"We Will Keep Moving Forward"... BTS, KATSEYE, and Golden Lead K-pop's Sweep at the AMAs (Roundup)

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[Financial News] BTS won three awards, including Artist of the Year, at the American Music Awards, one of the three major U.S. pop music award shows, held on the 25th local time. In addition, K-pop swept the major categories, with HUNTR/X from the animated film KPop Demon Hunters taking Song of the Year and girl group KATSEYE winning New Artist of the Year. Billie Eilish's "Birds of a Feather" won Album of the Year, one of the event's top prizes.
At the ceremony held that afternoon at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, BTS lifted the Artist of the Year trophy for the second time. It came five years after the group became the first Asian act to win the award in 2021. In this fan-voted ceremony, BTS competed against nine global pop stars, including Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga.
BTS also won Song of the Summer for "SWIM," the title track from its fifth full-length album, Arirang. The group additionally took Best Male K-Pop Artist, bringing its total to three wins. By being nominated in three categories and winning all of them, the group once again proved its global popularity.
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After accepting Song of the Summer for "SWIM," leader RM spoke candidly about the pressure the group felt while releasing its fifth full-length album as a full unit. "We struggled intensely with the question of what music would truly be most like us at this moment," he said in his acceptance speech. "The one thing we believed throughout that process was that we had to keep challenging ourselves and keep moving forward."
V then took the microphone, thanked the staff at their agency by name, and said, "We send our love and support to everyone in the world who keeps swimming through life without losing heart in any situation. Don't stop, and keep swimming!" His remarks drew cheers and applause.
By 2025, BTS had collected a total of 12 trophies at the AMAs, counting both group and solo wins. With three more this year, the group has now earned 15 trophies in total. It first won in 2018 as Favorite Social Artist and then took that same award for three consecutive years through 2020. In 2019, it won Tour of the Year, proving its influence in live performance as well. That same year, it began a four-year winning streak in the pop duo/group category with Favorite Pop/Rock Duo or Group, setting the all-time record for the most wins in that category.
In 2021, the group achieved a three-award sweep with Artist of the Year, Favorite Duo or Group, and Favorite Pop Song. In 2022, it became the first winner of the newly created Favorite K-Pop Artist award, and in 2025, RM took home the trophy in the same category.
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Girl group KATSEYE won New Artist of the Year and Best Music Video for its hit song "Gnarly" at the ceremony.
KATSEYE, which took home New Artist of the Year, smiled in disbelief and said, "This is insane." The group then thanked HYBE and Geffen Records for making it possible, and also mentioned BTS, its senior labelmates, to express its gratitude.
The group said, "BTS inspired us to express our culture on a global stage." Yoonchae, the only Korean member, also drew attention when she said in Korean, "I am grateful to be able to share this moment with my members."
Ejae, Rei Ami and Audrey Nuna, who performed as the virtual girl group HUNTR/X in KPop Demon Hunters, were named winners in Song of the Year, Favorite Pop Song and Best Vocal Performance for the hit track "Golden." KPop Demon Hunters was also selected as Best Soundtrack.
Taking the stage, Ejae and Rei Ami said, "It feels like we really closed the honmoon properly." They added, "This song and the film received so much strength from the fans. We are truly grateful to the KPop Demon Hunters team."
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jashin@fnnews.com Shin Jin-a Reporter