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The South African
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
KPop Demon Hunters becomes 2025's top soundtrack
The soundtrack for Netflix's animated film KPop Demon Hunters has surged to No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in its second week. This makes it the highest-charting soundtrack of 2025 so far. This remarkable rise follows its debut at No. 8, marking a significant leap and setting a new benchmark for soundtracks this year. The album's success is historic. It is the highest-ranking soundtrack for an animated film since Encanto dominated the charts in 2022. The soundtrack earned 62,000 equivalent album units in the latest tracking week. Physical sales contributed 4,500 units and streaming accounting for 56,000 units, according to Billboard. This is a 108% increase, equating to 77.42 million on-demand official streams. This is the largest streaming week for a soundtrack in nearly two years, just shy of the Barbie soundtrack's record in August 2023. Featuring tracks from fictional K-pop groups HUNTR/X and Saja Boys, the soundtrack blends real-world K-pop talent with cinematic storytelling. Songs like Take Down and Golden by HUNTR/X, and Idol by Saja Boys, have captivated global audiences. The album also includes an alternate version of Take Down performed by members of the real K-pop group TWICE. This adds authenticity and star power to the project. The film itself premiered on Netflix on 20 June. It quickly climbed to No. 2 on Netflix's Top 10 Movies in the United States during its second week. The story follows a fictional K-pop girl group who secretly battle demons, blending thrilling action with catchy music that resonates worldwide. Ian Eisendrath, the soundtrack's executive music producer, said, 'We aimed to create a soundtrack that not only complements the film's narrative but also stands alone as a powerful musical experience. The success of Golden and other tracks shows how K-pop's global influence continues to grow.' He added that they plan to submit Golden for awards consideration, highlighting the soundtrack's artistic impact. This global phenomenon reflects the growing international appeal of K-pop and animated storytelling. South African fans of K-pop and pop culture will find the soundtrack's fusion of music and narrative compelling. The soundtrack's success also underscores the power of streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify to bring diverse global content to local audiences. As one fan commented on social media, 'The soundtrack is infectious! It's amazing to see K-pop's energy combined with animation, it's a fresh, exciting experience for us here.' Another noted, 'My kids love it, and honestly, so do I. It's a cultural moment worth celebrating.' KPop Demon Hunters has not only dominated charts globally but also set a new standard for animated film soundtracks in 2025. Its blend of thrilling storytelling, catchy K-pop tunes, and strong streaming performance makes it a landmark release with worldwide resonance. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
Blount County district attorney discusses arrests of Jefferson County School employees
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) — According to the Blount County Sheriff's Office, two Jefferson County Schools employees have been arrested since December in child sex stings. The arrests have raised questions about the hiring process for those who work closely with children. CBS 42 News spoke with Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey, who is prosecuting these cases. She said that when it comes to these kinds of crimes, it's nearly impossible to identify those who will commit them before they do. 'I hate to say it like this, but you can't fix stupid,' Casey said. 'If people are going to make stupid decisions, sometimes there's things you can't do to fix stupid.' According to the BCSO, Christopher Thompson and James Mitchell were trying to pay who they believed were minors for sexual activity. There arrests were caught on the camera by 'TakeDown with Chris Hansen' on TruBlu. Hansen said he believes the district should implement stricter hiring policies. 'Clearly two in a matter of two sting operations back-to-back indicates more needs to be done,' Hansen said. WATCH: Former 'To Catch a Predator' host talks recent Alabama sting operation 'We find people all the time who have never been caught before, and I find it hard to believe this is their first time acting out in our sting,' Hansen continued. 'So it happens. Men get away with it. Predators get away with it, so I think there needs to be more done in terms of psychological screening.' CBS 42 reached out to Jefferson County Schools about its hiring process and received the following statement: All potential candidates for employment are required to submit to a criminal history background check through the ALSDE, which includes a fingerprint check by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The district does not recommend individuals for hire unless their background status on the ALSDE portal at the time of recommendation is suitable for the position in which they are being recommended for. If an appropriate background status is not available through the ALSDE portal, the individual will not be recommended for hire. Jefferson County Schools According to Casey, these two men are out on bond. Mitchell's case has been reviewed by a grand jury and is proceeding to circuit court. Thompson's case is pending a first call hearing. 'The number one priority we have is keeping children safe and keeping family safe, and that's what we are going to do in all our cases, especially in these two situations,' Casey said. Jefferson County Schools stated Mitchell is on administrative leave, while Christopher Thompson has resigned from his position with the school system. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
