Rosé’s VMAs Win with “APT” Triggers Record Video Views and Mixed Tour Reactions
Rosé of BLACKPINK stunned the music world this week by becoming the first K-pop artist to win Song of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards for her collaboration with Bruno Mars, "APT." The win was more than symbolic-it has sparked fresh chart movement, viral video viewership milestones, and conversations about what comes next in her solo trajectory.
Since the VMAs, APT has broken another record: its music video recently became the fastest video by an Asian artist to hit 1.9 billion views on YouTube, placing Rosé in rarefied air among global pop acts. Streaming platforms also show the song's momentum: it has bounced back in several regional charts, and fan-led streaming campaigns continue to push it upward.
Yet, there have been signs of one-sided enthusiasm: during BLACKPINK's recent "Deadline" world tour stop in Toronto, social media users noted that the audience remained largely quiet during Rosé's solo performance of "3AM," a song less well known than "APT." Some interpreted this as evidence that her solo success, while impressive, still hinges significantly on "APT."
Fashion observers were also active in the wake of her win-her appearance at the VMAs, dressed in a strapless butter-yellow gown paired with diamond earrings, drew praise in outlets from Elle to Business Insider. Meanwhile, promotional activity is rumored to be accelerating: industry insiders suggest that her team is considering a follow-up single release sooner than initially planned, to build off the high-visibility moment.
In Korean media, the win has been debated in different ways. Some columnists wrote that Rosé's moment showed how K-pop singers are starting to claim space as solo artists, not only as members of big groups. Others were more cautious, asking whether attention around one collaboration can be turned into steady success with her own material.
Beyond the charts, fan communities in North America have described the win as validating years of grassroots support. In online posts, some longtime fans wrote that they felt "proud to see Rosé stand on stage as more than just a group member," while newer listeners admitted that the VMAs broadcast was their first introduction to her solo music.
Industry watchers also point out the risks that come with this level of visibility. With APT dominating her image, Rosé now faces the challenge of proving that future releases can stand independently. As one U.S. critic wrote, "Awards can open the door, but it's the follow-up that decides if an artist is here to stay."
For now, Rosé remains at the center of two parallel conversations-celebrated at home as a symbol of K-pop's maturity on the world stage, and debated abroad as an artist at a crossroads. Whether her next move cements her solo identity or folds back into group activity will be a storyline closely watched by fans and industry alike.