BTS wins three awards, including Artist of the Year
TWICE takes home Female K-pop Artist honors
KATSEYE and HUNTR/X show K-pop’s expanding global reach
Las Vegas was once again filled with the energy of K-pop.
At the 52nd American Music Awards, held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 25, BTS claimed one of the night’s biggest honors, winning Artist of the Year and reaffirming its place at the center of global pop music.
BTS also won Song of the Summer and Male K-pop Artist, completing a three-award sweep. The achievement carried special meaning for the group and its fans, coming as BTS continues to move toward a new chapter following the members’ military service.
For BTS, the American Music Awards have long been a symbolic stage. The group first made its U.S. television performance debut at the AMAs in 2017, marking a turning point not only for BTS but also for K-pop’s entry into the American mainstream. This year’s success once again highlighted how far the group has carried Korean pop music on the global stage.
Korean girl groups also made a strong showing. TWICE won the Female K-pop Artist category, standing out among a competitive field that included aespa, BLACKPINK, ILLIT, LE SSERAFIM and TWICE. In the Male K-pop Artist category, ATEEZ, BTS, ENHYPEN, Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER were nominated, underscoring the depth and influence of K-pop boy groups in the global music market.
Another notable trend at this year’s AMAs was the continued expansion of K-pop beyond traditional boundaries. KATSEYE, the global girl group created through the HYBE and Geffen Records partnership, won three awards: New Artist of the Year, Best Music Video and Breakthrough Pop Artist. Its success showed how the K-pop production system is now reaching wider audiences through multinational projects and global member lineups.
The fictional group HUNTR/X from the Netflix animated film “K-pop Demon Hunters” also made an impact. The group’s song “Golden” won Song of the Year, Best Vocal Performance and Best Pop Song, while the film’s soundtrack earned Best Soundtrack honors. The wins reflected how K-pop is expanding not only through real-life artists, but also through storytelling, animation and global entertainment platforms.
This year’s American Music Awards showed that K-pop is no longer confined to a specialty category. BTS returned to the top with one of the night’s highest honors, TWICE proved the lasting power of Korean girl groups, and newer projects such as KATSEYE and HUNTR/X demonstrated how K-pop continues to evolve across music, media and global culture.
The night ultimately confirmed that K-pop has become a central force in mainstream American music. On the path opened by BTS, artists and projects from Korea and beyond are continuing to build new chapters, proving that K-pop’s global influence is still growing.
At the 52nd American Music Awards, held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 25, BTS claimed one of the night’s biggest honors, winning Artist of the Year and reaffirming its place at the center of global pop music.
BTS also won Song of the Summer and Male K-pop Artist, completing a three-award sweep. The achievement carried special meaning for the group and its fans, coming as BTS continues to move toward a new chapter following the members’ military service.
For BTS, the American Music Awards have long been a symbolic stage. The group first made its U.S. television performance debut at the AMAs in 2017, marking a turning point not only for BTS but also for K-pop’s entry into the American mainstream. This year’s success once again highlighted how far the group has carried Korean pop music on the global stage.
Korean girl groups also made a strong showing. TWICE won the Female K-pop Artist category, standing out among a competitive field that included aespa, BLACKPINK, ILLIT, LE SSERAFIM and TWICE. In the Male K-pop Artist category, ATEEZ, BTS, ENHYPEN, Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER were nominated, underscoring the depth and influence of K-pop boy groups in the global music market.
Another notable trend at this year’s AMAs was the continued expansion of K-pop beyond traditional boundaries. KATSEYE, the global girl group created through the HYBE and Geffen Records partnership, won three awards: New Artist of the Year, Best Music Video and Breakthrough Pop Artist. Its success showed how the K-pop production system is now reaching wider audiences through multinational projects and global member lineups.
The fictional group HUNTR/X from the Netflix animated film “K-pop Demon Hunters” also made an impact. The group’s song “Golden” won Song of the Year, Best Vocal Performance and Best Pop Song, while the film’s soundtrack earned Best Soundtrack honors. The wins reflected how K-pop is expanding not only through real-life artists, but also through storytelling, animation and global entertainment platforms.
This year’s American Music Awards showed that K-pop is no longer confined to a specialty category. BTS returned to the top with one of the night’s highest honors, TWICE proved the lasting power of Korean girl groups, and newer projects such as KATSEYE and HUNTR/X demonstrated how K-pop continues to evolve across music, media and global culture.
The night ultimately confirmed that K-pop has become a central force in mainstream American music. On the path opened by BTS, artists and projects from Korea and beyond are continuing to build new chapters, proving that K-pop’s global influence is still growing.
Steve Kwon / steve.kwon@baynewslab.com
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