Melon is no longer number 1…
Koreaboo
K-Pop fans often debate which streaming platform truly reflects a song’s impact and success. New data from IGAWorks Mobile Index shows how dramatically the rankings have shifted in 2025.
Global apps are growing fast, longtime leaders are losing users, and the K-Pop chart landscape looks completely different from just a few years ago. Here are all the current music platforms ranked based on IGAWorks’ Monthly Active Users data.
1. YouTube Music
YouTube Music has taken the top spot in Korea, with 7,977,945 monthly active users, officially surpassing Melon. Its growth comes mainly from being bundled with YouTube Premium, which made it a default choice for many listeners. With YouTube already being the center of K-Pop discovery, fans increasingly see this chart as a major indicator of public interest.
2. MelOn
Melon continues to play an important role in Korean music culture, but its numbers have fallen to 7,052,115 users. While the platform still matters for domestic bragging rights, many younger fans feel it hasn’t kept up with global services. To prevent further decline, Melon is offering exclusive concerts and early Melon Music Awards ticketing to long-term subscribers.
3. Genie
Genie has 3,032,748 users, but its influence is gradually fading. It once thrived thanks to carrier bundle deals, yet those perks no longer carry the same weight. Although still widely used, Genie isn’t at the center of fandom streaming priorities the way it once was.
4. FLO
With 2,007,733 users, FLO is still present but continues its downward trend. The platform had strong momentum when it launched, but today it holds much smaller weight, overshadowed by faster-growing competitors.
5. Spotify
Spotify now has 1,731,908 users in Korea, nearly doubling its user base after introducing a free, ad-supported tier. Its upcoming integration with Naver Plus Membership is expected to boost growth even further. For playlisting, international reach, and global charting, Spotify has become one of the most important platforms for K-pop fans, even though it only ranks fifth.
6. VIBE
VIBE has dropped to 530,350 users as Naver prepares to shut the service down. With VIBE being phased out, most of its remaining users are expected to move to Spotify through Naver Plus Membership. This shift could cause another major reshuffle in the streaming rankings.
7. Bugs
Bugs maintains 313,911 users, keeping it alive but far from influential. While it has loyal long-term users, the platform holds little power in today’s fandom-driven streaming environment.
So… Which Platform Matters Most Now?
For traditional Korean chart prestige, Melon remains significant. But experts agree that with YouTube Music and Spotify rapidly expanding — and both shaping global listening habits — these two platforms are becoming the ones fans watch most closely when measuring real impact in 2025.
