Manchester: Rose, a member of the renowned K-pop group BLACKPINK, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first artist from the K-pop industry to secure a win at Britain's prestigious pop music awards. She claimed the International Song of the Year award at the 46th Brit Awards for her collaboration with American pop star Bruno Mars on the hit song "APT."
According to Yonhap News Agency, Rose expressed her gratitude on stage by acknowledging her BLACKPINK members Jennie, Jisoo, and Lisa, thanking them for their inspiration. She also extended her appreciation to Bruno Mars, calling him her biggest mentor and best friend, and to Teddy, the founder and chief producer of her agency, The Black Label.
"APT.," a prerelease single from her debut studio album "rosie," became a global phenomenon following its release in October 2024. The track, known for its catchy pop harmonies and a refrain inspired by a Korean drinking game, maintained a 45-week presence on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 3. It also reached No. 2 on the British Official Singles Chart Top 100, remaining there for over a year.
In September 2025, the song earned Rose two MTV Video Music Awards, including Song of the Year. Although "APT." was nominated for Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards, it did not win.
Despite increasing recognition, no K-pop artist had won a Brit Award before Rose. Previous nominees included BTS and BLACKPINK, as well as Korean DJ Peggy Gou, who were all shortlisted in past years.
This year's Brit Awards also featured a nomination for "Golden," a track from the Netflix film "KPop Demon Hunters." The fictional girl group Huntr/x, whose members include Korean American artists Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, performed the track live, receiving enthusiastic support from the audience. However, the song did not win in its nominated categories.