BTS and Cat’s Eye Shine at American Music Awards: A Deep Dive into Their 8-Trophy Triumph

Translation result. ▲ At the American Music Awards on the 26th, BTS and Cats Eye — each three-time winners — pose together. Source | American Music Awards Instagram

[SPOTV News — Kim Won-gyeom] HYBE reinforced its standing as a leading K-pop label after its artists took home eight trophies at the American Music Awards, including the ceremony’s top prize.

HYBE acts BTS, Cats Eye and Tyla collectively claimed eight awards at the 52nd American Music Awards, demonstrating influence that crosses genres and regions.

At the AMAs on the 26th (Korean time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, BTS was named Artist of the Year, and Cats Eye won New Artist of the Year. Two of the AMAs’ so-called “Big Four” awards went to HYBE labels BigHit Music and HYBE–Geffen Records.

Both groups finished the night with three wins. BTS not only took Artist of the Year but also won Best Male K-pop Artist, and “Swim,” the lead single from their fifth studio album Arirang, was named Song of the Summer. Cats Eye earned New Artist of the Year and Breakthrough Pop Artist, and their hit “Gnarly” won Best Music Video.

Tyla, who is managed by HYBE America, also made the winners’ list. Her viral hit “Chanel” won Social Song of the Year, and she added Best Afrobeats Artist to finish with two trophies.

Tyla’s victories are notable for coming after her partnership with HYBE America. HYBE supports her with music production, publishing and touring, and is exploring synergies across brand partnerships and IP collaborations.

Observers say HYBE’s “multi-home, multi-genre” strategy — pushing beyond K-pop into pop, R&B and Afrobeats — paid off at the ceremony. BTS’s global popularity, Cats Eye’s strong debut and Tyla’s genre reach all surfaced in one awards show, underscoring the effectiveness of the “K-pop methodology” championed by HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk.

The artists’ acceptance remarks reflected that networked ecosystem. BTS thanked “our producer Bang Si-hyuk and everyone involved,” while Cats Eye singled out “Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, the HYBE–Geffen Records team, and BTS for inspiring us to represent our culture on the global stage.” Those comments highlighted the reach of HYBE’s music ecosystem across regions and genres.

HYBE has been expanding across the global music market and now operates 16 labels across four regions — Korea, the United States, Japan and Latin America. Each label operates with independence and creative autonomy, combining HYBE’s K-pop production system and global network with local musical flavors to discover and grow new IP.