Rosé reveals demo version of ‘APT’ after song hits two billion streams

BLACKPINK member Rosé has unveiled the demo version of her global hit “APT.” after the track surpassed two billion streams on Spotify.

The singer revealed the unreleased cut while appearing on The Howard Stern Show on SiriusXM, where she also reflected on the song’s creation with Bruno Mars.

“APT.,” the lead single from Rosé’s debut solo album rosie, was released in October 2024 and quickly became a milestone in K-pop history. The track was the fastest K-pop song to reach one billion streams and went on to win Song of the Year at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. According to Billboard, it remains a strong contender for Record of the Year at the upcoming 2026 Grammy Awards.

During the radio interview, Rosé played “APT 1.0,” an early demo featuring different lyrics and a raw vocal delivery. The version included lines referencing “Room 17” and secret late-night meetings, contrasting with the polished release that fans know today. Rosé admitted she once told listeners to delete the demo, but now views it as part of her creative journey.

The song draws inspiration from a Korean drinking game called “APT” and the common abbreviation for “apartment,” giving it layered meaning. Co-written by Rosé, Mars, Amy Allen, Brody Brown, Philip Lawrence, and others, the track also interpolates Toni Basil’s 1982 hit “Mickey.” Its music video, co-directed by Mars and Daniel Ramos, has also crossed two billion views on YouTube.

Rosé’s success comes as BLACKPINK recently reunited with the release of their single “JUMP” and completed the North American and European legs of their Deadline World Tour. The group resumes performances in Asia this October.