Image credit: ROSÉ / The Black Label & Atlantic Records
Global Hits Eye Music’s Biggest Stage
K-pop’s bid for Grammy glory continues stronger than ever. BLACKPINK’s Rosé, who took the world by storm with her viral hit “APT.”, and the chart-topping soundtrack song “Golden” from the Netflix animated film K-Pop: Demon Hunters are both officially in the running for multiple Grammy categories — including the coveted Record of the Yearand Song of the Year.
The Recording Academy opened the first round of Grammy voting on October 3, with ballots closing on October 15, as anticipation builds across the industry and among fans worldwide.
Rosé and “Golden” Lead K-pop’s Strongest Year Yet
According to industry reports on October 13 (KST), Rosé’s “APT.” and “Golden” are among this year’s standout submissions for the Grammys’ General Fields. Rosé’s debut album “rosie” and the K-Pop: Demon Hunters original soundtrack were also entered for Album of the Year.
Rosé’s Grammy push doesn’t stop there — she also submitted:
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“APT.” for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video
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“toxic till the end” for Best Pop Solo Performance
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“rosie” for Best Pop Vocal Album
Meanwhile, K-Pop: Demon Hunters aims high with “Golden” submitted for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Remixed Recording (David Guetta Remix), Best Music Video, and Best Song Written for Visual Media. The full OST competes in Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
Experts Say: “A Real Shot at History”
Music insiders believe both Rosé and K-Pop: Demon Hunters could finally help K-pop claim its first Grammy trophy.
Critic Im Jin-mo commented,
“’Golden’ is undeniably a mega-hit, and the soundtrack’s overall success gives it real potential in visual media categories. Meanwhile, ‘APT.’ was a massive duet hit, so nominations — even wins — aren’t out of the question.”
However, he noted that traditional Grammy voters may still lean toward more “classic” American sounds, which could influence final outcomes.
Female Power Defines K-pop’s 2025 Grammy Push
This year marks a notable shift: female K-pop artists are leading the Grammy race. Beyond Rosé, artists like Lee Jae, Ray Ami, and Audrey Nuna — the team behind “Golden” — represent a new wave of women driving K-pop into the global mainstream.
Critic Im Hee-yoon observed,
“This female-led movement proves K-pop has evolved beyond fandom power. It’s now part of true global pop culture.”
K-pop Floods the Grammy Submissions
The 68th Grammy Awards are shaping up to be one of K-pop’s most competitive years yet, with a record number of submissions spanning nearly every major category. Artists from BTS, BLACKPINK, and the industry’s new generation of stars are all in the running.
Record of the Year
A diverse lineup of K-pop’s biggest global hits is vying for one of the night’s top honors:
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Rosé — “APT.”
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K-Pop: Demon Hunters OST — “Golden”
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BLACKPINK — “Run”
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Jennie — “like JENNIE”
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Lisa — “Born Again”
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Jin — “Don’t Say You Love Me”
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RM & Megan Thee Stallion — “Neva Play”
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J-Hope — “Sweet Dreams”
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SEVENTEEN — “Thunder”
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TXT — “Beautiful Strangers”
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KATSEYE — “Gabriela”
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TWICE — “Strategy”
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Stray Kids — “Walking on Water”
Album of the Year
K-pop artists are also making bold bids in the Album of the Year category, traditionally dominated by Western acts:
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Rosé — rosie
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K-Pop: Demon Hunters — Original Soundtrack
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Jennie — RUBY
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Lisa — Alter Ego
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Jin — Echo
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SEVENTEEN — SPILL THE FEELS
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TXT — The Name Chapter: TOGETHER
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TWICE — Strategy
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Stray Kids — Hop (合)
Song of the Year
From anthemic pop to cinematic ballads, these tracks represent K-pop’s songwriting strength:
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“APT.” — Rosé
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“Golden” — K-Pop: Demon Hunters OST
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“like JENNIE” — Jennie
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“Born Again” — Lisa
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“Run” — BLACKPINK
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“Don’t Say You Love Me” — Jin
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“Sweet Dreams” — J-Hope
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“Thunder” — SEVENTEEN
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“Beautiful Strangers” — TXT
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“Gabriela” — KATSEYE
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“Whiplash” — aespa
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“Strategy” — TWICE
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“Walking on Water” — Stray Kids
Best New Artist
The next wave of global K-pop talent steps into the spotlight:
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KATSEYE
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aespa
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ATEEZ
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
In a category where BTS previously earned multiple nominations, this year’s submissions include:
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IVE — “XOXZ”
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LE SSERAFIM — “HOT”
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ATEEZ — “In Your Fantasy”
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RIIZE — “Fly Up”
Best Music Video
K-pop’s visual artistry continues to push creative boundaries with submissions including:
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Jisoo — “Earthquake”
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KATSEYE — “Gnarly”
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RIIZE — “Fly Up”
Toward the 68th Grammy Awards
Since its founding in 1959, the Grammys have honored the best in global music. Korean winners have so far included soprano Sumi Jo (1993) and recording engineer Hwang Byung-jun of Soundmirror Korea (2012, 2016). While BTSearned three consecutive nominations for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, a Grammy win has remained just out of reach — until now.
The final nominees will be revealed on November 7, with final voting from December 12 to January 5. The 68th Grammy Awards will take place on February 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
As one critic put it, “If either Rosé or ‘Golden’ wins, it won’t just be a victory for an artist — it’ll be a milestone for K-pop’s place in global music history.”
