Since their explosive debut in 2016, BLACKPINK has done far more than release hit songs—they’ve rewritten the history books for K-pop girl groups worldwide. Composed of LISA, JENNIE, ROSÉ, and JISOO, the quartet quickly transformed from rising rookies into global powerhouses, collecting major awards, breaking chart records, and setting digital milestones at an unprecedented pace.
From dominating the Billboard charts to becoming the first K-pop girl group to perform at Coachella, the group’s journey has been nothing short of historic. They’ve secured multiple Guinness World Records, surpassed global pop stars like Justin Bieber in YouTube subscribers, and even became the first artist ever to cross 100 million subscribers on the platform.
What makes these achievements even more remarkable? Many of them came before the release of their first full-length studio album, The Album, in October 2020.
As Jennie once shared in an interview with Grammy.com, the group views every milestone as a reflection of their fans’ unwavering support. For BLACKPINK, records aren’t just statistics—they’re motivation to dream even bigger.
Let’s take a detailed look at how the global phenomenon unfolded.
2016: Breaking Into International Charts
Nov. 26, 2016 – First K-Pop Girl Group on the Canadian Hot 100
Just months after debuting, BLACKPINK made history when “Playing With Fire” entered the Canadian Hot 100 at No. 92. This achievement marked the first time a K-pop girl group had ever appeared on the chart—an early sign that their appeal extended far beyond South Korea.
2018: Billboard Domination Begins
June 30, 2018 – Three Major Billboard Milestones
2018 became a turning point in BLACKPINK’s global expansion.
Hot 100: “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” debuted at No. 55, making it the highest-charting song by a K-pop girl group at the time.
Billboard 200: Their EP Square Up entered at No. 40, setting a new record for an all-female K-pop group.
Emerging Artists Chart: They debuted at No. 1, becoming the first female K-pop group to top the chart.
These accomplishments cemented BLACKPINK as serious contenders in the Western music industry.
July 5, 2018 – Most Viewed Korean Music Video in 24 Hours
The music video for “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” shattered YouTube records, collecting 36.2 million views in its first 24 hours. It also became the fastest music video by a K-pop girl group to reach 100 million views—achieving the milestone in just 10 days.
2019: A Year of Global Supremacy
Jan. 21, 2019 – Most Viewed Video by a K-Pop Group
With over 620 million views at the time, “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” officially became the most viewed music video by a K-pop group on YouTube, proving the song’s massive international appeal.
March 2, 2019 – First Female K-Pop Group on a Billboard Cover
BLACKPINK graced the cover of Billboard magazine—another groundbreaking moment. The issue featured five covers: one group photo and four individual covers spotlighting each member. This was the first time a female K-pop group had received such recognition from the publication.
March 21, 2019 – First to Reach 20 Million YouTube Subscribers
The group continued rewriting digital history by becoming the first female K-pop group to surpass 20 million subscribers on YouTube.
April 8, 2019 – Biggest Music Video Debut in YouTube History
When “Kill This Love” premiered, it achieved 56.7 million views in just 24 hours—the largest debut for a music video at the time. The video hit 100 million views in under three days and recorded nearly one million peak concurrent viewers during its premiere.
April 12, 2019 – First K-Pop Girl Group to Perform at Coachella
BLACKPINK made history again when they became the first K-pop girl group to perform at Coachella. Not only did they perform—they dominated the stage as one of the main acts on opening day, earning praise from fans and critics worldwide.
April 20, 2019 – Two More Billboard Records
Hot 100: “Kill This Love” debuted at No. 41, breaking their own previous record.
Billboard 200: The Kill This Love EP debuted at No. 24, marking the highest-charting release by an all-female K-pop group at the time.
Aug. 15, 2019 – First K-Pop Girl Group Certified by RIAA
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” gold, making BLACKPINK the first female K-pop group to receive RIAA certification.
Nov. 11, 2019 – First K-Pop Group to Reach 1 Billion Views
BLINKs helped BLACKPINK achieve yet another milestone when “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” surpassed one billion views on YouTube. This made them the first K-pop group to reach the billion-view mark.
Before them, Korean superstar Psy famously crossed that threshold with “Gangnam Style” in 2012—but BLACKPINK became the first K-pop group to do so collectively.
Beyond 2020: A Legacy Still in Motion
With the release of The Album in October 2020, BLACKPINK expanded their dominance even further. By then, they had already built a legacy many artists spend decades chasing.
Their achievements—chart records, streaming milestones, historic festival performances—have not only elevated their own careers but also opened doors for future K-pop girl groups on the global stage.
And if history is any indication, they’re just getting started.
Final Thoughts
A Look Back at BLACKPINK’s Record-Breaking Milestones: A Complete Timeline shows more than just statistics—it highlights a cultural shift. BLACKPINK didn’t just break records; they redefined what a K-pop girl group could accomplish on a global scale.
From chart domination to digital supremacy and festival headlining performances, LISA, JENNIE, ROSÉ, and JISOO continue to prove that their impact goes far beyond music.