The 68th Grammy Awards nominations have marked a historic turning point for K-Pop, with BLACKPINK’s Rosé becoming the first Korean solo artist to break into the awards’ most prestigious categories. Her collaboration with Bruno Mars, “APT.”, earned nominations in Song of the Year and Record of the Year, two of the “Big Four” categories that have previously eluded Korean artists. The track also secured a spot in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category.
This breakthrough comes with mixed emotions for the K-Pop community. While celebrating these landmark achievements, fans and observers have also highlighted significant snubs for other major artists who were widely expected to receive nominations.
Rosé’s Record-Setting Nominations
Rosé’s achievement places her in the Grammy history books as the first Korean soloist to receive nominations in the top categories. Her song “APT.”, released in October 2024, blends pop and R&B with her signature emotional vocal style and Bruno Mars’s retro-inspired sound. The track quickly became a global hit, dominating charts and social media platforms worldwide following its release.
In addition to her Song of the Year and Record of the Year nominations, Rosé secured a nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for the same track. These three nominations represent the most significant recognition the Recording Academy has ever given to a Korean solo artist.
Other Historic K-Pop Nominations
The groundbreaking recognition extended beyond Rosé. “Golden”, a track from Netflix’s animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters performed by the in-film girl group HUNTR/X, received multiple nominations including Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. The song also earned nods for Best Remixed Recording and Best Song Written for Visual Media, while the K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack album was nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
HYBE’s global girl group KATSEYE also made their mark as finalists for Best New Artist, one of the Grammys’ most prestigious honors. Their song “Gabriela” landed a nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Notably, in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category, three out of the five nominees represent K-Pop, signaling a strong possibility of the genre’s first Grammy victory at the ceremony scheduled for February 1, 2026.
The Snubs That Sparked Debate
Despite these historic achievements, the nomination list generated controversy through the absence of other major K-Pop stars. BLACKPINK as a group was notably missing from the nominations, as were members Lisa and Jennie in solo categories. This exclusion surprised many industry observers given their global chart performance over the eligibility period.
The oversight continues a pattern that began with the previous year’s Grammy nominations, when artists like Jungkook, Jimin, and Lisa were similarly overlooked despite record-breaking solo releases. In 2024, fans expressed frustration when Jungkook’s album “Golden” and hit single “Standing Next to You” failed to secure nominations in major categories, along with Lisa’s tracks “Rockstar” and “New Woman.”
Social media reactions reflected the divided sentiment within the K-Pop community. One fan commented on the situation, questioning the selection process: > “mind you blackpink were snubbed by the grammys for years despite them proving time and time again that they were here to stay but somehow a group that it’s barely a year old, doesn’t have a single hit song on its belt and hasn’t proven any sort of impact somehow got nominated”
Another user expressed broader concerns about the Recording Academy’s approach to Asian artists, writing: > “Well, what we expected from racist Grammys.”
K-Pop’s Growing Grammy Recognition
Before this year’s nominations, BTS had been the only K-pop group to receive direct Grammy recognition, earning five nominations over three years for tracks like “Dynamite,” “Butter,” and “My Universe” with Coldplay, though they never secured a win. Other Korean artists have won in classical categories, with soprano Sumi Jo winning Best Opera Recording in 1993 and sound engineer Hwang Byung Joon receiving awards in 2012 and 2016.
The 68th Grammy Awards considered albums, singles, and recordings released between late August 2024 and late August 2025. The final nominee list was determined through first-round voting held over 12 days in October.
K-Pop’s Unstoppable Global March
This Grammy recognition comes amid K-Pop’s continued global expansion in 2025. Spotify’s 2025 Global Impact List revealed that solo K-Pop acts are dominating international streaming, with 19 of the top 30 most-streamed tracks by South Korean artists outside the country coming from soloists. Jennie’s main track “Like Jennie” from her March solo album “Ruby” topped this list, followed by BTS member Jin’s “Don’t Say You Love Me.”
The genre has solidified its position as a major force in the music industry, with world tours generating billions in revenue and K-Pop being crowned the most-streamed genre globally on Spotify Wrapped 2024. BLACKPINK’s upcoming world tour and BTS’s anticipated reunion following military service have created massive excitement among fans worldwide.
The 68th Grammy Awards ceremony will take place on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, where the K-Pop nominees will have the chance to secure the genre’s first-ever Grammy win.
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