The 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards proved to be a landmark event for K-pop, with a variety of artists making their mark. Held on March 17, 2025, at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the ceremony celebrated the most popular songs and artists of the previous year, featuring exhilarating performances and heartfelt tributes.
Notably, ATEEZ clinched the prestigious title of K-pop Artist of the Year, triumphing over strong contenders like BTS member Jimin, BLACKPINK’s Lisa, aespa, and ENHYPEN. Jimin also had reason to celebrate, as he received the award for K-pop Song of the Year for his hit single “Who,”taken from his album Muse. Additionally, the rookie girl group ILLIT made waves as they were honored with the title of Best New K-pop Artist.
Despite their nominations, several notable K-pop artists fell short of winning. BLACKPINK’s Rosé and Lisa were nominated for Best Music Video, but the award went to Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight.”Similarly, Jimin and Jungkook’s Disney+ series Are You Sure?! lost to The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version) in the Favorite On-Screen category.
Complete List of K-pop Winners at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards
Here’s a comprehensive rundown of the K-pop artists and groups that achieved recognition at the 2025 iHeartRadio Awards:
- K-pop Artist of the Year – ATEEZ
- K-pop Song of the Year – “Who”by Jimin
- K-pop Album of the Year – ATE by Stray Kids
- Best New K-pop Artist – ILLIT
- Favorite K-pop Dance Challenge – “GGUM”by TXT’s Yeonjun
Ahead of the awards, in 2024, ATEEZ, under the auspices of KQ Entertainment, collaborated with the Japanese group Be:First for the single “Royal”and released their fourth Japanese single, titled “Birthday.”Their album Golden Hour: Part.2, featuring the lead track “Ice On My Teeth,”debuted at the number one spot on the Billboard 200.
This year in 2025, ATEEZ initiated the European leg of their eagerly awaited Towards the Light: Will to Power world tour, marking a historical moment as they became the first K-pop group to perform at the Paris La Défense Arena.
Jimin also achieved a remarkable milestone, as his single “Who”set a record by becoming the longest-charting song by a K-pop artist on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for an impressive 33 weeks, surpassing BTS’ “Dynamite.”Currently, Jimin is fulfilling his military service, with an anticipated discharge in June 2025.
Stray Kids also made headlines with their EP ATE, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, marking their fifth consecutive album to top this chart. Meanwhile, the rookie girl group ILLIT, formed through the reality show R U Next?, debuted in March 2024 with “Super Real Me,”followed by their first Japanese single “Almond Chocolate.”
In the realm of solo debuts, TXT’s Yeonjun made waves with his single “Ggum,”released in September 2024. Notably, the iHeartRadio Awards this year introduced a new category for the Best Dance Challenge, with the winner being determined through fan votes, showcasing the interactive nature of today’s music landscape.
Overall, the 2025 iHeartRadio Awards underscored the rising influence of K-pop on the global music scene, celebrating both established stars and emerging talents alike.