'2025 Melon Music Awards' G-Dragon and Jennie each took the grand prize.
On the 20th at Gocheok Sky Dome, the '2025 Melon Music Awards' (Wavve, Melon) ceremony was held. The rookie award went to Hearts2Hearts, known as SM's new girl-group face, and KiiiKiii, loved for eye-catching music videos since debut, drew attention by winning the music video award.
EXO's performance, attending MMA for the first time in eight years, also instantly became a hot topic. EXO showcased performances of 'Wolf and Beauty', 'Monster', 'Prelude', 'Love Shot', and 'Growl', demonstrating their unchanged skills, and with 'Back it up', a track from the new album to be released next month, they delivered a flashy and powerful stage that showed a markedly different side from the prereleased 'I'm home'.
Also, aespa, which continued its popularity from last year, completed a full lineup with Ningning joining despite condition issues. Ningning, who won the "global artist" award, said, "It's already been a year and I'm performing on the MMA stage. I'm really, really grateful this year as well. It's an honor that we could be a source of strength, and we'll work harder to make better music going forward," expressing thanks.
While current-generation idols' stages were splendid, the performances by EXO, a third-generation idol group; G-Dragon of Big Bang, a 2.5-generation artist; and Jennie of Blackpink, a third-generation girl group, were like showing the beginning and roots of K-pop.
Jennie performed 'Seoul city', 'Zen', and 'Like Jeniee'. On a stage with about 50 dancers, Jennie showed her own color and drew attention by delivering a live performance without tiring, maintaining her vocal tone with a resonant projection.
Jennie won the 'record of the year' award. Jennie said, "Hello, I'm Jennie. Actually, I just finished performing a moment ago and I'm disoriented," and "This year has deep meaning for me. My first album came out, and I'm happy to be able to end the year joyfully. I want to say my company worked so, so hard and I love them, and I'm very, very grateful to all the staff and to the people who made today's stage. I want to thank the 50 dancers," and added, "And my members, I miss you so, so much. Being alone is very lonely. And BLINK, I love you," sharing her thoughts.
G-Dragon performed nearly four to five songs. Although there was a live-performance controversy at last week's concert, he finished the stage familiarly, even moving down to the singer's seat and handing the microphone to Zico. G-Dragon won three awards — 'album of the year', 'artist of the year', and 'best song of the year' — showcasing his enduring reputation.
G-Dragon said, "I'm really feeling good. The road to receiving awards is long and rough. But because the meaning is that much, it's not hard at all, and I'm very happy," and although he could not continue speaking, he did not shed tears. He added, "'Home Sweet Home' is track one on my album, and because Big Bang members joined me, I think I spent a warm year. I hope you all spend warm times with your families and friends, happy new year, merry Christmas, all my love, thank you!" concluding his acceptance remarks.
Below is the '2025 Melon Music Awards' list of winners
▲ artist of the year: G-Dragon
▲ KakaoBank album of the year: G-Dragon 'Übermensch'
▲ best song of the year: G-Dragon 'HOME SWEET HOME (feat. Taeyang, Daesung)'
▲ record of the year: Jennie
▲ rookie of the year: ALLDAY PROJECT, Hearts2Hearts
▲ TOP10: Rosé, Lim Young-woong, Jennie, aespa, BOYNEXTDOOR, G-Dragon, IVE, NCT WISH, PLAVE, RIIZE
▲ millions TOP10
Rosé (ROSÉ) – rosie
SEVENTEEN - 'HAPPY BURSTDAY'
IU - Flower Bookmark three
Lim Young-woong - IM HERO 2
Jennie (JENNIE) – Ruby
BOYNEXTDOOR - No Genre
G-DRAGON – Übermensch
IVE - IVE EMPATHY
PLAVE - Caligo Pt.1
RIIZE - ODYSSEY
▲ best solo male: G-DRAGON
▲ best solo female: Rosé
▲ best group male: BOYNEXTDOOR
▲ best group female: IVE
▲ best OST: Huntrix 'Golden' ('K-pop Demon Hunters')
▲ best pop artist: Ed Sheeran
▲ Berriz global fans' choice: Hearts2Hearts
▲ Track Zero choice: HANRORO 'Time Runs Differently'
▲ Japan favorite artist by U-Next: BOYNEXTDOOR
▲ KakaoBank everyone's star: NCT WISH
▲ stage of the year: aespa
▲ music video of the year: KiiiKiii 'I DO ME'
▲ best songwriter: G-DRAGON
▲ J-pop favorite artist: Kenshi Yonezu
▲ best performance female: ILLIT
▲ best performance male: RIIZE
▲ best music style: ALLDAY PROJECT, 10CM
▲ global artist: aespa
▲ global rising artist: IDID
▲ 1theK global icon: KiiiKiii
▲ hot trend: WOODZ
▲ best producer: Zico<
[photo credit] '2025 Melon Music Awards'
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