For the first time, the American Music Awards (AMAs) recognized the growing influence of Korean popular music and created a Favorite K-pop Artist category that boasts some of the greatest names in the industry as its nominees, including BTS and BLACKPINK.American Music Awards@AMAsVoting for Favorite K-Pop Artist will open on Tuesday 11/1. #AMAs89983668Voting for Favorite K-Pop Artist will open on Tuesday 11/1. #AMAs2022 AMAs: Nominees of the newly created Favourite K-pop Artist category, fan reaction explored HYBE artists BTS, SEVENTEEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and Korea’s top girl groups BLACKPINK and TWICE have been nominated in the Favorite K-pop Artist categories at the 2022 AMAs.BTS has been the torchbearer at the American Music Awards (AMAs) for the longest time. This year, they are leading with two major nominations - Favorite K-pop Artist and Favorite Pop Duo or Group.The American Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony meant to honor the best musical talent in America or artists that have created waves in the country.The 2022 AMA nominations were announced on Thursday, October 13. These are based on “key fan interactions,” as slated by music publication Billboard. The data was collected between September 2021 and September 2022, and the K-pop artists mentioned above qualified for this category at the 2022 AMAs.American Music Awards@AMAs#AMAs Favorite K-Pop Artist Nominees: @BLACKPINK @BTS_twt @pledis_17 @TXT_members @JYPETWICE10977441213#AMAs Favorite K-Pop Artist Nominees:📣 @BLACKPINK📣 @BTS_twt📣 @pledis_17📣 @TXT_members📣 @JYPETWICE https://t.co/ef3T2qFbDwHowever, it seems like the newly introduced Favorite K-pop Artist category at the 2022 AMAs has gotten mixed reactions from fans.An ARMY pointed out that segregating BTS into the “K-pop category” is unfair, especially when they are known to be global pop stars and deserve nominations in the main categories at the 2022 AMAs.Fans also find it unfair that Korean pop is getting a separate category altogether while Australian and Canadian pop stars are counted in the mainstream categories at the 2022 AMAs.They have also pointed out that a separate K-pop category was created so that they don’t eat into other American artists’ chances of winning in the mainstream categories.Tia∞⁷ is ready for #YetToComeinBusan! ⟭⟬⟬⟭ 🏖️🏟💜@MrsTOH2O@AMAs Just wondering, was #BTS too much of a competition to segregate them under "K-Pop" category? I mean y'all don't really want us to believe that it's a coincidence that the very next year they won Artist of the Year, there's a segregated category for K-Pop, do ya? 🤨 #BTSARMY3631653@AMAs Just wondering, was #BTS too much of a competition to segregate them under "K-Pop" category? I mean y'all don't really want us to believe that it's a coincidence that the very next year they won Artist of the Year, there's a segregated category for K-Pop, do ya? 🤨 #BTSARMY https://t.co/KVVE9UlxNZKATY🐋🐣ᴴᵒᵖᵉ⁷Hit it the first audition˙८ ˙@104_503@AMAs Where's the "Canadian Pop" "US Pop" "Australian Pop" category? Why does it have to be a "Korean Pop" label in this competition? Let them compete along everyone.1015100@AMAs Where's the "Canadian Pop" "US Pop" "Australian Pop" category? Why does it have to be a "Korean Pop" label in this competition? Let them compete along everyone.Some fans might be taking this with a pinch of salt, but many others are taking this as a positive development and credit BTS for the same by saying they have paved the way for other artists.Fans of TWICE and BLACKPINK are happy that their favorite girl groups have snagged a spot in the nomination category as well.Allison Deliva (TWICE: THE BEST GIRL GROUP EVER!)@AllisonDeliva@AMAs @JYPETWICE I vote TWICE for Favorite K-pop Artist on AMAs. They're the best group for me and they always give their fans great music. ONCEs, let's make sure that we'll vote harder! Let's give them what they deserve. I’m voting for TWICE (@JYPETWICE) for FAVORITE KPOP ARTIST at the #AMAs25536@AMAs @JYPETWICE I vote TWICE for Favorite K-pop Artist on AMAs. They're the best group for me and they always give their fans great music. ONCEs, let's make sure that we'll vote harder! Let's give them what they deserve. 💗I’m voting for TWICE (@JYPETWICE) for FAVORITE KPOP ARTIST at the #AMAs https://t.co/Fp5NRkdlByᴍ ᴀ ɴ ɪ ɴ ʏ⁷ᰔ@jkmygrm@AMAs ok, but we all know why this category exists; BTS PAVED THE WAY 🥳🏻61183@AMAs ok, but we all know why this category exists; BTS PAVED THE WAY 🥳💜👏🏻 https://t.co/GTJp3zekKmFavorite K-pop Artist isn’t the only new category added to the 2022 AMAs. Favorite Rock Song and Rock Album and Favorite Afrobeats are some of the categories added as well.K-pop as a genre has seen exponential growth in the last decade amongst international, particularly western fans. Some speculate that this has compelled Western Award shows to create separate categories for K-pop artists.MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) and MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) introduced the ‘Best K-pop” category long back. Despite criticism from fans and critics, these awards have sustained for long.세븐틴(SEVENTEEN)@pledis_17[NEWS] So excited and honored to be nominated for the 2022 @AMAs! Voting for Favorite K-Pop Artist opens on November 1. Don’t miss the show on November 20 at 8/7c on @ABCNetwork! #AMAs312639784[NEWS] So excited and honored to be nominated for the 2022 @AMAs! Voting for Favorite K-Pop Artist opens on November 1. Don’t miss the show on November 20 at 8/7c on @ABCNetwork! #AMAs https://t.co/L22Q8TDKtSBLACKPINK earned a total of four nominations at the 2022 MTV EMAs. The major ones include a nomination for their title track, Pink Venom, in the Best Video category and a solo nomination for Lisa in the Best K-pop category.HYBE artists BTS, SEVENTEEN, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER bagged nominations in various categories at the 2022 MTV EMAs as well, solidifying the popularity of K-pop in the west.TWICE also earned a nomination in the Best K-pop category.TWICE@JYPETWICETWICE has been nominated for the 2022 @AMAsVoting for Favorite K-Pop Artist opens on Nov 1stCheck out more information in the link belowVoteAMAs.com#TWICE #트와이스 #AMAs234797085TWICE has been nominated for the 2022 @AMAs🎉✅Voting for Favorite K-Pop Artist opens on Nov 1stCheck out more information in the link below👇VoteAMAs.com#TWICE #트와이스 #AMAs https://t.co/l6xMyF6M302022 AMAs: BTS have earned their fourth consecutive nomination in the Favourite Pop Duo or Group CategoryVote With ARMY⁷@VoteWithARMY[ RATE] | TOTAL VOTES COUNT | Favorite Pop Duo or Group + BTS + #AMAs,1. BTS - (1.023M+)2. *** - (29.4K+)3. *** - (29.2K+)RT & reply count as votes!39103796[📈 RATE] ⏰ | TOTAL VOTES COUNT🏆 | Favorite Pop Duo or Group + BTS + #AMAs,1. BTS - (1.023M+)2. *** - (29.4K+)3. *** - (29.2K+)RT & reply count as votes! https://t.co/YZcIYacbUaFor the 2022 AMAs, BTS has bagged another nomination in the Favorite Pop Duo or Group for the fourth consecutive year alongside Coldplay, with whom they collaborated on the soulful track My Universe, Imagine Dragons, Måneskin, and OneRepublic.BTS has been nominated in various categories over the years and has won at least once in each category they have been nominated in.In 2021, BTS swept the awards in Favourite Pop Duo or Group, Favourite Pop song for their summer bop Butter, and Artist of the Year categories.Fans can cast their votes on Twitter by tagging the 2022 AMA's official handle.The 2022 AMAs will air on November 20, 2022, at 8 pm ET on ABC Network.