K-pop eyes first major Grammy win

Jan 30, 2026, 11:27 am

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Rosé of BLACKPINK / The Black Label

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Netflix’s animated series K-Pop Demon Hunters. / Netflix

Attention is mounting over the possibility that K-pop could secure its first-ever win in a major Grammy Awards category.

“Golden,” an OST track from Netflix’s animated series K-Pop Demon Hunters, has been nominated in five categories at the 68th Grammy Awards, including the top prize Song of the Year, as well as Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Song Written for Visual Media. A remix of the song by DJ and producer David Guetta is also nominated for Best Remixed Recording, while the OST album is in the running for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.

Rosé’s collaborative single “APT.” with pop star Bruno Mars is competing in three major categories: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. In addition, HYBE-produced global girl group KATSEYE earned nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

While several K-pop acts have previously challenged the Grammys’ top categories, none have succeeded so far. BTS, for example, was nominated three consecutive years for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance from the 63rd to the 65th ceremonies but failed to take home the award.

Unlike award shows driven largely by commercial performance, the Grammys are decided by votes from Recording Academy members, who weigh musical quality and industry contribution alongside popularity. This evaluation system has long been cited as a barrier for globally successful K-pop acts seeking recognition in major categories.

This year, however, analysts say the atmosphere is shifting. Both “Golden” and “APT.” have gained strong footholds in the North American mainstream, with sustained radio play, streaming success and cross-industry appeal.

“Golden” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and won best original song honors at the Golden Globe Awards and the Critics Choice Awards, underscoring its musical quality and industrial significance as an animated OST that evolved into a standalone global hit. “APT.” peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 and captured Song of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards, earning acclaim from both audiences and critics.

Experts say the two tracks have relatively strong chances in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category, though winning the Grammys’ top prizes — Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Album of the Year — remains a formidable challenge.

Pop culture critic Jung Deok-hyun said “Golden” and “APT.” are closer to mainstream pop than the K-pop many audiences have traditionally perceived. “They clearly highlight the ‘pop’ elements of K-pop, with ‘APT.’ showing this most vividly,” he said, adding that it would no longer feel strange for K-pop to win a Grammy.

Another critic, Park Song-a, said this year’s nominations signal that K-pop is beginning to enter the Grammys’ core competitive structure. “Still, this is a conditional entry driven by specific collaborations and global performance,” she noted, adding that repeated nominations and wins will determine whether it marks a structural shift.

#K-pop #Grammy Awards #Rosé #Bruno Mars #K-Pop Demon Hunters