Introduction to KPOP – Demon Hunter
The summer of 2025 has been marked by the enormous success of Sony Picture Animation’s film, KPOP – Demon Hunter. This movie has not only become Netflix’s greatest animated original film but also boasts the biggest soundtrack of the year, courtesy of Republic Records, a subsidiary of the Universal Music Group. The film’s impact is reminiscent of Disney’s 2022 hit, "Charm," and its song "We Don’t Talk About Bruno," which took the world by storm.
The Rise of Demon Hunter
The soundtrack of Demon Hunter has achieved unprecedented success, with its biggest hit, "Golden," reaching new heights on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. This phenomenon is not limited to one or two songs; the entire soundtrack is a collection of hits, dominating Spotify’s US and global charts. As of August 4, the soundtrack held six of the top 10 slots in Spotify’s US chart and four of the top 10 in the global chart.
A Victory for Republic Records
This achievement is a significant victory for Republic Records, which has secured one of the largest records of 2025 in a year when new music has struggled to dethrone last year’s hits. The film and its music were not expected to achieve such immense success just a few weeks ago. According to Roppo, "I think we all had pretty modest expectations, I won’t lie, you don’t know when these things break."
The Making of the Soundtrack
The Republic was committed to the project due to its partnership with JYP for K-Pop phenomenon and its relationship with songwriter and producer Savan Kotecha. Spring Aspers, President of the Sony Pictures Music Group, worked on the music of the film for five years, securing talent for writing and recording the songs. Aspers collaborated with Teddy Park, The Black Label, and Sony Music Publishing to make the soundtrack a reality.
The Partnership Behind the Success
Aspers associated with Kotecha, who was focused on international music through his new record label, Visva. Visva closed a deal for a joint venture with Republic, and Aspers was looking for a K-pop act for a song for the end of the film. Twice’s interest in making a natural team led to a successful partnership. As Kotecha says, "My business was with a republic, and I thought it was perfect twice. I thought I would get the support quickly [Republic] Were my partners."
Global Dominance and Future Plans
As Demon Hunter continues its global dominance, the songs are also flirting with top positions in the US. The soundtrack took second place on the Billboard 200 album chart, and "Golden" achieved a new high in second place on the Hot 100 chart. The team behind Demon Hunter is hoping to create more moments beyond the screen, with active discussions to find out what a live music moment could look like. While details are scarce, the possibilities for live material are numerous, ranging from typical live appearances by the artists to multimedia events involving the film’s IP.
Live Music Moments
Twice made their debut performing Demon Hunter’s follow-up song, "Takedown," at Lollapalooza over the weekend. The future of live music moments for Demon Hunter is uncertain, but the excitement and anticipation are building. As Kotecha says, "I can’t say anything yet because it’s so early." The world will have to wait and see what’s next for this K-pop phenomenon.
