By Jae-Ha Kim
Variety
August 26 , 2019
To no one’s surprise, BTS – one of the world’s most famous boy bands – won the MTV Video Music Award’s inaugural award for Best K-pop group for their song “Boy With Luv.” The septet didn’t attend the ceremony to accept their Moon Man trophy.
While the new category appears to be a nod to the popularity of Korean music in mainstream U.S. pop culture, fans have been vocal that the category is suspicious at best and borderline racist. None of the Korean nominees – not even BTS – were nominated for marquee awards like Video of the Year and Artist of the Year. (BTS were nominated for Best Collaboration (with Halsey), Best Art Direction and Best Choreography.)
It’s not hard to see why the move generated controversy. After all, BTS’ accomplishments have matched or outpaced many American, Canadian and Australian nominees, who weren’t exiled to a nationality-based category. BTS outsold the Jonas Brothers, who’re nominated for Artist of the Year. And not only is the septet the first Korean group to debut with a No. 1 album on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, they’re also the first act since the Beatles to have three No. 1 albums in a 12-month period. That aside, “Boy With Luv” broke all kinds of YouTube records, besting even Taylor Swift.
When the K-pop category was announced last month, many fans pointed out that the inclusion of the award seemed like MTV’s sneaky way of being exclusionary, while trying to ingratiate themselves to the groups’ contingent of loyal fans. (The other nominees were Blackpink, Monsta X, EXO, NCT 127 and TXT.)
Based on the haphazard list of nominees, the organizers didn’t seem to have a solid grasp of Korea’s musical landscape, throwing in random artists who are ethnically Korean. One of the most critically-acclaimed acts, the hip-hop trio Epik High, didn’t even make the list of nominations. Epik High had preceded Blackpink’s Coachella performance with their own benchmark 2016 concert at the music festival, making history as the first Korean group to ever perform there.
Then there’s Monsta X, who were nominated for “Who Do U Love?” – a song sung entirely in English. To add insult to injury, MTV congratulated French Montana – Monsta X’s collaborator – on his nomination without even mentioning the Korean group that made it all possible. MTV did send out a second tweet paying homage to Monsta X shortly thereafter. Oddly enough, the Moroccan-born Montana’s only nomination was in the K-pop field, thanks to his association with Monsta X.
@FrencHMonTanA congrats on your #vma nomination! vote now at https://t.co/CGTLSIBpj8 🌟 pic.twitter.com/fNSTT4pN5D
— MTV (@MTV) July 23, 2019
MTV wasn’t unaware of the criticism. A few days ago, they announced a trio of trophies to be voted on by fans: Best Power Anthem, Song of Summer and Best Group. But fans weren’t fooled by the attempt to appease them. Fan-voted awards don’t have the same prestige as awards voted by critics and peers.
This isn’t the first time an awards show embarrassed itself in an attempt to appear hip. The Grammys created the Hard Rock/Heavy Metal category in 1989. Instead of awarding the trophy to Metallica or AC/DC, the Grammys awarded the very un-metal progressive rock group Jethro Tull. Metallica would go on to win the following three years.
The fact that exo was still nominated and didn’t get promotion at all in the US isn’t still a freakin win for me
Since when did MTV know enuf about k-pop to decide who’s the best.
MTV will implode with its ignorance.
MTV used to be the champion for the underdogs. The artists which were not considered mainstream and their MVs too controversial to be aired on normal networks. But these days MTV has lost it’s prestige because it is too busy maintaining their popularity. They’re no longer fighting for the cause.
Ann this is untrue MTV is known for not playing black artist. Michael Jackson was only played at midnight. MTV has always mainstreamed.
“one of the world’s most famous boy bands,” eh? Would love to know who else is on BTS’ level in terms of fame. In other words, what do you mean by “one of?”
They are one of the most famous. That is a fact. That statment doesn’t make them not the most famous. Pick a struggle. This ain’t a struggle.
MTV music award show you are racist!! You know dam well BTS should of won more awards!! Your a ward show is going down hill!! You suck!! I will not watch your award show!! I did not watch it tonight!!I hope you got bad ratings!! I hope your award show gets canceled!!
Finally some quality journalism
On what authority do MTV music and video awards even still exist? MTV hasn’t been the frontline, the edge of new music and music entertainment, since the early 00s. At this point they’re trying to beat a dead horse into getting up and it’s embarassing.
That’s a shallow and myopic viewpoint. Why make this about race when it’s about talent and success. Here’s a counterpoint: I just looked into the annual Korean Music Awards. And lo and behold, not one non-Korean winner in 19 years. Not in any category. Rock, jazz, pop, duets, bands, etc. You’re telling me that there wasn’t ONE non-Korean artist that was more worthy of the prize on all those years and categories? Sounds racist to me. BTS army are just another entitle and spoiled bunch. Those who live in class houses shouldn’t throw stones. Pop
Hey there you SM/EXO stan. Just support your faves and leave the awards to BTS. Go back to your “class” house! lmao
Avenger, You’re mixing up metaphors and proving your own racist idiocy.
Korean awards are based on their country’s charts and sales. You may find it hard to believe but just cuz a song or artist is popular in the U.S doesn’t mean it’ll be popular in Korea too…isn’t that a shocker?
Koreans aren’t buying American music to the extent they are sweeping the charts. BTS has had good figures in sales and a large fanbase in the U.S to rival top western artists. Should they not be in the same categories getting attention to their music and artistry?
Just because inequality already exists, that doesn’t mean it’s A-OK to💩on other minorities. As for the music awards shows in South Korea, people are being willfully ignorant. South Korea is 99% ethnically Korean. The issues they have with racism isn’t directed at Western pop stars. If you have an issue with how Korean awards shows are handled, address it with them. I live and work in the United States and cover what’s happening here. Arguing that Koreans are racist so therefore it’s OK for the U.S. to be racist, too, is one of the least compassionate things I’ve ever heard. The U.S. is one of the world’s most diverse and powerful nations. That diversity should be reflected in everyday life.
let’s not forget that America holds the biggest music market internationally and everybody looks at it and how it moves
– to add to the multicultural and multi-ethnic aspect of American society which is waaaaay different than a country that’s ethnically & culturally less diverse
They got me at the part where there hasn’t been a non-Korean winner in the KOREAN Music Awards in 19 years. Geez. I don’t knw, man. Maybe same reason why no guy has won MISS Universe since it begun?
Feels like justifying shit is a job for some people
Why can’t they admit that this is not right, it’s that simple. But no, they have to take that lame ‘bUt iN kOrEa’ out of their pocket :\
Class houses. Seriously? 🤣 I understand people misspell words I do it all the time but as I was reading that it kinda took away the seriousness of their comment. It stuck out like a sore thumb.
Thank you so much for addressing this. Those acts were highly xenophobic and racists. I didn’t even know about the Monsta X and French Montana issue until now, which makes it even worse. They worked so hard just to be left like nothing in THEIR OWN SONG. Anyways, everything they did regarding these artists, was just wrong. BTS has definitely taken over the music industry, not just in Korea or America, but around the whole world. They all should gain their recognition as the artists they are, not just as a bait for the award show to get clout.
Thanks for the article. Ever since they came up with that category I have been pissed. I voted for BTS but refused to watch the show. I don’t even have words that can begin for to describe exactly how I feel.
Kpop is Korean pop music and sometimes they have hip hop and R&B elements.just like in any other country there are different categories of music it’s not all pop and hip hop. I don’t understand why you would even say that kpop its self is racist to African Americans.
Variety seems to have changed its tune from the first article it wrote on this which was pretty condescending and painted Armys as over-sensitive keyboard warriors.
We weren’t upset just because our fave wasn’t nominated. BTS had more sales and views than many of the nominees for artist of the year. The KPop category also wouldn’t be such a big deal if KPop as a whole was popular in the US right now. But it’s not. There are people in the US who like other KPop groups, as there have always been. But BTS is the only group that’s really big right now. Introducing the KPop category when BTS has the success and fan base to swipe major awards (and when there is no other KPop group close to their popularity) seems targeted to keep them out of major awards.
It’s not like there’s just one person writing for Variety. There are different journalists who write about the boys.
The article depends on the writer. In this case Jae is a korean american and knowledgeable on kpop and korean culture so the article was more in depth than it has in the past by different writers
A comment like that shows that you think you know more about music than others. Saying something so stupid, you dont realize it could be said of all music stemming from cavemen hit rocks and blowing into reeds. Tip top is nothing more than sampling and it is disrespectful to poets. Throwing the race card further shows your ignorance and pompous views
Most of BTS Army boycotted the show and we will in the future. Army will boycott any show that keeps BTS from competing in all categories. We know they would have won best song, best album and best video and best collaboration. MTV knew this as well. Which is why they had to put the in a box. It is no longer a show with honor. They are xenophobia bigotry fake award show. That aren’t worth our time. 💜BTS proud Army!
I forgot to say thank you for the great article. It’s nice to know someone is hearing our voices
dang not only was BTS done dirty but MX too. shame on them.
But they also won best group beating bands such as 5SOS, Jonas Brothers and Backstreet Boys. BlackPink were also nominated in this category. Why isn’t this mentioned in the article??
Best group was created after the fact, literally a few days before the show. It is highly likely it’s creation was an attempt to stop backlash after the fact.
Wow, i had no idea it was a last minute addition – Thanks for clarifying Amber! That’s so Sketchy – shame on you MTV!!!
It was literally in the article near the bottom…
What would you have rather the category been Best in all Asian Lang.? They already have a Best Latin & it has never been an issue. Asian awards shows do not include western artists and we never bitch about that. Stop stirring up sht for shameless likes & retweets.
I stir up💩for RTs?🤨I’m sharing my views because I’m a full grown adult who’d like to see progress. Just because other minorities have been shoved into compartments means that’s OK to continue? Since you brought up other countries’ awards shows: To compare the dynamics of the power that the U.S. holds over the world (when it comes to even soft powers like music & film) vs. a small country like South Korea doesn’t even make sense.
by Jojo’s logic, they shoudln’t be nominated at all if there isn’t a category for Koreans? the latin category has been an issue and people have said so, just like the “urban” category they use for black artists.
They were nominated for Best Group, which they won, and Best Art Direction & Best Choreography…get your facts straight before you rant. I don’t see you sticking up for the Latin category, wouldn’t that be the same “controversial issue” you think is happening.
A Japanese person or someone pretending to be Japanese causing trouble. HUGE surprise there.
My assignment was to cover who won the K-Pop Award and give background about that particular category. FWIW, there were several Variety articles that evening that covered other aspects of the VMAs, which are accessible to anyone who took a second to look.
By your rationale, I can only “rant” about a particular “controversial issue” if I address every. single. other. “controversial issue” in that same article? I had 500 words to write about this particular category.
Why don’t YOU get your facts straight, Yuki.
2nd paragraph: BTS were nominated for Best Collaboration (with Halsey), Best Art Direction and Best Choreography.
2nd to last paragraph: MTV wasn’t unaware of the criticism. A few days ago, they announced a trio of trophies to be voted on by fans: Best Power Anthem, Song of Summer and Best Group. But fans weren’t fooled by the attempt to appease them.
Time stamp on the Variety Article: AUGUST 26, 2019 5:52PM PT and she probably filed it earlier than that. That was before Best Group was announced