For the first time, a Japanese artist's name appeared on the iHeartRadio Music Awards nomination list. JO1, a boy group born from Japan's biggest audition show, was nominated for World Artist of the Year at the 2026 ceremony, alongside global heavyweights like Ayra Starr, Jackson Wang and Tyla. Here is how a group assembled by public vote got to Hollywood's Dolby Theatre.

What Are the iHeartRadio Music Awards?

The iHeartRadio Music Awards is one of America's premier music ceremonies, organized by iHeartMedia, a media giant that operates over 860 radio stations across the United States. Launched in 2014, the awards celebrate the artists and songs most played on iHeartRadio's radio stations and digital platforms over the course of a year. Unlike the Grammys, which rely on industry voting, iHeartRadio nominations are driven by actual radio play and chart performance, making it a genuine reflection of what mainstream America is listening to.

The 2026 ceremony took place on March 26 at the iconic Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, broadcast live on FOX. Hosted by Ludacris, the event drew appearances from Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Ne-Yo, and other A-list stars.

JO1's Historic Nomination

In the "World Artist of the Year" category, JO1 found themselves alongside some of the most exciting global acts in music today: Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Ayra Starr, Chinese-American artist Jackson Wang, Ghanaian singer MOLIY, and South African Amapiano star Tyla. Each of these artists represents a different continent's sound breaking through to international audiences, and JO1 represented Japan.

This marked the first time any Japanese artist had been nominated in this category. Since nominations are based on iHeartRadio chart performance, JO1's inclusion was concrete evidence that their music has gained measurable traction on American radio. The year before, in 2025, JO1 had become the first Japanese act to walk this ceremony's red carpet at all. In twelve months they moved from the carpet to the list.

Surprise Appearance at the Dolby Theatre

Three JO1 members, Ren Kawashiri, Junki Kono, and Sho Yonashiro, attended the ceremony, making a surprise appearance on the red carpet. Their presence had not been publicly announced beforehand, adding to the excitement.

On the red carpet, leader Yonashiro told interviewers he was "truly honored to be here and happy to see everyone again." When asked which celebrity they would recruit to join JO1, the moment took an unexpected turn, Backstreet Boys' A.J. McLean happened to walk by at that exact moment. The JO1 members shook hands with the pop legend in a charming cross-generational boy-band encounter that instantly went viral among fans.

Kono delivered the night's best one-liner, saying he'd want Taylor Swift to join JO1 as their main vocalist. The quip drew laughs from the crowd and was covered by Billboard, showcasing JO1's natural charisma and humor to the American media.

JO1's Road to America

This milestone didn't happen overnight. JO1 has been steadily building their American presence over the past year through a series of strategic moves.

In March 2025, they launched their first world tour with shows in Los Angeles and New York. The following month, they performed at Dodger Stadium during the MLB "Japanese Heritage Night," entertaining a crowd of roughly 50,000. In May, their track reached the Mediabase Top 40 Radio Airplay chart, the highest position ever for a Japanese artist on this benchmark, proving that JO1's music was actually getting radio spins across the country.

The biggest pre-nomination moment came in December 2025, when JO1 was invited to perform at the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour in Dallas and Los Angeles. Jingle Ball is essentially the Super Bowl of American radio concerts, featuring only artists whose songs dominated the airwaves that year. Being invited as a Japanese act was unprecedented.

From "PRODUCE 101 JAPAN" to the World Stage

For international readers unfamiliar with JO1's origin story, they were formed through "PRODUCE 101 JAPAN" in 2019, the Japanese adaptation of South Korea's massively popular "Produce 101" franchise. Out of roughly 6,000 applicants, viewers (called "National Producers") voted to select the final 11 members. Think of it as "American Idol meets democracy", except the audience literally builds the group from scratch.

The group debuted on March 4, 2020, under LAPONE Entertainment, a joint venture between Japanese entertainment powerhouse Yoshimoto Kogyo and South Korea's CJ ENM. This unique heritage gives JO1 a distinctive identity: they blend K-pop-style training methodology with J-pop sensibility, performing primarily in Japanese while increasingly releasing English-language versions for global markets.

Domestically, JO1 has achieved ten consecutive No. 1 singles on Oricon, appeared on NHK's prestigious "Kōhaku Uta Gassen" (Red and White Song Battle, Japan's equivalent of a New Year's Eve national broadcast concert) for three consecutive years, and won the Excellent Work Award at the Japan Record Awards twice.

The group currently has ten active members, following the departure of Shion Tsurubo at the end of 2025.

The Dome Shows: "EIEN"

Right after the nomination, JO1 played "JO1DER SHOW 2026 'EIEN'": Tokyo Dome on April 8 and 9, Kyocera Dome Osaka on April 22 and 23. For context, Tokyo Dome holds roughly 55,000 people and is widely considered the pinnacle venue for any artist performing in Japan, the rough equivalent of Madison Square Garden or Wembley. It was their first dome run in a year.

The tour took its title from "EIEN," a new song written and composed by member Shoya Kimata. The concept, built around the idea of the bonds JO1 has accumulated and the resolve to carry them forward, ran through the whole show as a single narrative. In the opening remarks, Ruki Shiroiwa said the title carried the wish that JO1 and JAM, the fan name, could stay together indefinitely.

A New Chapter for Japanese Music Globally

JO1's iHeartRadio nomination arrives at a moment when Japanese music is experiencing unprecedented international attention. Acts like BABYMETAL, XG, Number_i, and Yorushika have each carved different paths into global markets. JO1's approach, leveraging American radio infrastructure and building relationships within the iHeartMedia ecosystem, represents yet another distinct strategy.

While K-pop groups have long dominated the "Asian act going global" narrative, JO1 is charting its own course. And there is a real gap between walking a red carpet and appearing on a nomination list: the first runs on invitations, the second runs on actual radio spins. That gap is what JO1 crossed in twelve months.

Is JO1 known in your country? What do you think about Japanese boy groups expanding internationally? Share your thoughts, we'd love to hear how J-pop's global push is being received around the world.

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