BTS's ambition
Right after sweeping all 3 categories nominated at the 52nd American Music Awards (AMAs) held on May 26, BTS is currently focusing all resources on the ultimate goal of winning at the Grammys.
For Derrick Milano, the producer and musician who won a Grammy Award and is a collaborator in composing 6 songs in BTS's latest album "Arirang", this goal is completely within the group's reach.
I absolutely believe in their chances of winning," Milano affirmed in an exclusive interview with The Korea Herald.
Derrick Milano is a name associated with the success of world superstars such as Beyonce, Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion. He also co-wrote 6 works in BTS's new album, including: "Hooligan," "Aliens," "Normal," "Merry Go Round," "Swim" and "2.0."
Although BTS has gone down in history as the first K-pop artist to win the "Artist of the Year" award at AMAs in 2021, owning a Grammy gold trophy is still the group's final destination.
This is still considered an "unexploitable land" for the traditional K-pop idol group model, despite the fact that the virtual band Huntrix (from a Netflix series) was just honored at the Grammys in February.
Musician and producer Derrick Milano highly appreciates the team spirit and methodical communication strategy of the BTS group through collaborative products.
Notably, this music producer affirmed that "Arirang" has reached the standard of a Grammy-level work, although up to this point, the official nominations from the US National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences have not been announced.
Professional figures all reach record levels, music material is extremely explosive. This is an album with a tight structure and high unity from beginning to end. From a professional perspective, this is completely a product worthy of the Grammy award," Milano said.
Among the songs participating in production, Milano especially appreciated "Swim" – a hit that once dominated the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He believes that the popular message of the song is the core element that helps the work transcend the boundaries of the ordinary fan community to reach the masses.
Promising to explode at the 2026 World Cup
Besides the Grammy story, Milano also shared his professional perspective on BTS's upcoming performance at the FIFA World Cup 2026 final night taking place in July in the US.
At this event, BTS will take on the role of main performers alongside two global music icons, Madonna and Shakira.
When asked about choosing a work suitable for the nature of an international-scale sporting event, Milano predicted "Hooligan" would be the group's strategic card, alongside other potential options such as "Body to Body" or "Swim" thanks to its advantages in dance and top performance energy.
However, on a personal level, this producer proposed a more breakthrough direction: "If I had full decision-making power, I would choose "Normal". This song possesses a melody capable of connecting tens of thousands of spectators, which can turn the entire stand into a sea of light from phone flashes.
Milano outlines an emotional prospect when BTS stands in front of the stadium sanctuary of the biggest sporting event on the planet, witnessing millions of fans harmonizing.
That will be a moment to summarize a long journey from difficult initial steps to the peak of fame. Performing at halftime shows of a World Cup final is a new definition of "Normal" that they create" - Milano said.
