Analytic Dreamz: Notorious Mass Effect - "BTS NOMINATED FOR SONG OF THE YEAR & BEST K-POP AT THE 2026 VMAs WHILE BEING SNUBBED FOR ARTIST OF THE YEAR"

Episode Date: August 20, 2026

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠⁠Join The Normandy For Ad-Free NME, Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠⁠ In this segment of Notorious Mass Effect, Analytic Dreamz analyzes BTS’s 2026 MTV Video Music Awards nominations for “SWIM” from the album Arirang, including Song of the Year and Best K-Pop. The breakdown covers the full Best K-Pop field with BLACKPINK, Lisa, CORTIS, KATSEYE and LE SSERAFIM, Lisa’s four nominations for “Dream,” overall leaders Madonna with 11 nods and Taylor Swift with nine, major category contenders, and the September 27 ceremony at Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. Analytic Dreamz examines K-pop’s expanded presence and the path for BTS following the group’s reunion.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/exclusive-contentPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Shepard promise me you'll tell them to subscribe for at free content. Ladies and gentlemen, it is about time that we put some respect on BTS's name. As you already know for the latest episode of Notorious Mass Effect, they grace to cover as far as the music portion of the episode. Of course, Power World is on the other side for the video game portion, because over here at Notorious Mass Effect, we cover the gaming and music IPs that notoriously affect the masses. So when you're looking at this specifically, as far as BTS,

coming out talking about how they're so excited that BTS is nominated for song of the year and best K-pop at the 26th VMAs, you already know that a slight is coming. You guys. See, that's the problem. Now, I'm not trying to be pessimistic, right? But when you look at the Grammys and the way they're going about contemplating taking out the Asian category, safe to say, them not taking out the Asian category is definitely letting you know what type of timing they are on as far as being uh in favor of bt s in the fan views they're basically saying we're think we will think about taking the asian category out but will they of course not because they knew btsm would not resubmit r re-ring as far as uh grammy

consideration but you know what is in consideration the vmAs so btas did submit for them and if you don't know, BTS earned two nominations at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, which is, you know, more commonly referred to as VMAs for Swim. When Arden Rain came out,

that was the main track that they kept promoting. And a little, you know, side tangent, oh, my fault, a little sod tangent, I actually listen to the album. Thoroughly.

I mean, multiple times. I mean, that shouldn't go as a surprise, but that shouldn't come as a surprise because, of course, they'll talk about BTS all the time on this podcast but when it comes to the bt s album i enjoyed the track please i'm looking at the i mean i have the whole album saved on my playlist once again no shame you know it's not you know i guess it is a shameless plug but in my link to here in my bio i literally have a link that says

what i'm listening to and it's my fresh fire playlist and the whole album from r e ring is on there because it's one of my favorite albums of the year that album of course the goat is it okay i got my dope on me and then ray's album uh r a y-e her album which is more like a movie soundtrack type album those are probably in my top three don't holliver and then chris brown hold on now you know the army you're going to be like what what what artists you just say so yes chris brown would probably be in my top five two as far as albums but as far as r a ring uh i really like to track please i thought one of the tracks they could have ran with was they don't know about us but even before the album came out if you followed the r a ring rollout you already know that swim had a different type of marketing

budget versus compared to all the other tracks off of R-E-R-R-R-Rang. So when you look at Swim as one of VMA's, when you look at Swim being in one of VMA's major categories as far as song that a year, you come to realize that other artists as far as Madonna, as far as Sabrina Carpenter, as far as Pink Panther, Zara Larsson, and Ray, another artist that I talked about early on a notorious mass effect, you know, nothing too crazy. Y'all come on, Drusky. They ain't got to do all that.

But definitely make sure to rate this five stars. You know what I'm saying? So with that being said, well, also, for the people watching live, you know, make sure hit the follow button, follow button bell icon. For the people listening on podcasts, I am currently live for this segment. So if you don't know,

BTS was not the only K-pop members to be a part of the VMAs as you have BTS, the track Swim that was nominated. You have Black Pink track Jump. That was nominated. You have Lisa's Dream that was nominated. Cortez, Red, Red, Red. That was nominated. nominated cat side pinkie up that was nominated in an ele sara film that was now nominated for

spaghetti featuring j hope of course all those artists except for cartisa yeah i think that's how you say i covered so as far as btas black pink cat side la sara film i mean i covered all of them so when it comes to the inclusion of these artists in the major categories i think this basically puts to bed the argument that bt s is only thinking about themselves when wanting the grimmies to do away with the Asian category because when you think about it, K-pop is a combination not to sound like a certain someone. Is it okay? I got my dope on me. But K-pop is a certain combination of a plethora of genres.

It's not as comparable to hip-hop, which is more culturally unique as far as the lyrical aspect being emphasized in the poetry realm, right? You look at K-pop as a bunch of different genres that's put in to one, from South Korean artists and now you have K-pop. So that is why I believe the Asian category, I'm not going to say it's detrimental, but it's definitely not as straightforward as some of the other genres, such as a hip-hop

or hip-hop's a perfect example. I can't think of anything else. Probably like EDM is a good example to compare it to as far as it being so culturally unique. Shout to Yoshi. If you don't know, I'm in my BTS segment right now. But yeah, shout out to my guy, Yoshi, you know what I'm saying? So getting back into the segment, the main thing I was wanting to say as far as

BTS being nominated is, of course, that you see that other K-pop artists are also being nominated as far as Curtis, receiving two nominations for Best New Artist, Best K-Pop for Red and Katzai, which I've already covered Katzai as far as one of the members leaving the group. I forgot. I covered that recently. I covered that August 13th of this year when I talked about how Katzai was down to four as leader Sophia announces hiatus along with

Manon as a hive group faces major shift with remaining members. If you just type in cat's eye analytic dreams or whatever platform you listen to podcast on, that will pop up. So inherently, you see a lot of K-pop representation. I think BTS paved away for that

because of course, when you look at people like the goat... Is it okay? I got my dope on me? And how he paved away for certain opportunities for other hip-hop acts, I think BTS is doing the same for K-pop acts, as of course, BTS wasn't the first K-pop act ever,

but they are definitely, objectively speaking, the biggest K-pop group to ever exist. I mean, they're really putting K-pop on it is a slight to them because overall, they're one of the biggest groups of all time. They're up there with the Beatles as far as R IAA certification, as far as streams, as far as their stadium tour,

is literally grossing the most in the world right now. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. Tore,. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. R. , is literally making making like around 10 million per show. So with that being said, it's not no slight, it's not no slight to other artists, but BTS is definitely the biggest in the music field right now.

So the main thing, especially when you look at the VMA nominations, is that Madonna has 11 nominations, Taylor Swift. I know that, you know what I'm saying? I know that ain't who I think it is. I mean, you know, Taylor Swift put out one collab with Disney and then she just,

all right, my fault. Let me stop hating because you already know, I'm trying here. I don't want no smoke with the Swifties. Taylor Swift has nine nominations. Ariana Grande has seven. I'll be interested to see what the eligibility period is for the VMAs, because then Ariana just put out an album.

So anyways, she is up there with the top nominees as far as seven. Sabrina Carpenter has seven. Bruno Morris has five. Zara Larson has five. Pink Panthers has five. Lisa has five. And then, of course, when you look at Madonna's 11 nomination, she leads the pack overall as far as nominations and VMAs for this, for,

for the 2026 MTVMA Awards. So getting back into BTS, I did find it interesting how, of course, I'm not going to say the Army gets upset at everything, but they were upset over certain snubs.

I put that in quotation marks because you know, swim is included in song of the year. I think just because they don't have R.R. R.R. R.R. as a nominee for best album of the year, I don't or the best music video, I guess.

I don't think that's a slight because, of course, K-pop is known for the choreography. But at some point, when you go against the Grammys that have all the power in the world, have all the people behind the scenes making things happen in the music industry as far as the smoking mirrors, you kind of realize that if you speak out about the Grammys and use your fan base,

whether you chose to intentionally or not, you use your fan base to cultivate an argument to where now you're reconsidering bringing back the Asian awards when a plethora of other awards shows have the Asian awards we've already gotten into why I think those are fair and it's unfair in the Grammy situation so we're putting that to the side

but basically you use your fan base and now you have an actual influential type of movement to where the Grammys have to address it so now what's stopping Grammy people from behind the scenes that may be connected to other war shows from snubbing you. And that is why, ladies and gentlemen, artists do not speak up.

Now, is it right? Of course not. You guys. See, that's the problem. But if you speak up to the right person, they may make it their goal similar to like a villain in like an MCU movie. They may make it their ultimate goal, the ultimate ultimatum as far as making you blackball. Not blackball, but, you know, let's just say not have a high chance at winning certain awards. So for them to only have two nominations, I do believe that's a little low, even though they do have song of the year and best K-pop, which is phenomenal in its own right. Best K-pop for BTS is a given to me.

Song of the year is also a given to me. To me, my favorite track off of BTS's R.R.R.R.R.ang is pleased. That track is phenomenal from start to finish. They don't know about us as another contender for me as far as one of my favorite tracks off of that album. And then, of course, I think there was another one. I'm thinking the show. I like the whole album, but those are, yeah, let's just go with those top two. So anyways, I think the album could have been nominated for, for best music video,

whatever the big award is. But I do believe that when it comes to the VMAs, only giving them two nominations, it's a cause and effect of BTS versus the Grammys. And that is why a lot of artists don't come out and speak about certain things, because, of course, they don't want the people behind the scenes who have a lot of power and influence to influence other award shows to follow those. suit as far as snubbing BTS because this whole BTS versus the Grammys

started with them as far as the BTS noticing that the Grammys was on pace to pull up McLemore Kendrick as far as snubbing them by adding the Asian category in the same year where they have the biggest album in the world. R.B. R.R.R.R.R.R.R.R.R.R.R.R.

so, objectively, the closest to that is like in the 400,000s as far as the first week. So, of course, you choose the most successful year to add the Asian category versus the other award shows who've added it two, three, four years in the past, which I think makes that fair.

That is why I believe the BTS versus Grammys is very legit, but of course it's going to result in other award shows following in the footsteps of Grammy seemingly going to snub you because of course they can't now because you won't submit. But now the VMAs may be influenced by other award shows as far as I've always, I mean, you kind of already see it. They only have two nominations.

they're literally running 2026. I mean, if you don't know how big BTS is, I mean, just look at all my BTS coverage, but if you don't want to do that, I mean, BTS R-R-R-Rang has been out for what? The whole year, basically the whole year at this point. And it's still the 20th most play album in the world. And when you look at the other albums,

they've all been releasing like the past two to three months. So when you look at the VMAs and how they're seemingly going to, I'm not going to say snub BTS, because I think they have to at least give them the best K-pop award, in my opinion. But them only having two nominations is kind of disappointing to me, and I believe that this is a remnants of the beef with the Grammys. But that's the main thing I was wanting to get into. As far as a deep dive, you know, I am live. You know, I ain't mean to make that

problem. You know what I'm saying? You know what I mean? Oh, my fault. My fault. I ain't me to say out. You know what I mean? So the main thing I was wanting to say with that is September 27, 2026. We will see when that actually happens if BTS, get snubbed or not because they could win both awards or they could not. And I think that would be an interesting discussion whenever that event happened. So with that being said, click my link to be in my bio to follow me in my social medias. And of course, if you're on Spotify, make sure to comment down below. Do you believe that the BTS deserve more nominations for the VMAs?

And if not, why? She's got a breakaway. She's all alone. She's going. She's going. Oh, no. Wrong goal, kiddo. It's chaos out there.

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