Last Updated: September 2026 | Source: YouTube Charts & Global Streaming Registries
Auditing Standards & Methodology: Songray measures global engagement velocity directly from official music video premieres and record-label registries. Milestone tracking documents the exact elapsed duration from public YouTube premiere listing until registering 1,000,000 authenticated user Likes. Negative timestamps indicate videos that achieved the milestone during pre-premiere countdown waiting rooms. Unofficial re-uploads, Shorts, and loop scripts are strictly excluded.
While view counts measure overall playback scale, the speed at which a music video crosses one million likes reveals intense, synchronized global fan mobilization. Below is the audited leaderboard of the fastest songs to reach 1 million likes on youtube of all time, showcasing historic records dominated by K-Pop titans, Western pop icons, and groundbreaking premiere events.
Quick Answer: Fastest Song to Reach 1 Million Likes on YouTube
“Butter” by BTS is the fastest song to reach 1 million YouTube likes in history, achieving the milestone approximately 39 minutes before its official premiere in May 2021 via YouTube’s premiere waiting room. For post-release sprints, “Black Swan” by BTS leads at approximately 28 minutes, followed by “Kill This Love” by BLACKPINK at approximately 30 minutes.
Note: Premiere and post-release times are calculated from the timestamps used in this ranking. Premiere waiting-room engagement is distinguished from milestones reached after the music video becomes publicly available.
Table of Contents
Top 20 Fastest Songs to Reach 1 Million Likes on YouTube
Below is the verified ranking of the fastest songs to reach 1 million likes on youtube of all time, organized by verified milestone speed. Click any thumbnail to open the official video directly on YouTube.
| Rank | Thumbnail | Song | Artist / Act | Year | Time to 1M Likes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Butter | BTS | 2021 | -39 min (Pre-Release) |
| 2 |
|
Dynamite | BTS | 2020 | -1 min (Pre-Release) |
| 3 |
|
Black Swan | BTS | 2020 | 28 min |
| 4 |
|
Kill This Love | BLACKPINK | 2019 | 30 min |
| 5 |
|
Interlude : Shadow | SUGA (BTS) | 2020 | 30 min |
| 6 |
|
Life Goes On | BTS | 2020 | 33 min |
| 7 |
|
Ice Cream | BLACKPINK ft. Selena Gomez | 2020 | 34 min |
| 8 |
|
Boy With Luv | BTS ft. Halsey | 2019 | 35 min |
| 9 |
|
Savage Love (BTS Remix) | Jawsh 685, Jason Derulo, BTS | 2020 | 35 min |
| 10 |
|
thank u, next | Ariana Grande | 2018 | 36 min |
| 11 |
|
Fake Love | BTS | 2018 | 39 min |
| 12 |
|
IDOL | BTS | 2018 | 41 min |
| 13 |
|
Dynamite (B-side) | BTS | 2020 | 42 min |
| 14 |
|
Stay Gold | BTS | 2020 | 42 min |
| 15 |
|
Daechwita | Agust D | 2020 | 47 min |
| 16 |
|
‘ON’ Kinetic Manifesto Film | BTS | 2020 | 48 min |
| 17 |
|
Lovesick Girls | BLACKPINK | 2020 | 51 min |
| 18 |
|
Life Goes On : on my pillow | BTS | 2020 | 51 min |
| 19 |
|
Film out | BTS | 2021 | 52 min |
| 20 |
|
ON (Official MV) | BTS | 2020 | 55 min |
Understanding Premiere Velocity & Pre-Release Likes
YouTube’s Premiere feature reshaped digital music milestone tracking by introducing interactive countdown waiting rooms. For global juggernauts like BTS, millions of fans gathered in chat rooms hours before the video premiered. Consequently, tracks like Butter and Dynamite achieved 1 million likes before the video was even playable, resulting in negative milestone timestamps (-39 min and -1 min).
For traditional post-premiere velocity, measuring elapsed time from the moment playback begins showcases immediate engagement. Tracking the fastest songs to reach 1 million likes on youtube separates passive algorithmic reach from authentic, coordinated listener dedication.
Detailed Track Breakdown: Historic Sprints
1. Butter – BTS
Release Year: 2021 | Origin: South Korea / Global Pop
Milestone: -39 minutes (Reached 1M likes 39 minutes prior to official premiere).
In May 2021, BTS set an unprecedented digital record with “Butter”. As millions worldwide waited in the live YouTube Premiere chatroom, the video crossed 1 million likes 39 minutes before its public premiere, shattering previous platform engagement velocity records.
2. Dynamite – BTS
Release Year: 2020 | Origin: South Korea / Global Pop
Milestone: -1 minute (Reached 1M likes during pre-premiere countdown).
As BTS’s initial English-language single, “Dynamite” made streaming history by crossing 1 million likes just seconds before the countdown timer reached zero. The disco-pop single became a cultural touchstone throughout 2020.
3. Black Swan – BTS
Release Year: 2020 | Origin: South Korea
Milestone: 28 minutes (Fastest post-premiere sprint in YouTube history).
Surprise-dropped without prior promotional buildup in March 2020, the official music video for “Black Swan” sprinted to 1 million likes in just 28 minutes of public release, holding the record for the fastest post-launch milestone climb.
4. Kill This Love – BLACKPINK
Release Year: 2019 | Origin: South Korea
Milestone: 30 minutes (All-time fastest girl group release).
BLACKPINK’s explosive 2019 single “Kill This Love” hit 1 million likes in exactly 30 minutes. Driven by its commanding brass production and dynamic choreography, it remains the fastest female group release to hit the milestone.
5. Interlude : Shadow – SUGA
Release Year: 2020 | Origin: South Korea
Milestone: 30 minutes (Fastest solo comeback trailer).
Serving as the opening comeback trailer for Map of the Soul: 7, Suga’s introspective rap track “Interlude : Shadow” crossed 1 million likes in 30 minutes, highlighting strong individual engagement within the group’s discography.
6. Savage Love (BTS Remix) – Jawsh 685, Jason Derulo, BTS
Release Year: 2020 | Origin: Global Collaboration
Milestone: 35 minutes (Fastest remix release in YouTube history).
Teaming up with Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo, BTS’s vocal and rap remix of “Savage Love” made an immediate global impact, collecting 1 million likes in just 35 minutes of public release.
7. thank u, next – Ariana Grande
Release Year: 2018 | Origin: United States
Milestone: 36 minutes (Fastest Western pop release in YouTube history).
Referencing early-2000s teen films like Mean Girls and Legally Blonde, Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next” generated immense cultural buzz upon release in November 2018. Reaching 1 million likes in 36 minutes, it stands as the fastest Western release on the global leaderboard.
Key Streaming Takeaways
- The Sub-1-Hour Standard: All 20 tracks on this global leaderboard achieved 1 million likes in under 55 minutes, underscoring the velocity required to enter modern streaming leaderboards.
- BTS Platform Impact: BTS accounts for 15 of the top 20 entries, including group releases, solo tracks from Suga/Agust D, and remix collaborations.
- Girl Group Benchmarks: BLACKPINK holds three spots in the top 20 (Kill This Love, Ice Cream, and Lovesick Girls), maintaining the fastest milestones for any all-female musical act.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest song to reach 1 million likes on YouTube of all time?
“Butter” by BTS holds the all-time world record, reaching 1 million likes 39 minutes before its official premiere in May 2021 via YouTube’s waiting room.
Which song reached 1 million likes the fastest after actual release?
For videos that hit the mark after playback went live, “Black Swan” by BTS leads at 28 minutes, followed by BLACKPINK’s “Kill This Love” at 30 minutes.
What is the fastest Western song to hit 1 million likes?
“thank u, next” by Ariana Grande holds the Western record, crossing 1 million likes in just 36 minutes upon its premiere in November 2018.
How fast did BLACKPINK reach 1 million likes?
BLACKPINK’s fastest milestone belongs to “Kill This Love” (30 minutes), followed by “Ice Cream” (34 minutes) and “Lovesick Girls” (51 minutes).
Related Rankings
- Top 10 Most Viewed Songs in 24 Hours on YouTube
- Top 30 Fastest Songs to Reach 100 Million Views on YouTube
- Top 10 Fastest Indian Songs to Reach 1 Million Likes
- Top 50 Most Viewed K-Pop Songs on YouTube of All Time
- Top 50 Most Viewed YouTube Videos of All Time
Conclusion
Tracking the fastest songs to reach 1 million likes on youtube of all time demonstrates how modern music premieres function as synchronized global events. With BTS and BLACKPINK establishing unprecedented speed records alongside Western pop smashes like Ariana Grande’s thank u, next, opening-hour like counts remain one of digital music’s definitive benchmarks.
Songray actively monitors opening-day milestones and will update this leaderboard as new international releases contend for the top 20.