also notable. It took first place across China's top three music platforms: QQ Music, NetEase Music, and Kugou Music. Notably, on QQ Music, it became the only female solo single released this year to receive a gold certification. In addition, it ranked high on Apple Music's "Top Songs" chart in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos, and on Spotify's "Daily Top Songs" chart in South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore.
On the iTunes "Top Songs" chart, it ranked first in 27 countries and regions including Vietnam, Chile, Indonesia, and Peru, setting the record for the most first-place finishes among K-pop solo songs released this year. The music video also ranked first on YouTube Music Video Trending Worldwide, as well as the YouTube video trending charts in South Korea and the United States.
"Less than a Lover" is a song that JENNIE participated in writing and composing, capturing the excitement and lingering emotions of a relationship that is neither lovers nor friends. It is an alternative pop genre utilizing lo-fi guitar and vintage electric keyboard sounds.
JENNIE is set to take the stage as a headliner at "Lollapalooza Chicago" in the United States on August 1, and is also scheduled to perform at "Summer Sonic 2026" held in Tokyo on August 14 and Osaka on August 16.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)