The prestigious American music awards, the upcoming 'Grammy Awards,' are not only seeing nominations from the members of the global phenomenon BTS but also a slew of 4th generation K-pop groups like IVE.
The Korean music industry regards the numerous entries into the historically conservative and insular Grammys as evidence of K-pop's significant growth.
BTS Displays Individual Colors: All Members Submit in Various Categories
According to sources from the music industry on the 2nd, many K-pop stars, including BTS, who have been nominated three times in a row, have entered the 66th Grammy Awards, which will be held next February.
Given their dynamic solo activities over the past year, all seven members of BTS have submitted their works in various categories.
Eldest member Jin has challenged the Best Music Video and Best Pop Solo Performance categories with his solo single "The Astronaut". J-Hope knocked on the Best Pop Duo Group Performance and Best Music Video categories with "On The Street", a collaboration with J.Cole.
Leader RM has entered with his solo album "Indigo" and its title track, aiming for Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Pop Duo Group Performance, and Best Music Video. Suga submitted his solo album "D-Day" and its title track for Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, and Best Music Video.
V targets Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Pop Solo Performance, and Best Music Video with his solo album "Layover" and its title track "Slow Dancing".
Notably, Jimin and Jungkook, who both topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart with solo albums "Face" and debut songs "Like Crazy" and "Seven", respectively, are drawing attention this year. Both challenge the General Fields categories: Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Jimin also eyes Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Pop Duo Group Performance, Best Pop Solo Performance, and Best Music Video, while Jungkook has entered Best Pop Duo Group Performance and Best Music Video.
BLACKPINK, Newkidd, IVE... Successors to BTS
There are many junior K-pop stars aiming to cross the Grammy threshold beyond BTS.
With BTS having been nominated three years in a row for Best Pop Duo Group Performance, this category is swarming with K-pop stars more than ever. 50/50, the group behind the "Cupid" phenomenon, as well as aespa, NCT Dream, Stray Kids, TXT, TWICE, BLACKPINK, Newkidd, ITZY, and IVE have submitted their works.
BLACKPINK has offered the game OST "The Girls", while Newkidd collaborated with Jon Batiste on "Be Who You Are".
In the Grammy Awards' General Fields, apart from BTS members, Stray Kids, TWICE, 50/50, and BLACKPINK have submitted for Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. For the Best New Artist, aespa, FIFTY FIFTY , Seventeen, and Stray Kids are aiming for nominations.
In other categories, Stray Kids, TWICE, aespa, Eric Nam, IVE, and ITZY are vying for Best Pop Vocal Album. FIFTY FIFTY, Stray Kids, TXT, and TWICE aim for Best Music Video. Tomorrow By Together is going for Best Music Film, while ATEEZ and artists like Peggy Gou and Yeji have entered in various dance and electronic categories.
The challenge of 4th generation K-pop girl groups like ITZY, IVE, Newkidd, and FIFTY FIFTY in the Grammys is also notable.
Nominations Announcement on the 10th
The Grammy Awards, organized by the Recording Academy since 1959, is older than both the 'American Music Awards' (started in 1974) and 'Billboard Music Awards' (started in 1990).
One of the Grammys' significant features is that, rather than focusing on commercial successes like chart performances or album sales, it centers on musicality and artistic merit, determining winners through member voting.
As a result, even if an artist gained popularity during the year, they might still end up overlooked if they do not receive critical acclaim.
From this year, the Grammy Awards have expanded their General Fields to include Producer of the Year (Non-Classical) and Songwriter of the Year (Non-Classical).
Previously, Korean soprano Jo Su-mi (in 1993) and record engineer Hwang Byung-jun (in 2012 and 2016) have been honored with Grammy awards.
The first round of Grammy voting took place from the 11th to the 20th of last month. The final nominees for each category will be revealed on the 10th. The final voting process will then run from December 14th to January 4th.
The 66th Grammy Awards will be held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 4th next year.
A veteran musician deeply connected with the Grammys noted, "In recent years, it's almost strange not to see K-pop artists on the entry list. Our popular music status has risen significantly." They added, "The Grammys should now discard its preference code for 'young white genius singer-songwriters' and reflect the changing times."
