Jimin’s Spotify Stream Drop Sparks Controversy Over Alleged Data Manipulation

BTS’s Jimin is at the center of a heated music industry controversy after reports revealed a dramatic drop in Spotify streams for his solo track “WHO.” The song reportedly lost over 175 million streams between November 30, 2024, and May 1, 2025, sparking debates around streaming ethics, data transparency, and alleged manipulation within digital music platforms.

Over 175 Million Streams Removed from Jimin’s “WHO”

One of the most shocking revelations came from data showing a 52 million stream drop in a single day—between January 31 and February 1, 2025. The large-scale purge has led many fans and critics to revisit the track’s rapid initial success, which some claimed didn’t match public engagement levels.

With “WHO” once celebrated for breaking Spotify records, the sudden reversal has fueled speculation about artificial stream inflation, bot usage, and potentially inauthentic promotion strategies.

Hashtag #Fraudmin Trends Amid Accusations

The situation has triggered backlash from segments of the online community, with hashtags like #Fraudmin trending as critics accuse Jimin of benefiting from manipulated streaming data. These accusations, while unproven, reflect growing concerns over fair play in the streaming era.

Some fans have pushed back, suggesting thea deductions result from Spotify’s routine data-cleaning process, which removes streams flagged as inorganic—often caused by automated systems or suspected mass-play tactics.

Spotify Remains Silent

At this point, Spotify has not released an official statement on the matter. However, the platform has a history of quietly purging illegitimate streams to preserve the accuracy of artist metrics and prevent abuse of its ranking systems.

Such purges are not unique to Jimin, but the scale of this drop has made it one of the most talked-about cases in K-pop streaming history.

A Deeper Look into Streaming Ethics in K-Pop

This controversy brings to light the ethical dilemmas surrounding modern streaming culture, especially in competitive industries like K-pop. With global fanbases often organizing mass-streaming events to boost chart positions, questions arise about what constitutes genuine engagement versus inflated popularity.

The "WHO" stream loss controversy underscores the pressing need for greater transparency from streaming platforms, clearer ethical guidelines, and more accountability from labels, artists, and fandoms.