K-POP Wins Five Awards at 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards

K-POP’s global influence has grown even stronger. Korean idol groups claimed a total of five awards at the “2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards,” which took place on the 17th (local time) at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, USA. The iHeartRadio Music Awards are an award show hosted by iHeartRadio, the largest radio network in the United States, since 2014, honoring artists and songs that were most played on that station and its application throughout the year. ATEEZ won the “K-pop Artist of the Year” category. With their 10th mini-album “GOLDEN HOUR : Part.1,” they ranked fourth in U.S. CD sales for 2024, selling 250,000 copies. Their 11th mini-album, “GOLDEN HOUR : Part.2,” released in November of the previous year, achieved its second number one on the U.S. Billboard “Billboard 200” chart and set a new record for the highest album sales in the first week of release there. BTS’s Jimin won the “K-pop Song of the Year” award for the title track of his second solo album, “Who.” This song managed to stay on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for 32 consecutive weeks. Stray Kids’ EP “Ate” was selected as the “K-pop Album of the Year.” In addition, ILLIT’s “Magnetic” won the newly introduced “K-pop Best New Artist” award for female groups, while TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s Yeonjun won the “Favorite K-pop Dance Challenge” award, which is based on fan voting, for his song “Ggum.” ATEEZ also won the “K-pop Song of the Year” category at the “2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards” with the title track “BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS)” from their 9th mini-album “THE WORLD EP.2 : OUTLAW,” and their fandom, ATINY, was nominated for the “Best Fan Army” category. This year, they were further recognized by being nominated for the newly created “Favorite K-pop Dance Challenge” category with their song “WORK,” demonstrating their unparalleled global popularity.