As first-round voting for the 68th Grammy Awards concluded Wednesday, anticipation grew over whether K-pop — a growing global musical force previously snubbed by the Recording Academy — might finally end its losing streak at the ceremony.
Organized by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences since 1959, the Grammys have long been the American music industry’s highest honor, symbolized by their gold gramophone trophy. No K-pop group has won one of these awards yet.
But this year, hopes are high. The eligibility window for the 68th Grammys, covering releases from August 31, 2024 to August 30, 2025, has produced some of the most globally successful K-pop records to date.
Notable contenders include BLACKPINK singer Rosé and Bruno Mars’ hit single “APT.” and “Golden,” the title track from the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters.” Both songs will compete for nominations in two of the Grammys’ most coveted overall categories: Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Their respective albums — “Rosie” and “KPop Demon Hunters” — are also in the running for Album of the Year.
“APTE.” is additionally competing for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video, while “Golden” was submitted for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Remixed Recording, Best Music Video, and Best Song Written for Visual Media.
While “APT”. After taking the world by storm late last year, the runaway success of “Golden” – fueled by the popularity of the animated film – has fueled even greater optimism. The track topped both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Official Singles Chart for several weeks, positioning it as another strong contender.
Beyond these two favorites, other big K-pop stars also entered the race in several Grammy areas.
In the Record of the Year category alone, submissions include BLACKPINK’s “JUMP”, Jennie’s “Like JENNIE”, Lisa’s “Born Again”, BTS member Jin’s “Don’t Say You Love Me”, RM and American rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s “Never Play”, J-Hope’s “Sweet Dreams”, J-Hope’s “Thunder” Seventeen, TXT’s “Beautiful Strangers”, KATSEYE’s “Gabriela”, TWICE’s “Strategy” and Stray Kids’ “Walking On Water”.
Jennie’s “RUBY,” Lisa’s “Alter Ego,” Jin’s “Echo,” Seventeen’s “SPILL THE FEELS,” TXT’s “The Star Chapter: TOGETHER,” TWICE’s “Strategy,” and Stray Kids’ “HOP” are all up for Album of the Year. Meanwhile, K-pop groups KATSEYE, aespa and Ateez are competing for the Best New Artist award.
In the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category, the same category in which BTS was nominated for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023, entries include IVE’s “XOXZ,” Le Sserafim’s “HOT,” Ateez’s “In Your Fantasy,” and RIIZE’s “Fly Up.”
To date, only two Korean artists have won Grammy Awards: soprano Sumi Jo and classical music sound engineer Hwang Byeong-joon. K-pop, however, has yet to find similar recognition, despite a string of nominations by BTS in the early 2020s.
BTS poses on the red carpet during the 64th annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, in this April 3, 2021 file photo. Reuters-Yonhap
Last year was particularly disappointing as no K-pop artists made the nomination list. Even though BTS members released successful solo albums during their military hiatus, none managed to get a nod.
This absence sparked further accusations that the Recording Academy was deliberately ignoring the genre, despite its commercial success and influence.
With the first round of voting for the upcoming awards now complete, industry observers are closely watching whether the 68th Grammy Awards could finally mark a turning point for K-pop.
The Recording Academy will announce the final nominees on November 7, followed by final voting from December 12 to January 5. The 68th annual Grammy Awards will take place on February 1, 2026 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
