Rosé Becomes First K-pop Artist to Win ‘Song of the Year’ at MTV VMAs 2025

Rosé becomes the first K-pop artist to win ‘Song of the Year’ at the VMAs, marking a milestone in global pop.

Rosé, the beloved vocalist of Blackpink, has officially made history, becoming the first-ever K-pop artist to win ‘Song of the Year’ at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards — one of the four major music awards in the United States.

Held at the UBS Arena in New York, the awards ceremony saw Rosé take home the coveted trophy for APT., her bold and emotionally charged collaboration with Bruno Mars. The win marks a turning point for K-pop in the Western music industry — a feat that BTS almost achieved in 2021 with Dynamite, but fell short.

Wearing a shimmering gold gown, Rosé delivered an emotional speech upon accepting the award: “I can’t believe this,” she began, before offering heartfelt thanks to Mars: “First and foremost, thank you to Bruno for believing in me and supporting me.” She added: “This is a rewarding moment for all the hard work we put in, and I’m so happy to accept this award.”

Closing her speech with love for her team and fans, she said: “Teddy, I got the award. Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa — I got it. Thank you always, I love you,” switching effortlessly between English and Korean.

With this win, Rosé firmly establishes herself as one of the most prominent figures in global pop, a powerful solo artist whose impact reaches far beyond the K-pop sphere. Her success not only reflects a personal milestone, but also signals a broader cultural shift — crowning her as the Queen of K-pop who conquered the Western market.

Rosé entered this year’s VMAs as the most-nominated K-pop artist ever, leading with eight nods: Song of the Year, Video of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Pop, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects (all for APT.), and Best K-pop for Toxic Till the End, the title track of her solo debut album.

While she didn’t win in the K-pop category, her bandmate Lisa took the honour for the second year in a row with Born Again, her explosive collaboration with Doja Cat and Raye. The Best K-pop category was heavily dominated by Blackpink, with all four members receiving individual nominations, alongside aespa, BTS’s Jimin, and Stray Kids.