BLACKPINK Dominates 2025 MTV VMAs: Rosé Makes K-Pop History as First Song of the Year Winner

Triple win for BLACKPINK as Rosé breaks barriers, Lisa extends record, and group claims Best Group award

BLACKPINK delivered a historic night at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards on September 7, capturing three major awards and cementing K-pop's unprecedented global influence.

Rosé's Groundbreaking Achievement

Rosé became the first K-pop artist ever to win Song of the Year at the MTV VMAs, taking the trophy for "APT." featuring Bruno Mars. Appearing in a butter-yellow sequined dress, she seemed genuinely shocked by the win, beginning her acceptance speech with "Oh, my gosh, I can't believe this".

The emotional speech included a dedication to her "16-year-old self, who dreamed, and to all those who have watched me grow into the artist that I am today". She revealed her greatest fear was "hitting a wall and disappointing my 16-year-old self, who grew up always an oddball among society that wished someday she, too, could be herself".

Following advice from her therapist, Rosé concluded by thanking herself "for not giving up, even in the toughest of times". She also switched to Korean to thank producer Teddy and her BLACKPINK members.

"APT." Chart Domination

"APT." debuted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rosé's first and Mars' 20th top-ten hit respectively. The song later peaked at number three and became the longest-charting song by a K-pop act in Billboard Hot 100 history. On global charts, "APT." spent 12 weeks at number one on the Billboard Global 200 and broke records with 15 weeks atop the Global Excl. US chart.

Lisa's Continued Success

Lisa won Best K-Pop for "Born Again" with Doja Cat and Raye, marking her third win in the category and tying her with BTS for the most Best K-Pop awards since 2019. Though absent from the ceremony, Lisa accepted via pre-recorded message, thanking MTV and fans for their support.

The win sparked controversy among fans who questioned whether an English-language song featuring two non-Korean artists should qualify for the Best K-Pop category. The competition included strong entries from BTS's Jimin, Stray Kids, aespa, and Lisa's own BLACKPINK bandmates.

BLACKPINK's Group Victory

BLACKPINK won Best Group, becoming the first girl group to receive this honor at the VMAs. Accepting the award, the group said: "This is our first time ever doing this. We've been through a lot together, so having this moment feels so rewarding".

The group defeated notable competitors including Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, SEVENTEEN (the previous year's winners), and other major acts.

Industry Impact

The Song of the Year category featured major competition including Alex Warren, Billie Eilish, Gracie Abrams, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, and Tate McRae. Rosé's win made her the first K-pop female act to reach the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, outpacing BLACKPINK's previous peak with "Ice Cream".

Other major winners included Lady Gaga (Artist of the Year), Ariana Grande (Video of the Year for "Brighter Days Ahead"), and Sabrina Carpenter (Album of the Year for "Short n' Sweet").

The evening represented a watershed moment for K-pop's mainstream recognition, with BLACKPINK proving Korean artists can compete at the highest levels of global music awards. Their three-trophy sweep demonstrated both individual artistry and group cohesion, setting new standards for K-pop's international presence.