KATSEYE Scores ‘Best K-Pop’ VMA Nod Despite Singing Entirely In English And Not Being K-Pop

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentKATSEYE Scores ‘Best K-Pop’ VMA Nod Despite Singing Entirely In English And Not Being K-PopByHannah Abraham,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hannah Abraham covers entertainment, culture and business.Follow AuthorAug 18, 2026, 04:50pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SummaryHYBE x Geffen's KATSEYE earned nominations for Best K-Pop and Best Choreography at the 2026 MTV VMAs for "Pinky Up," reigniting debate on K-pop's definition for awards. Created as a K-pop-style group for Western audiences, KATSEYE's nomination is controversial: only one member is Korean, they don't identify as K-pop, and their music, including "Pinky Up," contains no Korean lyrics. This mirrors a pattern in the VMA's K-Pop category, which has a history of recognizing English-language tracks by artists with increasingly tenuous links to Korean music. The Grammys' new "Best Asian Pop Music Performance" category, requiring Asian language use, further highlights the inconsistency. Critics urge Western awards to establish clear, consistent definitions for K-pop categories.Show More NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 05: (L-R) Daniela Avanzini, Yoonchae Jeong, Lara Raj, Sophia Laforteza and Megan Skiendiel of KATSEYE perform onstage at the 2026 Governors Ball Music Festival held at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on June 05, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images)Getty ImagesHYBE x Geffen group KATSEYE have been nominated for Best K-Pop at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMA), and instead of pinkies, eyebrows are going up at this decision. The global act is nominated alongside BLACKPINK, BTS, CORTIS, LE SSERAFIM, and LISA. They have also received a Best Choreography nomination for the same track, “Pinky Up”. The nominations arrive at a moment when the q...