With first-round voting for the 68th Grammy Awards concluding this Wednesday, the Korean pop music industry is experiencing unprecedented anticipation about whether K-pop could finally achieve its first-ever Grammy victory. The genre, which has become a dominant global music force in recent years, has historically been overlooked by the Recording Academy despite its massive commercial success and cultural impact worldwide.
The Grammy Awards, hosted by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences since 1959, represent the pinnacle of recognition in the American music industry. The prestigious golden gramophone trophy has remained elusive for K-pop artists, making this year's potential breakthrough all the more significant. The Recording Academy will announce the official nominees on November 7, followed by final voting from December 12 through January 5.
This year's eligibility period, spanning from August 31, 2024, to August 30, 2025, has produced some of K-pop's most internationally successful releases to date. Leading the charge are two standout collaborations that have captured global attention. BLACKPINK's Rosé teamed up with Bruno Mars for the infectious hit "APT.," while the track "Golden" emerged from the Netflix animated series "KPop Demon Hunters." Both songs are competing in the Grammy's most prestigious general categories: Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
The success extends beyond individual tracks, with both artists' full projects also in contention. Rosé's album "Rosie" and the "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack are both vying for the coveted Album of the Year award. Additionally, "APT." has earned submissions in Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video categories, while "Golden" is competing across multiple categories including Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Remixed Recording, Best Music Video, and Best Song Written for Visual Media.
The global impact of these releases cannot be overstated. "APT." became a worldwide phenomenon upon its release late last year, while "Golden" has achieved even greater commercial success, dominating both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the U.K. Official Singles Chart for multiple consecutive weeks. The track's success, bolstered by the popularity of the animated series, has generated considerable optimism within the K-pop community about Grammy recognition.
Beyond these frontrunners, the 68th Grammy Awards feature an impressive array of K-pop submissions across numerous categories. The Record of the Year category alone includes an extensive list of Korean artists: BLACKPINK's "JUMP," Jennie's "Like JENNIE," Lisa's "Born Again," BTS member Jin's "Don't Say You Love Me," RM's collaboration with American rapper Megan Thee Stallion titled "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."
The Album of the Year competition features equally strong K-pop representation with 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" all securing submissions. The Best New Artist category, often seen as a launching pad for emerging talent, includes three promising K-pop acts: KATSEYE, aespa, and ATEEZ.
In the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category, which holds special significance as the same category where BTS received nominations for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023, this year's K-pop entries include IVE's "XOXZ," Le Sserafim's "HOT," ATEEZ's "In Your Fantasy," and RIIZE's "Fly Up." This category has historically been K-pop's most successful avenue for Grammy recognition, making these submissions particularly noteworthy.
Despite K-pop's global dominance and commercial success, the genre's relationship with the Grammy Awards has been complicated. To date, only two Korean artists have claimed Grammy victories: soprano Sumi Jo and classical music recording engineer Hwang Byeong-joon, both working outside the pop music sphere. K-pop's absence from the winner's circle has been particularly frustrating given BTS's multiple nominations in the early 2020s, which raised hopes for broader genre recognition.
Last year's Grammy nominations proved especially disappointing for K-pop fans and industry observers, as not a single Korean pop act appeared on the nomination list. This absence was particularly surprising given that several BTS members had released critically acclaimed and commercially successful solo albums during their mandatory military service hiatus. The complete shutout reignited long-standing criticisms that the Recording Academy was deliberately overlooking K-pop despite its undeniable cultural impact and commercial achievements.
The 68th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. As the music industry awaits the November 7 nominee announcement, many are hopeful that this year could finally mark a historic turning point for K-pop's relationship with the Grammy Awards and represent long-overdue recognition for the genre's global influence.
