[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] Blackpink’s Jennie is taking the global music market by storm with her new song “Less Than a Lover.” Not only did the track top charts in major countries immediately upon its release, but the music video has also garnered an explosive response, once again proving her status as a global solo artist.

Released at 1:00 p.m. on the 24th (KST) via various music streaming platforms and her official YouTube channel, “Less Than a Lover” quickly made its mark on charts around the world. The music video continues to generate significant buzz, topping the YouTube Music Video Trending Worldwide chart as well as the trending charts in South Korea and the U.S.
Her music performance is also remarkable. She topped the charts on all three of China’s major music platforms: QQ Music, NetEase Cloud Music, and Kugou Music. Notably, on QQ Music, she became the only female solo artist this year to receive a Gold certification for a single, proving her solid popularity in the local market.
It has also achieved consistent success on platforms both domestically and internationally. Following her No. 2 ranking on Melon’s Hot 100 (as of the 30th), she also ranked highly on Apple Music’s Top Songs charts in several countries, including Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. Additionally, she claimed the No. 1 spot on the iTunes Top Songs charts in 27 countries and regions—including the Philippines, Indonesia, and Brazil—making her the K-pop solo artist with the most No. 1 hits across the most countries this year.
This achievement is also significant in that it reaffirms Jennie’s global fanbase. It is seen as proof of her global appeal, as the song garnered simultaneous positive responses across diverse markets—including Asia and South America—rather than being limited to a specific region.
“Less Than a Lover” is a track for which Jennie personally wrote the lyrics and composed the music, capturing the subtle emotions that lie between love and friendship. It is an alternative pop track that evokes the atmosphere of a summer night, built on lo-fi-style guitar and vintage electric keyboard sounds.
The music video is also receiving praise for its high production quality. Jennie was involved in the entire production process, including directing, and personally led not only the music but also the visuals and concept, showcasing her own distinctive aesthetic sensibility and creative capabilities.
Jennie is set to continue her global activities with back-to-back performances at world-renowned music festivals, including “Lollapalooza Chicago” in the U.S. and “Summer Sonic 2026” in Japan.