Ateez Wins K-POP Artist of the Year at 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards

Boy band Ateez received the K-POP Artist of the Year award at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards on the 18th. Under KQ Entertainment, Ateez has built a massive global fanbase through its powerful and masculine musical style. The group triumphed over fierce competitors such as Jimin (BTS), aespa, and ENHYPEN to claim the K-POP Artist of the Year title. The iHeartRadio Music Awards are an annual ceremony hosted by the American radio station iHeartRadio since 2014, with artists like Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, and Lady Gaga among past winners. This year’s K-POP category consisted of four major awards, including a newly added “Favorite K-pop Dance Challenge” category determined by fan voting. JYP Entertainment’s boy band Stray Kids is also known for its strong global fandom and won the K-POP Album of the Year award for their ninth studio album “ATE,” released in July of last year. Artists under HYBE also swept multiple awards. Jimin of BTS received the K-POP Song of the Year award for his solo track “Who,” which was released as the lead single from his second studio album “Muse” in July last year. In addition to “Who,” Jimin was nominated for Best Lyrics and Favorite On Screen alongside Jung Kook, but he only won the song category. The rookie girl group ILLIT, which made its debut in March of last year, won the Best New Artist award, overcoming competitors such as BABYMONSTER, BADVILLAIN, NCT WISH, and TWS. Yoonjun of TOMORROW X TOGETHER secured the “Favorite K-pop Dance Challenge” award, a new category based on fan voting, with his solo debut track “GGUM.” Despite strong competing tracks like Stray Kids’ “Chk Chk Boom,” ILLIT’s “Magnetic,” aespa’s “Supernova,” and ENHYPEN’s “XO (Only If You Say Yes),” Yoonjun’s track was declared the winner.