He was the voice of retro soul, with confetti raining down around him. She was a K-pop icon with a voice soft enough to melt ice. Bruno Mars and Rosé joined forces in a duet no one saw coming — and now it’s playing all over the world.
The video for the track “APT.” dropped quietly, without any big announcement, yet within just a few hours it had already pulled in millions of views. That was just the beginning.
With its 70s-inspired aesthetics, dramatic staging, and calm, deliberate direction, the video had nothing typical of a YouTube hit. But that’s exactly what made it work. A fusion of genres, cultures, and eras. In a space ruled by algorithms, it was the music that broke through.
March 13, 10:43 p.m. Seoul time. The view counter under the “APT.” video crosses 1.3 billion. It’s been 146 days and 9 hours since the premiere — a new record for an artist from Asia. Previous record holders took longer to reach that number. No video from the East had ever climbed this high, this fast.
For YouTube, this is a major event. The top 5 fastest-growing videos in the world are usually dominated by Western stars — Luis Fonsi, Ed Sheeran, Adele. Now, among them are Rosé and Bruno Mars. Differences in genre, language, and audience didn’t stop a billion people from hitting play at least once.
One possible reason behind the song’s explosive popularity may be the recent scandals involving the musician. Earlier reports claimed that Bruno Mars may have lost over $50 million in a casino. Many took this in stride, pointing out that his massive earnings allow for such losses. Besides, gambling itself has become far more normalized and no longer carries the same negative stigma.
This shift happened with the rise of the iGaming industry, which made gambling accessible to virtually everyone. Across the world, dozens — even hundreds — of online casinos emerged, attracting millions with their bonuses and promotions. For example casinosbonusca.com provides information about bonuses in Canadian online casinos. Interestingly, many of these brands are also popular here in the US. Thousands of gambling games are available directly on mobile phones. Some even see them as an alternative to traditional video games.
How the video was made and what sets it apart
The director behind it was Han Sa Min, known for his work with BTS and IU. He focuses not on spectacle, but on atmosphere. In the final scene, the camera simply pulls back, leaving the characters in silence. It feels like nothing is happening — yet you can’t look away.
Before “APT.,” only four videos had reached 1.3 billion views faster: “Despacito,” “Shape of You,” “Hello,” and “Mi Gente.” All of them are global chart-toppers with massive reach. Rosé and Bruno Mars made it into this list without a traditional marketing machine, and without an overly commercial sound.
This isn’t just a win for the duo. It’s a milestone for Asian pop culture, placing it alongside artists listened to from Latin America to Europe. Now, among the world’s fastest-rising hits, there’s also a voice from Seoul — and it’s no longer a coincidence.