Heeyon Kim

Assistant Professor of Strategy at the School of Hotel Administration, management and organization area faculty member in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

Heeyon Kim, a Cornell University assistant professor of strategy who studies the business of K‑pop, says the Grammy recognition highlights how K‑pop‑adjacent music gains institutional visibility through transnational media.

Kim says:

“‘Golden’s’ primarily English lyrics and diasporic production team reflect how K-pop is evolving from a nationally anchored genre into a globally portable pop format, where production style and training systems matter more than language or nationality.

“At the same time, this evolution raises ongoing questions about cultural identity and boundaries—specifically, how much ‘K’ can recede before fans and industry actors begin to question what still counts as K-pop.”

Karen Jaime

Associate Professor of Performing and Media Arts and Latina/o Studies

Karen Jaime, an associate professor of Performing and Media Arts and Latina/o Studies at Cornell University, says the Grammys rewarded the sonic political expression of Bad Bunny's “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” rather than punishing him for it.

Jaime says:

“Bad Bunny's win for Album of the Year reflects the mainstreaming of Spanish language music and artistry, and pays homage to Spanish-language artists such as Celia Cruz, Marc Anthony, and Gloria Estefan, whose work was often included but rarely centered in top award categories. 

“His win with an album unapologetically celebrating Puerto Rico demonstrates the global economic power and reach of the Latina/o/x market and Latina/o/x people during a time of increased anti-immigrant sentiment and violence.”