BLACKPINK’s Rosé has made history with eight nominations at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), becoming the most nominated K-pop solo artist in a single year. Her collaboration with Bruno Mars, “APT.”, earned seven nods, including Video of the Year and Song of the Year, while her solo track “Toxic Till the End” secured a nomination for Best K-Pop. The singer expressed shock and gratitude after the nominations were announced on August 5, 2025.
Rosé’s Historic VMA Nominations
Rosé’s collaboration with Bruno Mars, “APT.”, dominated the nominations with seven categories:
- Video of the Year
- Song of the Year
- Best Collaboration
- Best Pop
- Best Direction
- Best Art Direction
- Best Visual Effects
Her solo song “Toxic Till the End” from her debut album “Rosie” also earned a nomination for Best K-Pop, bringing her total to eight. This makes her the first K-pop solo artist to be nominated for Video of the Year and ties her with Sabrina Carpenter as the second-most nominated female artist this year, behind Lady Gaga (12 nominations) and ahead of Ariana Grande and The Weeknd (7 each).
“I just found out I was nominated in 8 categories at the VMAs. I’m so shocked I don’t even know what to say.” — Rosé on Instagram Stories.
Bruno Mars and Rosé Break Records Together
Bruno Mars also made history with 11 nominations, including two in Video of the Year (for “APT.” with Rosé and “Die With a Smile” with Lady Gaga). He is only the fourth artist ever to achieve this feat. The success of “APT.”, which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, highlights Rosé’s growing influence in global pop music.
BLACKPINK Members Shine in Best K-Pop Category
Rosé isn’t the only BLACKPINK member making waves at the VMAs. Fellow members Jennie, Jisoo, and Lisa also earned nominations in Best K-Pop for their solo projects:
- Jennie – “like JENNIE”
- Jisoo – “earthquake”
- Lisa – “Born Again” (feat. Doja Cat & RAYE)
They are competing against aespa’s “Whiplash”, BTS’ Jimin (“Who”), and Stray Kids (“Chk Chk Boom”).
Fan Reactions and Industry Impact
Fans worldwide celebrated Rosé’s nominations, flooding social media with congratulatory messages. Many noted how her success could pave the way for more K-pop recognition at major Western awards. However, experts remain cautious about her chances at the Grammys, as the Recording Academy historically favors artists with sustained U.S. chart success and full-length albums.
“Winning a big award at the VMAs would prove that Rosé has a presence in the US music market. It would be a kind of green light.” — Music critic Lim Hee-yun.
When and Where to Watch the 2025 VMAs
The 2025 MTV VMAs will air live on Sunday, September 7, 2025, from UBS Arena in New York. This marks the first time the show will broadcast on CBS alongside MTV and stream on Paramount+. Voting for fan categories is open until September 5, except for Best New Artist, which closes during the show.
Also Read: Bruno Mars Jokes About Being “Almost Out Of Debt” Thanks To BLACKPINK’s Rosé After LA Concert
