SEOUL, February 02 (AJP) - Expectations were high, but the climb proved steep for “Golden,” the original soundtrack from Netflix’s animated hit K-Pop Demon Hunters, at this year’s Grammy Awards.
Despite entering the ceremony with four nominations, “Golden” secured just one trophy — Best Song Written for Visual Media — during the Grammys’ Premiere Ceremony. The track was also nominated for Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and Best Remixed Recording (Non-Classical).
The coveted Song of the Year, one of the Grammys’ top General Field honors recognizing songwriting excellence regardless of commercial success, ultimately went to Billie Eilish for “Wildflower.”
Released on June 20, 2025, “Golden” had drawn significant attention ahead of the ceremony following its strong global reception. Powered by the popularity of K-Pop Demon Hunters, the track became the first K-pop song to top both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Official Singles Chart, a rare crossover achievement for the genre.
K-Pop Demon Hunters ranked among Netflix’s most-watched films of 2025 and emerged as a notable piece of global pop culture. With “Golden’s” Grammy win — in addition to its Golden Globe victory and an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song — the film has already delivered a landmark moment for K-pop on the global awards stage.
The Best Song Written for Visual Media award is presented to songwriters rather than performers, making all contributors to the track official Grammy Award winners. The song was co-written and produced by EJAE (Lee Jae), Teddy, 24, and producer collective IDO, comprising Lee Yu-han, Kwak Jung-kyu and Nam Hee-dong.
The win marked the first Grammy Award for K-pop songwriters or producers for their creative work — a milestone widely noted within the global music industry.
The Song of the Year category featured a particularly competitive lineup, including “Manchild” by Sabrina Carpenter, “luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA, “APT.” by Rosé and Bruno Mars, “DtMF” by Bad Bunny, “Anxiety” by Doechii, and “Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga.
While “Golden” did not take home the night’s top songwriting honor, its nomination — coupled with its historic win — underscored the expanding presence of K-pop creators in the Grammys’ most competitive categories, long dominated by Western artists.
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