K-POP Makes Historic Debut in Grammy’s “Big Four” Categories with Rosé, HUNTR/X, and Katseye Leading the Charge

K-POP is making its first appearance in Grammy Awards’ most prestigious categories. At the 68th Grammy Awards (February 1), K-POP artists achieved a historic milestone by receiving nominations in the four major categories known as the Big Four, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Rosé, a member of BLACKPINK, was nominated for Record of the Year with her collaboration track “APT.”” with Bruno Mars, becoming the first K-POP artist to be shortlisted in one of these key categories. The same song also received nominations for Song of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Rosé said, “If this happens, it will mean something not only to me but also to everyone who believes in me.”

“Golden,” the OST for Netflix’s animated series “KPop Demon Hunters,” was also nominated for Song of the Year. Performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, this track dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks in 2025 and has now held the top spot on the Billboard Top Movie Songs chart for seven consecutive months. EJAE was once a Trainee at SM Entertainment, training there for over 10 years starting in 2003 before failing to debut in a group. After graduating from Clive Davis Institute at NYU Tisch, she pursued a career as a composer and served as a co-composer and producer on “Golden.”

Katseye, the global girl group under HYBE, was nominated for Best New Artist. Trained and produced using the K-POP idol system, they are primarily marketed to Western audiences and have built an international fanbase through Netflix’s series “Pop Star Academy: Katseye.”

Experts view these nominations as a historic achievement for K-POP while also observing them with caution. Areum Jeong, an assistant professor of Korean studies at Arizona State University, described these nominations as “a deterritorialized hybrid idea of K-POP.” She noted that although “APT.” and Katseye were trained within the K-POP system, “APT.” does not feel like a “localized K-POP production” even though it incorporates themes from Korean drinking games. Similarly, “Golden” is analyzed as something that draws inspiration from Korean culture but creates new possibilities by using K-POP as an idea, starting point, or motif.

Mathieu Berbiguier, an adjunct assistant professor of Korean studies at Carnegie Mellon University, found the uniqueness of these nominations in “mainstream pop music elements.” He emphasized that Netflix’s film “KPop Demon Hunters” (which achieved massive popularity), the collaboration with Bruno Mars on “APT.””, Katseye’s international lineup, and the Netflix series all share common factors. “This means K-POP is no longer considered a niche genre,” he said.