▲ BLACKPINK's Rose (L) and Bruno Mars are seen in this photo provided by The Black Label. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Oct. 13 (Yonhap) -- 

K-pop’s bid for Grammy glory is set to continue this year, with Blackpink member Rose’s global hit “Apt.” and the Netflix animation K-pop Demon Hunters original soundtrack (OST) track “Golden” emerging as strong contenders across multiple categories, including the General Fields.

 

The Recording Academy, which organizes the Grammy Awards, began its first-round voting on Oct. 3 (U.S. time) for submitted entries, running through Oct. 15. According to the Korean music industry on Sunday, both “Apt.” and “Golden” have been submitted for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, two of the four top General Field categories. Their respective albums — Rose’s “Rosie” and the K-pop Demon Hunters OST — were also entered for Album of the Year.

 

Rose additionally submitted “Apt.” for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video, while her solo track “Toxic Till the End” was entered in Best Pop Solo Performance. Her first full album “Rosie” was also submitted for Best Pop Vocal Album.

 

The K-pop Demon Hunters soundtrack is competing in several categories as well, including Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Remixed Recording (for the David Guetta remix of “Golden”), as well as Best Music Video, Best Song Written for Visual Media, and Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.

 

 

▲ The photo, provided by Netflix, shows a scene from "Kpop Demon Hunters." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

Music critics say the immense global popularity of both tracks could lead not only to nominations but potentially to K-pop’s first-ever Grammy win.

 

“Golden,” which topped both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Official Singles Chart for multiple weeks, is considered a major contender for Best Song Written for Visual Media and Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.

 

“‘Golden’ is undeniably a mega-hit, and several other tracks from the K-pop Demon Hunters OST also charted high,” said pop music critic Im Jin-mo. “Given its exceptional success as a soundtrack, it has a strong chance of winning in related categories. It might even earn a General Field nomination.”

 

Regarding Rose’s “Apt.,” Im noted, “It’s one of the most successful duets of the year, so both a nomination and a win are possible. However, Grammy voters — who are industry veterans — tend to prefer more serious, classic songs, which could affect the outcome.”

 

In previous years, K-pop Grammy efforts were led mainly by boy groups such as BTS, backed by massive fandoms. This time, however, female artists like Rose with “Apt.” and the performers of “Golden” — Lize, Ray Ami, and Audrey Nuna — are at the forefront, signaling a new trend.

 

 

▲ This image of K-pop superband BTS is provided by Big Hit Music. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

“K-pop’s growing mainstream popularity, beyond fan-driven success, is becoming evident,” said critic Im Hee-yoon.

 

Numerous other K-pop artists, including members of BTS and Blackpink, have also submitted works in various Grammy categories this year.

 

In the Record of the Year race, entries include “Apt.” and “Golden” alongside Blackpink’s “Jump,” Jennie’s “Like Jennie,” Lisa’s “Born Again,” Jin’s “Don’t Say You Love Me,” RM and Megan Thee Stallion’s “Neva Play,” J-Hope’s “Sweet Dreams,” Seventeen’s “Thunder,” Tomorrow X Together’s “Beautiful Strangers,” KATSEYE’s “Gabriela,” Twice’s “Strategy,” and Stray Kids’ “Walking on Water.”

 

 

▲ Girl Group Katseye is seen in this photo provided by Hybe Labels. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

For Album of the Year, submissions include Rose’s “Rosie,” the K-pop Demon Hunters OST, Jennie’s “Ruby,” Lisa’s “Alter Ego,” Jin’s “Echo,” Seventeen’s “Spill the Feels,” Tomorrow X Together’s “The Chapter of the Star: Together,” Twice’s “Strategy,” and Stray Kids’ “Hap.”

 

In Song of the Year, entries include “Apt.” and “Golden,” along with Jennie’s “Like Jennie,” Lisa’s “Born Again,” Blackpink’s “Jump,” Jin’s “Don’t Say You Love Me,” J-Hope’s “Sweet Dreams,” Seventeen’s “Thunder,” Tomorrow X Together’s “Beautiful Strangers,” KATSEYE’s “Gabriela,” Aespa’s “Whiplash,” Twice’s “Strategy,” and Stray Kids’ “Walking on Water.”

 

For Best New Artist, KATSEYE, Aespa, and Ateez are among those in contention.

 

In Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, a category in which BTS has been nominated in past years, contenders include Ive’s “XOXZ,” Le Sserafim’s “Hot,” Ateez’s “In Your Fantasy,” and Riize’s “Fly Up.” For Best Music Video, submissions include Jisoo’s “Earthquake,” KATSEYE’s “Gnarly,” and Riize’s “Fly Up.”

 

The Grammy Awards, organized annually by the Recording Academy since 1959, recognize outstanding achievements in the music industry. Among Korean artists, soprano Jo Sumi won in 1993, and recording engineer Hwang Byung-joon of Soundmirror Korea won in 2012 and 2016. While BTS earned nominations for three consecutive years in Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, they have yet to secure a win.

 

The final list of nominees will be announced on Nov. 7 after the first-round voting concludes. Final voting will take place from Dec. 12 to Jan. 5.

 

The 68th Grammy Awards will be held on Feb. 1 next year at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

 

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