BTS has once again proven their global power by winning the prestigious “Artist of the Year” award at the American Music Awards (AMA). This marks their second win in this category since 2021, with the group taking home a total of three trophies to become the stars of the night.
After becoming the first Asian artists to win “Artist of the Year” in 2021 with their hit “Butter,” BTS has reclaimed the top spot just two months after releasing their 5th studio album, “ARIRANG,” in March, following their military hiatus.
Holding the trophy high, leader RM exclaimed, “ARMY, we did it again! It is an honor to receive this precious award again after all the members completed their military service.” He added, “This award is decided by fan votes. I feel sincere gratitude and respect for all the ARMY who have stayed by our side for the past 13 years.” J-Hope also shared his thanks, saying, “Thank you for truly loving our album and pouring your passion into every song.”
Jimin expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much for the generous love you’ve shown in every city throughout the tour,” before adding in Korean, “To the ARMY who support and love us, thank you so much and I love you.” Jungkook shared, “I’m so happy to be back,” while Jin responded to fans with a sweet, “I love you, thank you.”
In addition to “Artist of the Year,” BTS won “Song of the Summer” for their 5th album’s title track “SWIM” and “Best Male K-pop Artist,” completing their triple crown. RM reflected on the process, saying, “I felt a lot of pressure when making this album (ARIRANG) and thought a lot about what music suits us best right now. The only thing we believed in was that we had to constantly challenge ourselves and move forward.” V mentioned the producers and staff they worked with, adding, “I send my love and support to everyone who doesn’t give up and keeps moving forward regardless of the situation. So let’s keep swimming, let’s go together.”
BTS also kicked off the ceremony. An opening video featuring a live performance of “Hooligan” from the first Las Vegas stop of their “ARIRANG” world tour was screened, leaving a powerful impression with the sing-along of 60,000 fans and a spectacular performance with dozens of dancers. Pop culture critic Lim Hee-yoon noted, “In an era where music and media trends change rapidly, these awards prove their enduring fandom loyalty and influence in the global pop market despite the hiatus due to military service.”
Meanwhile, the Netflix animation “K-Pop Demon Hunters” and its original soundtrack (OST) “Golden” swept four awards, including “Song of the Year,” “Best Vocal Performance,” “Best Pop Song,” and the overall “Best Soundtrack.”
