Rosé has officially broken a major glass ceiling for the Korean music industry. During the 46th BRIT Awards in Manchester, the BLACKPINK member became the first K-pop artist to ever win a trophy at the event. She secured the International Song of the Year award for her massive collaboration with Bruno Mars, “APT.”
The win is a significant milestone. While groups like BTS and BLACKPINK previously landed nominations, the industry always went home empty-handed until now. Rosé beat out a heavy-hitting field that included Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Alex Warren to take the prize.
A Heartfelt Acceptance
Rosé appeared in person at the Co-op Live Arena to accept the award. During her speech, she took a moment to recognize her bandmates and her collaborator.
“I would like to give a shoutout to BLACKPINK,” she told the cheering crowd. “Jennie, Jisoo, and Lisa, I love you guys so much. Thank you for always inspiring me.”
She also thanked Bruno Mars, calling him her “biggest mentor and best friend.” Rosé noted that she was accepting the award on behalf of both of them, as the song has become a global phenomenon since its release in late 2024.
Read more: Rosé And Bruno Mars Top Global Music Chart With Viral Hit ‘APT
“APT.” is a pre-release single from Rosé’s first studio album, rosie. The track is famously inspired by a Korean drinking game known as the “apartment game.” Its catchy refrain helped it stay on the Billboard Hot 100 for 45 weeks, the longest run ever for a K-pop track.
In the UK, the song peaked at number two on the Official Singles Chart and has remained on the charts for over a year. The track previously won Song of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards and earned several nominations at the Grammys.
K-Pop Presence at the BRITs
The ceremony featured other K-pop influences beyond Rosé’s win. The fictional group Huntr/x, from the Netflix hit KPop Demon Hunters, earned nominations for International Group of the Year and International Song of the Year for their track “Golden.”
While the group did not win, the vocalists behind the characters—Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami—performed “Golden” live on stage. The performance drew massive cheers, highlighting the growing grip K-pop has on the UK mainstream.
This win comes at a busy time for the group. BLACKPINK recently released their new album, DEADLINE, and started a new global tour, proving that their influence remains as strong as ever.
