Who will be the ruler of K-music in May? Global K-pop chart KM Chart is opening the gates for the May monthly chart vote and concentrating fans' firepower.
Global standard K-pop chart KM Chart unveiled the candidates for six institutional sector categories for the May 2026 monthly chart and launched full-scale voting through the 24th. This slate of candidates is packed with top artists who have captured both musicality and mass appeal, and a fiercer-than-ever "true showdown" is expected.
The most eye-catching is of course the K-MUSIC (songs) institutional sector. Centered on BTS's "SWIM" and Blackpink's "GO," a total of 50 songs are nominated, including AKMU's "Paradise of Rumors," LE SSERAFIM's "SPAGHETTI," and IVE's "BANG BANG," delighting music fans' ears.
The artist institutional sector is also a "war of the stars." Led by box-office guarantees BTS, Lim Young-woong and Blackpink, 30 of the top acts across genres, including DAY6, SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, aespa and Le Chanwon, have made the list. The lineup is so strong that any winner would be deserving, and voting enthusiasm is already high.
In the male institutional sector, V of BTS, Onew, Kang Daniel, Kim Sungkyu and SEVENTEEN face off, and the female institutional sector features I.O.I, Suzy, Irene (Red Velvet), aespa and IVE among the candidates, stirring fans' hearts.
The "ROOKIE (new artist)" institutional sector is also a focus. Male acts such as LNGSHOT and MODYSSEY and female acts such as Baby DONT Cry and ALLDAY PROJECT, a total of 20 rookie teams, are vying for the once-in-a-lifetime honor of a rookie award.
This month's KM Chart May vote can be participated in through the applications MyOnePick and Idol Champ, and the voting results from the two apps will be combined 50/50 and reflected in the final rankings. The voting results will be fairly announced by combining the judging panel's evaluations with KM Chart data scores.
Meanwhile, KMA (KM Chart Awards) 2026 will be held on July 25 at Hwajeong Gymnasium, Korea University, Seongbuk District, Seoul.
[Photo] KM Chart
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