Jennie sets new K-pop solo record with 2 new RIAA Gold certifications

Jennie has done it again — and this time, she’s made history on her own terms.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced on Tuesday that her single Mantra and the fiery anthem Like JENNIE have both gone RIAA Gold, each surpassing 500,000 certified units in the US. With three RIAA certifications now under her belt, Jennie stands as the most decorated K-pop solo artist in RIAA history.

For fans who have followed her journey from BLACKPINK’s global blowup to her first full-length solo album, Ruby, the news feels especially sweet. Released in March, Ruby was more than just a debut — it was a statement. The album shattered expectations with over 661,000 first-week sales, the highest for any female K-pop soloist this year. Five of its tracks even broke into the Billboard Hot 100, an achievement few Korean artists, let alone female soloists, have managed.

Jennie’s career has always been about more than numbers. Whether teaming up with The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp on the Platinum-certified One Of The Girls, or carving out her own sound on Mantra, she has shown an ability to balance star power with vulnerability and global appeal with personal storytelling.

The RIAA measures success in numbers — Gold for 500,000 units, Platinum for 1 million, and Diamond for 10 million. The certifications reaffirm Jennie’s position as the most commercially successful K-pop soloist in the US market.

Write to Byung-Yeon Yoo at yooby@hankyung.com