K-pop has officially broken through one of the toughest barriers in the global music industry. BLACKPINK’s Rosé and the Netflix animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters have made history as the first K-pop nominees ever in the General Fields the most prestigious categories at the Grammy Awards.
On November 7 (local time), the Recording Academy announced the final nominees for the upcoming 68th Grammy Awards, and for the first time, K-pop acts appeared in multiple top categories.
Rosé was nominated in three categories, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year, for her global hit “APT.” The track’s nomination marks a milestone for Korean artists who have long been excluded from the Grammys’ main fields.
Meanwhile, “Golden”, the original soundtrack from K-Pop Demon Hunters, earned five nominations, also including Song of the Year. The song was written, composed, and performed by EJAE, a former SM Entertainment trainee turned singer-songwriter.
In addition, HYBE’s global girl group KATSEYE secured two nominations including the coveted Best New Artist award further proving K-pop’s growing dominance on the world stage.
This marks the first time in history that K-pop artists have entered the Grammys’ General Fields, which include the “big four” categories: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.
Previously, BTS had been the only K-pop act recognized at the Grammys, receiving nominations for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for three consecutive years (2021–2023) but never taking home the award. This year, however, Rosé, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and KATSEYE together occupy three out of five nominee slots in that very same category a symbolic moment that could finally end K-pop’s Grammy drought.
The Grammy Awards, established in 1959 by the Recording Academy, are known for prioritizing artistry over commercial success. Even a single nomination is considered one of the highest honors in the music world.
In the past, only two Koreans have taken home Grammys soprano Jo Sumi (1993) and sound engineer Hwang Byung Joon (2012, 2016). Now, K-pop’s new wave of artists is poised to join that elite list.
Major U.S. outlets are celebrating the breakthrough. Forbes wrote, “Despite being a global phenomenon, K-pop has long been overlooked by the Grammys. With Rosé and K-Pop Demon Hunters now nominated, that barrier has finally been broken. These nominations are historic but not surprising.”
As the music world counts down to next year’s ceremony, K-pop fans around the globe are rallying in excitement, hopeful that 2025 will finally be the year their favorite artists take home the golden gramophone.
Sources: Star News,Forbes,Recording Academy
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