Why BLACKPINK Can't Celebrate Its No. 1 Ranking: Fan Backlash, Then Dating Rumors

BLACKPINK is dominating K-pop's power metrics right now. The problem is that not all of the attention is good.

According to the K-pop analytics tracker K-POPIT BOARD, BLACKPINK topped the domestic Power Index (PWR(KR)) with 77.1 points on August 12. The group also ranked first on the Global Power Index (PWR(GL)) with 72.4 points.

The underlying numbers are just as strong. The group scored 91.7 on MAS, which tracks media and public interest, and 90.1 on FHI, which measures fandom activity and staying power. Its VCR score, which shows how buzz converts into actual streaming, hit a perfect 100.0. On paper, everything around BLACKPINK, from public attention to fan engagement to music consumption, is running hot.

The most striking figure is the group's D-tier growth, which surged 14,759 percent. That kind of jump is unusual. And given the group's recent headlines, it is hard to read the spike as a straightforward popularity win.

BLACKPINK recently marked its 10th debut anniversary, and the rollout drew criticism from fans who said the celebration fell short of what they had expected. Complaints centered on the lack of dedicated anniversary content and events. Jisoo teared up in front of fans and apologized. Rosé posted a lengthy message of her own to say sorry.

Fans have also voiced disappointment about Lisa's handling of the milestone. She shared vacation photos on her social media but did not post separately to mark the group's 10th anniversary. Soon after, dating rumors surfaced linking her to Thai actor Bright Vachirawit, putting her back in the spotlight for reasons unrelated to the group. With other members publicly apologizing to fans over the anniversary rollout, the criticism aimed at Lisa has sharpened.

The 90.1 FHI score, then, does not necessarily mean the fandom is happy. On social media, fans have posted openly about their disappointment with the anniversary period, and some have said they are stepping away from fan activity altogether. Because FHI factors in things like YouTube engagement and social media activity, complaints and debates about the members' choices can register as fandom activity too. A high FHI score does not automatically mean fan loyalty is intact.

The perfect VCR score, on the other hand, shows that BLACKPINK's pull as a music act is still very much there. Whatever the source of the buzz, the group continues to turn attention into streams. Years of hits, name recognition, and the individual popularity of each member give the group a base almost no other act can match.

That is part of what makes BLACKPINK unusual. Each of the four members can command mainstream attention on her own. But long-term group activity still rests on the fandom. Fans are the ones buying albums, filling arenas, and driving merchandise sales year after year. Even if some fans walk away now, the group's mainstream reach and existing fanbase can keep the numbers high. If anniversary-style missteps keep repeating, that cushion is not guaranteed to hold.

Public perception matters too. If casual audiences keep encountering BLACKPINK through fan-treatment controversies or dating rumors rather than through music and performance, high buzz will not automatically bring in new fans. Turning attention into streams is one thing. Turning attention into a growing fandom is another.

The current numbers tell a paradox. BLACKPINK's controversies are feeding its buzz, and that buzz is still translating into music consumption at a rate few groups can match. Underneath the metrics, though, there is real fan frustration and visible signs of people stepping away. What BLACKPINK needs right now is not more buzz. It is a way back to the trust that has been shaken.