After BTS, Rosé & K-Pop Demon Hunters Set to Win the Grammys

• Rosé’s “APT.” with Bruno Mars earns nods in the Grammys’ “Big Four” categories.
• "K-pop Demon Hunters" scores triple nominations, highlighting animation’s rise in global music awards.
• BLACKPINK’s billion-dollar impact keeps pushing the K-Pop industry to new heights.

BLACKPINK's Rosé and writers/performers of "K-Pop Demon Hunters" receive high-profile Grammy 2026 nominations, showcasing that K-Pop is rapidly conquering the music world.

What once seemed very difficult for Korean artists to achieve on a global scale, at the Grammys, is now a reality. The path paved by BTS is now being walked on by the several other K-Pop artists, showcasing that it is not merely a niche-oriented music genre anymore, but a full-fledged momentum. 

Rosé’s First Nominations Break Traditions, Arrives in Top Categories

Even though a first-time Grammy nominee, BLACKPINK member Rosé has bagged three nods this year, for her hit song with Bruno Mars, APT. Two of these nominations, for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, are within the paradigm of "Big Four" categories of the Grammys. The Song of the Year, notably, awards best songwriting, whereas Record of the Year honors best production and performance.

Not only that, but she also solidified her position alongside Mars in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance section. Rosé's quick ascension to the "Big Four" is a rare feat for anyone in the K-Pop ecosystem.

The placement is important because categories like Song of the Year and Record of the Year have long been dominated by Anglo-American pop and hip-hop artists. Rosé's nominations and the mainstream Hot 100 crossover show both K-Pop's expanding influence at the Recording Academy and her own growing recognition.

BLACKPINK Revives K-Pop’s Momentum

In 2023, the Korean music business surpassed ₩1 trillion for the first time, with international sales of ₩1.23 trillion ($893 million USD).  Since then, growth has slowed a bit. In 2024, album sales increased by just 0.55%, while domestic album sales fell by almost 19%.  However, Rosé's Grammy victory might help revitalize K-pop's international prominence.

Much of the K-Pop momentum is still helmed by BLACKPINK. The group's influence in the $8.7 billion K-pop events sector, which is expected to triple by 2032, was highlighted by their Born Pink World Tour, which brought in over $331 million with over 66 shows. According to analysts, BLACKPINK accounted for more than 80% of YG Entertainment's 2023 earnings, and more tours are anticipated to increase those numbers.

Based on K-Pop’s increasing commercial effect, artistic endeavors like "K-Pop Demon Hunters" are also expanding their cultural reach. The Grammy-nominated soundtrack of the Netflix original film signifies the next stage of the genre's artistic acclaim. It also showcases how K-Pop is now going transmedia, impacting global content industry along with music creation.

K-Pop Demon Hunters: The Pleasant Surprise

With nominations for Golden, the animated “K-Pop Demon Hunters” movie emerged as an unexpected Grammy candidate this year. Although the fictional female group HUNTR/X performs the song in the animated Netflix original film, the real writers and voices, EJAE and Mark Sonnenblick, are the ones who are up for nomination. 

The song from the Netflix original film also gained three major nominations, including Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Before the Grammy nominations, major songs from its soundtrack reached the top of the Billboard charts, and achieved RIAA Platinum status, creating waves around the world. 

The song's popularity shows how animation and streaming are opening up new avenues for K-Pop to win important international accolades like the Grammy Awards 2026, which is slated to be held on February 1st. This shows how K-Pop's dominance over Western pop culture outside of music charts, spanning films to international streaming platforms.