K-pop earns 1st Grammy award, yet major category win remains elusive

Singer Bruno Mars, left, and Rosé of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK perform "APT." during the 68th annual Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Sunday (local time). AP-Yonhap

Despite missing out on the four major General Field prizes, this year’s 68th Grammy Awards marked a watershed moment for K-pop, as the genre celebrated its first-ever Grammy win.

“Golden,” the breakout track from Netflix’s hit animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” won Best Song Written for Visual Media at the Grammys’ Premiere Ceremony, held just hours before the official event at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Sunday (local time). The award, presented to songwriters for music created for visual media, went to EJAE, Teddy Park, 24 and IDO, making them the first K-pop figures to receive a Grammy.

Among the ceremony’s top categories, “Golden” and “APT.,” a collaboration between BLACKPINK’s Rosé and U.S. pop star Bruno Mars, were nominated for Song of the Year, with “APT.” also receiving a Record of the Year nod, but neither secured a General Field win.

Song of the Year went to Billie Eilish for “Wildflower,” recognizing the songwriting team behind the track, while Record of the Year was awarded to Kendrick Lamar and SZA for “Luther.” Album of the Year, another General Field award, was won by Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny for “Debi Tirar Mas Fotos,” becoming the first Spanish-language album to receive the honor.

From left, producers Jeong Hoon-seo, Mark Sonnenblick, EJAE, Lee Yu-han, Park Hong-jun (Teddy Park) and Nam Hee-dong, winners of Best Song Written for Visual Media for "Golden" from "KPop Demon Hunters," pose in the press room during the 68th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Sunday (local time). AFP-Yonhap

The momentum behind “Golden” was evident, with multiple nominations including Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. A remix by French DJ David Guetta and the full “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack were also recognized in other categories, though they did not secure additional wins.

Rosé’s “APT.” picked up three nominations — Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance — making it one of the most prominent K-pop-related entries in the Grammys’ major fields this year. The song also appeared in the main ceremony’s opening performance, giving rare visibility to K-pop at the start of the event.

HYBE Labels’ U.S.-based girl group KATSEYE also drew attention with a Best New Artist nomination, placing the group in one of the Grammys’ four General Field categories. The award went to rookie British singer-songwriter Olivia Dean. KATSEYE was additionally nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Gabriela,” and appeared during the event with a special congratulatory performance of “Gnarly,” the group’s most popular song yet.

While not strictly a K-pop-related release, another example of Korean influence appeared with the soundtrack for “Maybe Happy Ending,” last year’s Tony Award-winning musical, co-written by Will Aronson and Hue Park. The album was nominated for Best Musical Theater Album but did not win.

From left, Daniela, Megan, Manon, Sophia, Yoonchae and Lara of girl group KATSEYE perform onstage during the 68th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Sunday (local time). AFP-Yonhap

Industry analysts said the absence of a General Field win was “regrettable,” as many had anticipated “Golden” to secure a historic milestone for K-pop. They added that the outcome still reflects K-pop’s growing presence within the Recording Academy.

Pop culture critic Kim Do-heon said the result highlighted the broader structural significance of Grammy recognition.

“Both categories 'Golden' was nominated in — Best Song Written for Visual Media and Song of the Year — are songwriter-centered awards,” Kim said. “The fact that composers working within K-pop received a Grammy is meaningful in itself.”

Culture critic Jung Duk-hyun told The Korea Times that the result reflects the Grammys’ long-standing evaluation framework.

“The Grammys tend to prioritize musical completeness alongside public popularity,” Jung said. “That does not mean 'Golden' lacks artistic quality, but the song gained much of its attention through fandom power and its connection to the animated film.”

The "KPop Demon Hunters" team accepts the Best Song Written For Visual Media award for "Golden" onstage during the 68th Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Sunday (local time). AFP-Yonhap

Nevertheless, Jung said, K-pop’s multiple nominations and the Premiere Ceremony win signal an institutional shift.

“Music is no longer separable from fandom culture,” he said. “A K-pop song winning a Grammy at all shows that the awards are beginning to acknowledge how deeply fandom now shapes contemporary music culture.”

At the same time, Jung added, the absence of a General Field win suggests the Grammys’ highest categories still remain conservative in their standards.