Psy's Gangnam Style reaches 1 billion views on YouTube

The Associated Press

Posted: Dec 21, 2012 12:20 PM ET

Last Updated: Dec 21, 2012 6:01 PM ET

South Korean rapper Psy's Gangnam Style has set a new YouTube record, hitting 1 billion views on the online video site on Friday. (Jason DeCrow/Invision/Associated Press)

Viral star Psy has reached a new milestone on YouTube.

The South Korean rapper's video for Gangnam Style has reached 1 billion views, according to YouTube's own counter. It's the first time any clip has surpassed that mark on the streaming service owned by Google Inc.

It shows the enduring popularity of the self-deprecating video that features Park Jae-sang's giddy up-style dance moves. The video has been available on YouTube since July 15, averaging more than 200 million views per month.

Justin Bieber's video for Baby held the previous YouTube record at more than 800 million views.

Psy wasn't just popular on YouTube, either. Earlier this month Google announced Gangnam Style was the second highest trending search of 2012 behind Whitney Houston, who passed away in February.

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