NewJeans, a K-pop girl group, made history by being the first K-pop act to win the Group of the Year award at the 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards.
The group was honored during the awards ceremony at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on Wednesday (U.S. time).
The victory is a major milestone for both NewJeans and the K-pop sector. Prior to them, the last group to secure this award was the American girl group Fifth Harmony back in 2015.
Lainey Wilson, an American country music artist, presented the award and lauded NewJeans for creating “the new wave of girl groups in K-pop, a genre that has long been dominated by men.”
“To be here today to participate in an awards that’s just overflowing with such amazing artists is really surreal, and it’s hard to believe we’re in the same room as you all,” member Hanni said after winning the prize during the ceremony. “I’d just briefly like to thank all the artists who are there, because without your music, I don’t think we would have been able to grow up so inspired, and our love and passion for music has grown so much. So thank you so much.”
Another member, Danielle, said: “Reflecting back on the past two years, we have been so incredibly blessed. We got to experience so many new and exciting things, and it’s been just the best year.”
NewJeans also took the stage for the awards show, performing “Super Shy” and “ETA” — both lead tracks off its second EP, “Get Up” — to the cheers of the audience.
The Billboard Women in Music Awards, established in 2007, recognize women who have had a major impact on the music industry over the course of the year.
Last year, NewJeans charted five songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard 200 with “Get Up.”
The K-pop group was just highlighted on the magazine cover of Billboard, which described it as a group that has changed “the paradigm of what achievement entails for young female groups.”
“While it was once accepted industry wisdom that only boy bands could build a core fandom and widespread commercial success, NewJeans is part of a girl-group generation that has done both,” it said.
Ricky Head is Editor in Chief and Publisher of VietShowNow. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist. In addition to concert coverage, he is a Content Creator, Writer, Photographer, and Videographer based in Seattle, Washington, and he photographs hundreds of concerts, festivals, and events each year. He takes pride in providing rich, high-quality images at a rapid pace.
- Ricky Headhttps://www.vietshownow.com/author/head/
- Ricky Headhttps://www.vietshownow.com/author/head/
- Ricky Headhttps://www.vietshownow.com/author/head/
- Ricky Headhttps://www.vietshownow.com/author/head/
