BTS’s RM has made history by becoming the first solo K-pop artist to win the Favorite K-Pop Artist award at the 2025 American Music Awards. The rapper and leader of the global superstar group beat out tough competition, including his own bandmate Jimin, to take home the honor.
He was nominated in the Favorite K-pop Artist category alongside BLACKPINK’s Rosé, Jimin, ATEEZ, and Stray Kids. Besides the aforementioned category, Rosé scored a nomination in the Collaboration of the Year category for her song, APT., with Bruno Mars.
Hosted by Jenifer Lopez, the 2025 AMAs took place on Monday (local time) at Fontainebleau Las Vegas’ BleauLive Theater.
This 2025 AMAs win is especially meaningful because RM is currently serving his mandatory military service in South Korea and couldn’t attend the ceremony in person. Fans around the world celebrated his victory online, showing their support despite his absence. The award recognizes RM’s successful solo career, particularly his well-received 2024 album “Right Place, Wrong Person.”
The AMAs marked its return after not being held for three years, with Billie Eilish winning big that night. Eilish swept all seven categories she was nominated in, including the prestigious Artist of the Year award.
The Wild Flower rapper is now the only artist ever to win an AMA both as part of a group and as a solo act.
While many fans were happy about RM’s win, some supporters of Jimin expressed disappointment. During the voting period, most of the bigger BTS fanbases decided to vote for RM, citing that the Who singer won Daesangs during the year-end domestic award ceremonies.
Jimin’s fans felt it was unfair and a downplay of his achievement, considering the number of records he broke with his sophomore album, MUSE. They opined that he deserved to win the K-pop Artist of the Year as MUSE was a commercial success. In addition, the title song, Who became the largest-charting song by a K-pop act, even surpassing BTS’ Dynamite.
With all BTS members finishing their military service soon and planning to reunite as a group, RM’s latest award adds to their incredible list of achievements. The OT7 appearance will be expected in late June after Suga’s alternative service discharge on June 21. It is expected that members will continue solo activities for the time being while working on a full-group comeback, expected in 2026.
