K-pop Fans Express Outrage Over 2025 Grammy Nominations: BTS, BLACKPINK, Stray Kids, and More Snubbed

The announcement of the 2025 Grammy Award nominations on Friday has sparked outrage among K-pop fans, who were dismayed by the complete exclusion of K-pop groups and artists from the main categories. While Beyoncé led the pack with a remarkable 11 nominations for her album Cowboy Carter, surpassing fellow nominees like Taylor Swift, the snubbing of global K-pop stars like BTS, BLACKPINK, Stray Kids, and Seventeen has left many fans questioning the Grammy nomination process.

Despite the massive global influence and commercial success of K-pop over the past year, the Grammys did not recognize any K-pop artists in major categories like Record of the Year, Song of the Year, or Album of the Year. K-pop fans had hoped to see BTS, BLACKPINK’s Lisa, Stray Kids, and Seventeen among the nominees, particularly after their record-breaking achievements and widespread recognition on the global stage. However, they were left disappointed as these prominent acts were entirely absent from the most coveted nominations.

Several K-pop stars had submitted work for consideration in hopes of receiving Grammy recognition. BLACKPINK member Lisa, for example, had hoped to secure nominations for her song New Woman in major categories, such as Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance for her track Rockstar. Stray Kids, who have seen immense popularity worldwide, submitted their album Ate for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, and their track Chk Chk Boom was considered for multiple categories, including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Music Video, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Despite their efforts, none of these submissions made it onto the final nominations list.

The frustration of K-pop fans was further compounded by the lack of recognition for other iconic K-pop groups and solo artists. Many took to social media platforms to express their anger, with fans pointing out that K-pop continues to break records, dominate global charts, and introduce new trends in the music industry. The exclusion of these artists from the Grammys felt like a missed opportunity to honor the significant contributions K-pop has made to the global music landscape.

Although no K-pop act received a nomination in the main categories, there were a few indirect connections to the K-pop scene in the nominations. Aespa, a popular K-pop girl group, contributed to the album Djesse Vol. 4 by Jacob Collier, which received a nomination for Album of the Year. Additionally, Stray Kids were featured on the Deadpool & Wolverine soundtrack, which was nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media. BTS member Jungkook also had a moment of recognition as he was mentioned in Usher’s track Coming Home from his album, which was nominated for Best R&B Song. Despite these small connections, the lack of direct nominations for K-pop artists left fans disappointed, as many felt that these contributions were not enough given the massive global success of K-pop acts over the past year.

The snub has once again reignited the ongoing debate about the Grammy Awards’ treatment of K-pop and the lack of recognition for the genre, despite its undeniable global influence. Fans took to social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), to voice their frustration. “Jungkook is the most overlooked artist in the music industry,” one fan tweeted, lamenting the absence of the BTS member from the nominations list despite his hit singles. Another user questioned the legitimacy of the Grammy nomination process, asking, “Do the voters even consider the submissions, or do they just favor the same artists each year?”

The controversy over K-pop’s exclusion from the Grammys has also led to accusations of bias and racism. “Well, what we expected from racist Grammys,” one user posted, highlighting the ongoing criticisms that the Grammys have faced in the past for overlooking certain genres and artists, especially those from non-Western music scenes.

The backlash comes at a time when K-pop is experiencing unprecedented global success. BTS, BLACKPINK, Stray Kids, and other groups have amassed millions of fans worldwide, sold out arenas, broken streaming records, and have become cultural icons. Despite these achievements, they continue to face challenges in being fully recognized by the Grammy Awards, a major institution in the music industry.

For K-pop fans, the 2025 Grammy nominations serve as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for recognition, and many are calling for change in the way the awards assess global music contributions. The exclusion of K-pop acts from the major categories has fueled calls for a more inclusive and representative Grammy process, one that acknowledges the diverse and evolving landscape of the global music industry. K-pop’s influence shows no signs of slowing down, and many fans believe it’s time for the Grammys to catch up with the global impact of these artists.