Rosé from Blackpink just secured a massive win for K-pop.
The New Zealand and South Korean singer won the “Song of the Year” award at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, for her song “APT” with Bruno Mars.
“APT,” the lead single from Rosé’s debut album in 2024, “Rosie,” became a hit for its catchy tune and playful lyrics about a Korean drinking game. It spent 15 weeks at the top of the Billboard Global excluding the US chart.
This is the first time a K-pop song has won in the VMAs category. Previous recipients of the award were Sabrina Carpenter for her 2024 song “Espresso” and Olivia Rodrigo for her 2021 song “Driver’s License.”
Rosé, whose real name is Roseanne Park, was visibly emotional when she accepted the award. Through tears, she thanked Mars, whom she called her “absolute idol,” for believing in her and helping her through the collaboration.
“I dedicate this award to my 16-year-old self, who dreamed, and to all those who have watched me grow into the artist that I am today, and placed their dreams in me to make this change,” she said in her acceptance speech.
“And now I believe there is no imposter in the world, when MTV has given me this award here at the VMAs,” she said, to cheers from the audience. She also thanked her fellow Blackpink members, Jennie, Lisa, and Jisoo.
Rosé wore a shimmery butter yellow dress for the occasion, accessorized with a tennis bracelet and dangly earrings.
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In December, during its first week of release, “Rosie” sold 102,000 equivalent album units and 70,000 albums, Billboard reported.
The singer’s VMA win comes as K-pop is having a cultural moment in the West. K-pop artist Felix Lee from boy band Stray Kids walked the runway for LVMH in March as its brand ambassador.
The boy band Seventeen is also making inroads into the US, with a new tour and solo collaboration tracks from members like Joshua Hong. Other group members, including the band’s leader S.Coups and rapper Mingyu, have also been recognized in fashion, landing collaborations with brands like Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss.
And one of the biggest Gen Z-favorite acts of the moment is Katseye, a girl group managed by Seoul-based Hybe Entertainment.
Rosé is on Blackpink’s “Deadline” world tour, with over 30 stops in Asia, North America, and Europe.
Representatives for YG Entertainment did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
