Historic VMAs Victory for K-pop
Blackpink’s Rose broke history Sunday night at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards when she became the first Korean music artist to win the prestigious Song of the Year award. The award was for her chart-topping single APT, featuring American sensation Bruno Mars, which she performed at New York’s UBS Arena.
Rose’s win is a milestone for K-pop globally. Although BTS’s Dynamite had been nominated in the category in 2021, it did not receive the award. Rose’s win indicates the increasing presence of Korean artists in global music.
A Glamorous Moment on Stage
The performer attended the VMAs wearing a glittering butter-yellow Oscar de la Renta gown, exuding confidence and happiness. In her acceptance speech, Rose thanked Bruno Mars, stating, “I want to thank Bruno for believing in me and supporting me.” She also dedicated the award to her 16-year-old self, with thanks to the journey that took her from being a dreamer to becoming an international music icon.
This is a fulfilling moment for all our hard work, and I’m so grateful to receive this award,” she further added. She also thanked her band members Lisa, Jisoo, and Jennie, and also her record labels Atlantic Records and The Black Label, appreciating the collaboration that made her successful.
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APT, which came out on October 18, 2024, swept the charts, topping the Billboard Global 200 for weeks. It broke the record for being the quickest music video for an Asian artist to hit 1 billion views on YouTube and the quickest K-pop track to hit 1 billion Spotify streams. These achievements highlight Rose’s international popularity and the massive fan base for K-pop around the world.
The evening was also one of triumph for Blackpink collectively. The band received the Best Group award, while bandmate Lisa took home the prize for Best K-pop Artist for her track Born Again with Doja Cat and Raye. These victories reflect the ongoing global supremacy of Blackpink and K-pop music as a genre within mainstream music.
Rose’s historic win is not only a celebration of her ability but also cracks open the door for even more Korean artists to be seen on the international stage, strengthening K-pop as the leader of the music scene.
