BTS nominated for 'Artist of the Year' at the AMAs, aiming for their second win after their historic 2021 victory.
April/15/2026 12:34
BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan) has once again been nominated for the 'American Music Awards (AMA)', one of the three major music awards in America. According to the candidate list announced yesterday (14th) (local time) by the American popular music awards 'American Music Awards', BTS has been nominated in the 'Artist of the Year' category, which is the highest award. They became the first Korean singer to win this award in 2021, marking a new page in the history of world music. With this nomination, expectations for their second major award win are rising. BTS will compete against a total of nine prominent pop stars, including Bad Bunny, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga. In addition to 'Artist of the Year', BTS has been nominated in three categories: 'Best Male K-Pop Artist' and 'Song of the Summer'. In 'Song of the Summer', they are nominated alongside Harry Styles' 'American Girls' and Taylor Swift's 'Elizabeth Taylor'. Notably, their new song 'SWIM' has garnered significant attention as it was nominated less than a month after its release. Meanwhile, ILLIT has been nominated in the 'Best Female K-Pop Artist' category. ILLIT is the only fifth-generation girl group to be nominated this year, further enhancing their symbolic significance. This nomination is backed by their overwhelming achievements in the global music market. ILLIT has shown their strength by ranking three consecutive albums on the main U.S. album chart 'Billboard 200', including their 1st mini-album 'SUPER REAL ME' and 2nd mini-album 'I’LL LIKE YOU', as well as last year's 3rd mini-album 'bomb'. Their music achievements are also remarkable. Following their debut title track 'Magnetic', which broke into the main single chart 'HOT 100' at 91st place, their 1st single album title track 'NOT CUTE ANYMORE' ranked 7th on the 'Bubbling Under Hot 100', captivating mainstream listeners in North America. These two hit songs have dominated the global short-form market in Korea, the U.S., and Japan, standing at the center of trends among teenagers and those in their twenties. KATSEYE has been nominated in three categories, including the highest honor for newcomers 'New Artist of the Year', 'Breakthrough Pop Artist', and 'Best Music Video'. KATSEYE's achievements in their second year since debut are backed by the records they have set. They have already ranked three songs, 'Gabriela', 'Internet Girl', and 'Gnarly', on Billboard's main single chart 'Hot 100', and their 2nd mini-album 'BEAUTIFUL CHAOS' reached 4th place on the main album chart 'Billboard 200', establishing themselves in the mainstream pop market. The AMA, which determines winners based on a comprehensive evaluation of music sales indicators, streaming, radio broadcasts, and tour performances, is one of the most prestigious award ceremonies alongside the Grammy Awards and Billboard Music Awards. Prior to this, KATSEYE was also nominated in two categories at the '68th Grammy Awards', solidifying their status as a global trendsetter through this AMA nomination. In the 'Best Male K-Pop Artist' category, besides BTS, ATEEZ, ENHYPEN, Stray Kids, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER have also been nominated. In the 'Best Female K-Pop Artist' category, besides ILLIT, aespa, BLACKPINK, LE SSERAFIM, and TWICE have been nominated, drawing attention. The 'American Music Awards' will be held on May 25 (local time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The award ceremony will be broadcast live through CBS and Paramount+.
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