Stray Kids Excluded: Fans Outraged and Shocked Over VMA's 2024 Best Group Nominee List

 

 The 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) have just revealed the nominees for Best Group, and while the list includes some of the biggest names in K-pop, one group’s absence has left fans around the world baffled—Stray Kids. Despite a year of incredible success, the group was not nominated, and fans are finding this decision hard to understand.

ICYMI: The #VMA nominees for Group of the Year were announced 👏

Which group do YOU want to take home the moonperson?! 🧑‍🚀🌟

— Video Music Awards (@vmas) August 30, 2024

This are the nominees for best group 2024:

NSYNC

COLDPLAY

Imagine Dragons

NCT DREAM

NewJeans

SEVENTEEN

TXT

Twenty One Pilots

Undoubtedly, this has been the year of Stray Kids. The group headlined major international events, including the I-Days Festival in Milan and BST Hyde Park in London, as well as performing at Lollapalooza in Chicago. These performances collectively drew nearly 300,000 attendees. The overwhelming love and support from global fans are unparalleled compared to the other nominees.

[스키지기]
2024 Lollapalooza Chicago

영상으로 다시 보는 롤라팔루자 시카고 무대의 열기🔥
Here's a short wrap up of the amazing time we had in Lollapalooza Chicago✨
Thanks again Lolla and STAY for this epic night!#StrayKids #스트레이키즈#Lolla @lollapalooza@LiveNationKpop… pic.twitter.com/0grIReoEx5

— Stray Kids (@Stray_Kids) August 14, 2024

This year has been huge for Stray Kids. Their music video for "Chk Chk Boom" has racked up an impressive 85 million views on YouTube in just one month. The song also debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling 232,000 units, a remarkable achievement that none of the nominated groups have matched this year. Additionally, "Chk Chk Boom" made it to #49 on the Billboard Hot 100, a major milestone for any group, especially in the highly competitive world of K-pop.

Adding to their accomplishments, Stray Kids released the album "Rock-Star" on November 10, 2023, which has significantly bolstered their global influence. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, earning 224,000 equivalent album units in its opening week, marking the group's fourth No. 1 album on this prestigious chart

Alongside "Chk Chk Boom," singles like "LOSE MY BREATH" and "Social Path" have also contributed to their skyrocketing success.

When you compare Stray Kids' achievements with those of the nominated groups, the numbers tell a clear story. SEVENTEEN’s "Maestro," for example, gained 72 million views over four months their album peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 with 53,000 units sold. TXT’s "Deja Vu" hit 68 million views and the album reached #3 on the Billboard 200 with 107,500 units. While these are impressive figures, they fall short of what Stray Kids has accomplished this year.

These values represent the average number of views per month since the song's release. Stray Kids' "LALALALA" has the highest relative views per month

This year saw notable album releases like NCT DREAM’s "ISTJ" on July 17, 2023, and NewJeans’ "Get Up" on July 21, 2023, as well as SEVENTEEN’s "17 Is Right Here"  on  April 29, 2024. However, if we look beyond K-pop, some may wonder: What albums did Coldplay and NSYNC release within the eligibility period this year? Yet, Stray Kids—despite their groundbreaking year—are not in the Best Group category.

Stray Kids' global fanbase has taken to social media to voice their confusion and disappointment. Many fans feel that the group’s exclusion from the Best Group category is unfair, especially given their massive success this year. “How can the group that’s breaking records and topping charts be left out?” one fan tweeted, reflecting the widespread sentiment among the fandom.

Adding fuel to the fire, some fans have pointed out that the majority of the K-pop groups nominated this year are under HYBE, the largest entertainment conglomerate in the K-pop industry. HYBE has recently been involved in various business dealings, including the acquisition of companies representing other K-pop groups. For example, ADOR, the label behind New Jeans, is a subsidiary of HYBE. This has led some fans to speculate that HYBE's influence may have played a role in the nominations, raising concerns about fairness in the selection process.

You'll never guess which group isn't nominated for Video Music Awards pic.twitter.com/XkqqA6vkpP

— stays #1 enemy | Единорогус-доебистус (@cryifyoucannnn) August 30, 2024

Stray Kids’ Global Dominance

2024 has truly been the year of Stray Kids. They have grown into a global powerhouse, with sold-out tours, viral challenges, and record-breaking sales. They have set the standard for K-pop groups worldwide, making their absence from the Best Group category all the more surprising.

A Missed Opportunity?

The decision not to nominate Stray Kids for Best Group at the VMAs has left many people questioning the criteria for nominations. Is it purely about popularity and success, or are other factors at play? Every K-pop fan with a bit of insight can sense that something unfair might have happened here. Adding to the mystery, Stray Kids have not yet been announced in the lineup of performers for this year’s ceremony. Could there be a connection between this and the nominations? What came first? Fans are eagerly awaiting a correction to what they believe is a grave injustice.

As fans continue to support Stray Kids, their message is clear: this was their year, and they deserved the recognition. Whether this decision will affect how people view the VMAs or lead to changes in the nomination process remains to be seen. But one thing is certain—Stray Kids have already won the hearts of their global fans.