K-pop eyes historic breakthrough at upcoming 68th Grammy Awards

As first-round voting for the 68th Grammy Awards concluded Wednesday, anticipation is rising over whether K-pop — a growing global music force previously snubbed by the Recording Academy — could finally break its losing streak at the ceremony.

Hosted by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences since 1959, the Grammys have long stood as the highest honor in the American music industry, symbolized by its golden gramophone trophy. No K-pop act has yet claimed one of the awards.

This year, however, hopes are high. The eligibility window for the 68th Grammys, covering releases from Aug. 31, 2024, to Aug. 30, 2025, has produced some of K-pop’s most globally successful records to date.

Among the notable contenders are BLACKPINK vocalist Rosé and Bruno Mars’ hit single “APT.” and “Golden,” the standout track from Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters.” Both songs will compete for nominations in two of the Grammys’ most coveted general categories: Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Their respective albums — “Rosie” and “KPop Demon Hunters” — are also in contention for Album of the Year.

“APT.” is further competing for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video, while “Golden” has been submitted for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Remixed Recording, Best Music Video and Best Song Written for Visual Media.

While “APT.” took the world by storm late last year, the runaway success of “Golden” — powered by the popularity of the animation — has fueled even greater optimism. The track dominated both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the U.K. Official Singles Chart for multiple weeks, positioning it as another strong contender.

Beyond these two front-runners, other big K-pop stars also entered the race across multiple Grammy fields.

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,” Seventeen’s “Thunder,” 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 vying for Album of the Year. Meanwhile, K-pop groups KATSEYE, aespa and Ateez are competing for Best New Artist.

In Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, the same category BTS was nominated in 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 earned Grammy wins: soprano Sumi Jo and classical music recording engineer Hwang Byeong-joon. K-pop, however, has yet to find similar recognition, despite BTS’ string of nominations in the early 2020s.

BTS pose on the red carpet at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., in this April 3, 2021, file photo. Reuters-Yonhap

Last year marked a particular disappointment as not a single K-pop act appeared in the nomination list. Even with members of BTS releasing hit solo albums during their military hiatus, none managed to secure a nod.

That absence sparked renewed accusations that the Recording Academy was deliberately ignoring the genre, despite its commercial success and influence.

With the first-round voting for the upcoming awards now closed, industry observers are watching closely to see if the 68th Grammy Awards could finally mark a turning point for K-pop.

The Recording Academy will announce the final nominees on Nov. 7, followed by final-round voting from Dec. 12 to Jan. 5. The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will take place Feb. 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.