The group ILLIT was named on the nominee list for the American Music Awards (AMA), considered one of the three major U.S. music awards, proving its solid position in the global pop market.
According to the final nominees for the 2026 AMA released by the organizers on the 14th local time, ILLIT was nominated in the "Best Female K-Pop Artist" institutional sector. Above all, ILLIT is the only fifth-generation girl group to enter that category this year, which adds to its symbolism.
Founded in 1974, the AMA is one of the most prestigious awards representing American popular music, along with the Grammy Awards and the Billboard Music Awards. It selects the artist who had the greatest impact on the public during the year based on objective data such as album and single sales, streaming numbers, radio airplay, and tour performance.
Behind this nomination are the overwhelming metrics they achieved in the global music market. ILLIT demonstrated the power to land three consecutive albums on the U.S. main albums chart Billboard 200 with their 2024 mini album 1 "SUPER REAL ME," mini album 2 "I'LL LIKE YOU," and last year's mini album 3 "bomb."
Their digital single performance has also been remarkable. After breaking into the Hot 100 main singles chart at No. 91 with their debut title "Magnetic," the title track of their first single, "NOT CUTE ANYMORE," ranked No. 7 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100, capturing mainstream North American listeners. These two hits dominated the global short-form ecosystem in countries including the U.S., Korea and Japan, placing them at the center of trends for teenagers and people in their 20s.
Their success at overseas awards shows is already on a solid trajectory. Earlier, they took home the Best New Artist (K-pop) trophy at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards, and they were also cited as strong contenders at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards and the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA). Their standing in neighboring Japan is also exceptional: their first original local single "Almond Chocolate" achieved the rare feat of receiving the Excellence Work Award as the only overseas artist song at the 67th Japan Record Awards.
Meanwhile, the 2026 AMA main ceremony, which has attracted attention from fans worldwide, will lift its curtain at 5 p.m. on May 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, U.S. The day's fervent atmosphere will be broadcast live by U.S. network CBS and the streaming platform Paramount+.
[Photo] Belift Lab Inc. (HYBE)
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