BTS becomes first Korean artist nominated for American Music Awards

September 13, 2018

SEOUL, Sept. 13 (Yonhap) — K-pop phenomenon BTS has been nominated as the first Korean artist for the annual American Music Awards (AMAs), slated for Oct. 9, according to its organizer Thursday.

“On Sept. 12 local time, the 2018 American Music Awards announced its nominees, and BTS has been included in the Favorite Social Artist category,” the AMAs announced online.

BTS will be competing with four other singers for the category — Cardi B, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato and Shawn Mendes.

“This is the first time that BTS has been nominated for an American Music Award. Last November, they made their U.S. television debut performance at the award show when they took the stage with ‘DNA,’” it said.

The AMAs nomination also marks the first time for a K-pop musician.

The music awards show, one of the three key annual music events, along with the Grammy Awards and the Billboard Music Awards, is slated for Oct. 9 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on ABC.

The Favorite Social Artist award will be one of about 30 awards at the event.

If BTS is given the award, it will be its third major music award in the U.S. after the septet won the Billboard Social Artist Award for 2017 and 2018.

This undated photo of BTS during their visit to the Grammy Museum is provided by Big Hit Entertainment. (Yonhap)

This undated photo of BTS during their visit to the Grammy Museum is provided by Big Hit Entertainment. (Yonhap)