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K-pop Breaks New Ground with Historic Grammy Nominations
K-pop is poised for a potential watershed moment at next month’s 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony, where artists from the global musical phenomenon could win their first-ever trophy after years of performing without recognition from the prestigious institution.
In an unprecedented development, K-pop and K-pop-adjacent artists have secured nominations in the Grammy’s most coveted categories. Rosé, known worldwide as a member of the powerhouse girl group Blackpink, has made history as the first K-pop artist nominated for Record of the Year with “APT.,” her chart-topping collaboration with Grammy favorite Bruno Mars.
The Song of the Year category also features K-pop nominees for the first time. Rosé and Mars’s “APT.” will compete against “Golden,” performed by the fictional girl group HUNTR/X featuring Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami from the “KPop Demon Hunters” animated film soundtrack.
Additionally, Katseye, a girl group created by HYBE—the entertainment company behind global sensation BTS and numerous other international acts—has secured a Best New Artist nomination. The group, formed through the K-pop idol system but with a global focus, represents a new generation of cross-cultural performers.
Industry experts, however, have varying perspectives on whether these nominations truly represent a breakthrough for traditional K-pop. Areum Jeong, assistant professor of Korean Studies at Arizona State University, characterizes these nominations as reflecting “a de-territorialized, hybrid idea of K-pop” rather than traditional Korean pop music.
“While Rosé was recruited and trained under the K-pop system, and ‘APT.’ contains some motifs from Korean drinking games, the song doesn’t feel like a localized K-pop production,” Jeong explains. “The same applies to Katseye, who were trained and produced under HYBE but marketed more toward Western fans and listeners.”
Mathieu Berbiguier, visiting assistant professor in Korean Studies at Carnegie Mellon University, notes that these nominations differ from previous K-pop Grammy considerations because they all feature “a mainstream popular music factor.” The nominations connect to mainstream Western entertainment through Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters,” Bruno Mars’s star power, and Katseye’s international membership showcased in the “Pop Star Academy: Katseye” series.
“It signals that K-pop is no longer considered niche,” Berbiguier says. “Now, when we think about pop music in general, we also include K-pop as part of it.”
Bernie Cho, president of South Korea’s DFSB Kollective, views the nominees as representing “post-idol K-pop” where the Korean element remains present but less pronounced. “The songs are not necessarily for Korea, by Korea, from Korea—they’re beyond Korea,” he explains. “It’s a celebration and testament to how diverse and dynamic K-pop has become.”
Critics point to the Recording Academy’s historical reluctance to recognize non-English music as a factor in why K-pop powerhouses like BTS, Seventeen, and Stray Kids have been overlooked despite breaking numerous records. “I think one of the main reasons is that the Western world is still resistant to non-English lyrics,” Jeong argues, noting that both “APT.” and Katseye’s music feature predominantly English lyrics.
This linguistic shift reflects broader trends in K-pop. Berbiguier observes that the genre increasingly features “less and less Korean and more and more English,” making it more accessible to global audiences.
Music journalist Tamar Herman suggests another factor may be at play: a relatively weak year for American pop music. Luminate’s 2025 Mid-Year Report indicated slower streams of new music compared to previous years, potentially due to a shortage of chart-dominating hits.
“Yes, it’s a big moment for K-pop, but it is so overdue. These recognitions are more a sign of how poorly the music industry in the U.S. did this year that we’re looking externally,” Herman says. She argues that U.S. entertainment’s acknowledgment of Korean content reflects America’s waning cultural dominance rather than a sudden improvement in K-pop quality, which “has been really good for a really long time.”
As for whether a K-pop artist will finally take home a Grammy trophy, predictions vary. Cho is optimistic: “I think it’s not even a matter of if or when. It’s going to be who and how many.” Berbiguier is more cautious, suggesting that “Golden” from the fictional HUNTR/X might have the strongest chance.
The fluid definition of what constitutes “K-pop” further complicates matters. Would a victory for HUNTR/X’s “Golden”—a song from a fictional group that didn’t debut through the traditional K-pop industry system—truly represent a K-pop win? The answer may ultimately depend on evolving perceptions of the genre itself as it continues to transform and influence global music.
The 68th Grammy Awards ceremony will take place on February 1 at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, airing on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
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18 Comments
The K-pop Grammys nominations are a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s a major milestone for the genre. On the other, will the Grammys really give these acts a fair shot, or will they stick to their traditional biases?
That’s a good point. The Grammys have a history of overlooking non-Western artists, even as global music has gained more mainstream popularity. It will be interesting to see if they can overcome those biases this year.
The K-pop nominations at the Grammys are really intriguing. It will be interesting to see how the voting Academy responds to these acts, which represent a relatively new and rapidly evolving musical landscape.
You raise a good point. The Grammys have often been slow to recognize emerging genres and global music trends. These K-pop nominations could be a sign of the awards show adapting to the changing industry.
As someone who has followed the rise of K-pop over the years, I’m thrilled to see the genre finally getting this level of recognition from the Grammys. The nominated artists and groups deserve the accolades.
I agree completely. K-pop has grown into a global cultural phenomenon, and these nominations are a validation of the hard work and artistry of the musicians involved.
I’m skeptical that K-pop acts will win major categories at the Grammys this year, given the Academy’s history of favoring more traditional Western music. But the mere fact of these nominations is a big step forward for the genre’s global influence.
That’s a fair assessment. The Grammys have been criticized for their biases in the past, so it remains to be seen how open-minded the voters will be towards these K-pop artists and their unique sound and style.
The K-pop Grammys nominations are a significant milestone, but I wonder if the voting Academy will truly embrace these artists and their music, or if they’ll play it safe and stick to the usual suspects.
That’s a valid concern. The Grammys have historically been slow to recognize new genres and global music trends. These K-pop nominations could be a turning point, but the voting outcomes will be telling.
The K-pop Grammys nominations are a positive step, but I can’t help but wonder if the voting process will be fair and unbiased. The Academy has struggled with representation issues in the past, so I hope they can rise to the occasion this year.
That’s a valid concern. The Grammys have faced criticism for their lack of diversity and inclusiveness. These K-pop nominations could be a chance for the Academy to demonstrate a more open-minded and globally-aware approach to music.
It’s great to see K-pop gaining more mainstream recognition, but I hope the Grammys don’t try to shoehorn these artists into a more Westernized mold. Their unique sound and performance style is a big part of their appeal.
Absolutely. K-pop has its own distinct identity and cultural elements that shouldn’t be diluted or overlooked. The Grammys should celebrate the diversity and innovation that these artists bring to the table.
Exciting news for K-pop fans! It’s great to see the genre gaining more recognition on the global stage. I’m curious to see how the nominated artists and groups perform at the Grammys.
I agree, this is a significant milestone for K-pop. The genre has been steadily growing in popularity worldwide, and these nominations are a testament to its cultural impact.
I’m curious to see how the K-pop artists perform and present themselves at the Grammys. Will they stick to their signature style and theatrics, or try to adapt to the Grammys’ more traditional format?
That’s a great question. K-pop is known for its high-energy, visually striking performances. It will be fascinating to see how the nominated acts balance their unique identity with the Grammys’ expectations.