“PAYOLA!” — HYBE Group’s “2026 GRAMMY Awards” Nomination Sparks Backlash

In the music industry, the Grammy Awards, also known as the Grammys, are regarded as one of the most prestigious awards worldwide. On November 7, the awards show shared its official list of nominees, following months of speculation.

| The Recording Academy

As in previous years, many K-Pop acts submitted work for consideration, leaving fans waiting to see if any would be honored with a nomination. BLACKPINK (both as solo artists and as a group), TWICE, and SEVENTEEN were some of the groups that did so.

#ROSÉ’s official 2026 #GRAMMYs submissions:

• Record of the Year – “APT.”
• Song of the Year – “APT.”
• Best Pop Duo/Group Performance – “APT.”
• Best Music Video – “APT.”
• Album of the Year – “rosie”
• Best Pop Vocal Album – “rosie”
• Best Album Cover – “rosie”
• Best… pic.twitter.com/MKfGUos7Ny

— BLΛCKPIИK GLOBAL FANBASE (@BLACKPINKGLOBAL) September 30, 2025

TWICE submissions to the 2026 Grammys:

– Strategy: Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album
– Strategy: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Music Video, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
– Superstars: Song of the Year, Best Melodic Rap Performance pic.twitter.com/pLooLs8aRS

— About Music (@AboutMusicYT) October 3, 2025

Amongst the official nominees, KATSEYE shocked fans by earning not one but two nominations in different categories. The group are nominated in the “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance” category with “Gabriela,” while also being nominated for “Best New Artist.”

KATSEYE | HYBE

Naturally, many fans were excited for the nomination, following BTS, they are the first HYBE girl group to receive a direct nomination, and second act over all following BTS.

KATSEYE 2X GRAMMY NOMINATED ARTISTS IM SO PROUD 🥲 pic.twitter.com/TnWpJqtwRH

— ★ (@sarpongz) November 7, 2025

Manon shares her tears of joy over KATSEYE’s incredibly deserved not one but TWO nominations for this years Grammy’s 🖤#KATSEYE @katseyeworld pic.twitter.com/YdCavBdiBW

— KATSEYE News (@NewsKatseye) November 7, 2025

KATSEYE ARE OFFICIALLY GRAMMY NOMINEES ONE YEAR INTO THEIR CAREERS MY GIRLS WE DID IT pic.twitter.com/XxFP8m3sM2

— kei ✩ (@manonstiara) November 7, 2025

However, as with most award nominations, there have been some negative reactions as well.

Some have accused HYBE of “paying” for the nomination, or using the connections of HYBE America official Scooter Braun.

nobody’s shocked.. they randomly made 50 hybe idols register as voters we knew this was gonna happen https://t.co/wU1DLLv5vP

— ‏ِ (@jennierational) November 7, 2025

HYBE INFILTRATED THE GRAMMYS. KATSEYE NOMINATED. MUSIC HAS LOST. PERIOD. https://t.co/CvNiRgjNRP

— Jenniewar (@Jenniewars) November 7, 2025

this is payola at its finest im sawrrrrry https://t.co/xckrLwI3hC

— ævil (@pinkcashcow) November 7, 2025

The CEO being investor payola and fraud, the senior advisor and board member for HYBE Global being Scooter Braun, and all of them being able to vote for themselves at the academy, yeah, no fraudulence can top this level. https://t.co/oaV731yoKP

— 𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐚 🐚 (@hyunjinnversace) November 7, 2025

Of course, fans have defended the group, mentioning their various success in the time since their debut as evidence the nominations were rightfully deserved.

“hybe check cleared” “hybe payola” can y’all shut up and admit these six women are insanely successful and doing amazing right now https://t.co/twDY3En1Fn

— katie 🍝 (@chaesmarts) November 7, 2025

quotes can stay mad it doesn’t change the fact that katseye are 2x grammy nominees https://t.co/Gohdg2XSfn

— hanna (@K4TS3YE) November 7, 2025

the way katseye actually had so much impact this year with global hits gnarly and gabriela, plus their gap jeans ad that got everyone and their mama doing the choreo and yet yall dont wanna admit it just bcs they’re from hybe https://t.co/k1SYFIz1dP

— 𖤐 (@destroykeonly) November 7, 2025

they deserve this sm😭😭 they amount of noise they’ve made this past year is insane https://t.co/SEJix2Rtd2

— ☆ (@khiawings) November 7, 2025

The 2026 Grammy Awards are scheduled to take place on February 1, 2026.