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BTS Jin has been awarded the prestigious Record of the Year at the 2025 Asian Pop Music Awards (APMA), recognizing his chart-topping solo track ‘Don’t Say You Love Me’ as the year’s standout release across Asian pop music markets. The dual-location ceremony, hosted simultaneously in Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Expo and London’s O2 Arena, celebrated genre-defining achievements in music, with winners selected based on a combination of streaming performance, physical and digital sales data, and public fan votes.
Jin’s victory marks a milestone in his solo career, as he beat out a competitive field of nominees to claim the night’s top honor. ‘Don’t Say You Love Me’ also secured a spot in the APMA Top 20 Songs of the Year, joining iconic releases including G-Dragon’s ‘DRAMA’ and BLACKPINK’s Jennie’s ‘like JENNIE.’
The track, which blends emotive lyricism with a sweeping orchestral-pop arrangement, has amassed over 1.2 billion streams globally across major platforms and topped charts in 18 countries since its release in mid-2025. In his acceptance speech broadcast live from London, Jin expressed gratitude to fans, producers, and his BTS bandmates: “This award isn’t just for me – it’s for everyone who believed in the story we wanted to tell with this song. Asian pop music continues to break barriers, and I’m honored to be part of that journey.”
Industry analysts note that Jin’s win underscores the growing diversity within K-pop solo artistry, as artists expand beyond traditional genre boundaries to connect with international audiences.
BLACKPINK’s Jennie emerged as the night’s most decorated artist, taking home five awards across multiple categories. She was named Best Female Artist for her body of work in 2025, while her single ‘Ruby’ earned trophies for Best Dance Performance – Solo, Best Music Video, and Top 20 Songs. Additionally, her contribution to a collaborative soundtrack project won Best Original Film/TV Song.
Legendary BIGBANG frontman G-Dragon was recognized for his album Übermensch, which earned him both Best Album and Best Producer. The critically acclaimed project, which explores themes of identity and artistic evolution, topped regional album charts for 12 consecutive weeks and was praised for its innovative production techniques that fuse hip-hop, electronic, and traditional Korean musical elements. His single ‘DRAMA’ also ranked among the Top 20 Songs of the Year.
Chinese superstar Lay Zhang was awarded Best Male Artist, acknowledging his cross-cultural influence and successful 2025 releases that merged Mandopop sensibilities with global pop trends.
The 2025 APMA highlighted K-pop’s continued dominance in the Asian pop landscape, with numerous acts earning recognition across performance, album, and song categories. Seventeen, Twice, Rosé, and Baekhyun were among the artists whose work secured spots in the Top 20 Songs or Top 20 Albums lists.
Organizers emphasized that this year’s selection process was designed to reflect both commercial success and artistic merit, with data compiled from streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, QQ Music, and Melon, alongside physical sales figures from major retailers across Asia and Europe. Fan votes, which accounted for 30% of the final scoring, drew over 50 million submissions from 120 countries, demonstrating the global reach of Asian pop music.
APMA executive director Mei Ling commented: “This year’s awards celebrate not just individual talent, but the collective power of Asian pop to unite audiences worldwide. We’ve seen artists push creative limits, collaborate across cultures, and build communities that transcend borders – and that’s what makes this genre so special.”
The ceremony also featured live performances from Jin, Jennie, G-Dragon, and Seventeen, with sets streamed to over 20 million viewers across digital platforms globally.
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