The 2024 MAMA Awards are just around the corner, and the highly anticipated event promises to be one of the biggest celebrations of K-pop this year. For the first time, the three-day event will kick off on November 21 at the Hollywood Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, before continuing at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan on November 22 and 23. The awards, presented by Visa, are set to feature an impressive lineup of star-studded performers, as well as the announcement of winners across various categories.
This year’s theme, “Big Blur: What Is Real?,” explores the growing trend of blurred boundaries between industries, culture, music genres, and technology. The awards will showcase visually captivating performances through the fusion of art and technology, delivering surreal yet real experiences to viewers worldwide.
Star-Studded Performances
The 2024 MAMA Awards will feature electrifying performances from some of the hottest names in K-pop. The festivities will kick off in Los Angeles with performances by KATSEYE, ILLIT, RIIZE, J.Y. Park, and TWS on November 21 at the Hollywood Dolby Theatre. This marks the first time the MAMA Awards will be held in the United States, offering fans a unique opportunity to witness the magic of K-pop in Hollywood.
The excitement continues on November 22 and 23 in Osaka, Japan, with two days of thrilling performances. The first day will feature ENHYPEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, IVE, ME
, and TREASURE. On the second day, fans can look forward to performances by Aespa, INI, ZEROBASEONE, LEE Young Ji, and MEOVV.
A New Concept: “Big Blur: What Is Real?”
The concept for the 2024 MAMA Awards revolves around the idea of blurred boundaries, reflecting the increasing convergence of industries, music genres, and technology. As the lines between art, culture, and music become less defined, this year’s MAMA Awards will focus on delivering surreal yet meaningful experiences to the audience. According to the event’s press release, the awards will feature “visually captivating performances through the convergence of art and technology.”
The theme highlights how the K-pop industry continues to evolve, embracing cutting-edge technology and integrating it with music and performance to create unforgettable experiences for fans around the globe.
Voting and Nominees
Alongside the announcement of performers, the 2024 MAMA Awards nominees have been revealed by CJ ENM, the entertainment company behind the event. The eligibility period for this year’s awards spanned from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, with nominees being chosen based on global music data and a panel of industry specialists. A notable addition to this year’s categories is the Best Choreography award, celebrating the artistry behind K-pop’s signature dance performances.
Additionally, the popular Visa Fans’ Choice awards are returning, allowing fans to participate in the voting process. The first round of voting will take place from October 14 to October 25, followed by the second round starting on November 1. Fans can vote on the global K-pop platform Mnet Plus and on X (formerly Twitter).
See the Full List of 2024 MAMA Awards Nominations Below:
Best New Male Artist
- 82MAJOR
- ALL(H)OURS
- AMPERS&ONE
- NCT WISH
- NOWADAYS
- TWS
Best New Female Artist
- BABYMONSTER
- ILLIT
- MEOVV
- QWER
- UNIS
- YOUNG POSSE
Best Male Group
- ENHYPEN
- NCT DREAM
- SEVENTEEN
- Stray Kids
- TOMORROW X TOGETHER
- ZEROBASEONE
Best Female Group
- (G)I-DLE
- aespa
- IVE
- LE SSERAFIM
- NewJeans
- TWICE
Best Male Artist
- BAEKHYUN
- Jimin
- Jung Kook
- Lim Young Woong
- TAEMIN
Best Female Artist
- IU
- JENNIE
- NAYEON (TWICE)
- TAEYEON
- YUQI ((G)I-DLE)
Best Dance Performance Male Solo
- Jimin – "Who"
- Jung Kook – "Standing Next to You"
- KEY – "Pleasure Shop"
- TAEMIN – "Guilty"
- TAEYONG – "TAP"
Best Dance Performance Female Solo
- HWASA – "NA"
- JENNIE – "You & Me"
- NAYEON (TWICE) – "ABCD"
- SUNMI – "Balloon in Love"
- YUQI ((G)I-DLE) – "FREAK"
Best Dance Performance Male Group
- NCT 127 – "Fact Check"
- RIIZE – "Love 119"
- SEVENTEEN – "God of Music"
- Stray Kids – "LALALALA"
- ENHYPEN – "Sweet Venom"
- TWS – "plot twist"
Best Dance Performance Female Group
- (G)I-DLE – "Super Lady"
- aespa – "Supernova"
- ILLIT – "Magnetic"
- IVE – "Baddie"
- LE SSERAFIM – "EASY"
- NewJeans – "How Sweet"
Best Vocal Performance Solo
- BIBI – "Bam Yang Gang"
- IU – "Love wins all"
- LEE MU JIN – "Episode"
- Lim Young Woong – "Warmth"
- TAEYEON – "To. X"
Best Vocal Performance Group
- (G)I-DLE – "Fate"
- AKMU – "Hero"
- DAVICHI – "A very personal story"
- PLAVE – "WAY 4 LUV"
- Red Velvet – "Cosmic"
Best Rap & Hip-Hop Performance
- DEAN – "DIE 4 YOU"
- Lee Young Ji – "Small girl" (Feat. D.O.)
- Leellamarz – "Boys Like Girls" (Feat. Gist, Jayci yucca)
- RM – "LOST!"
- ZICO – "SPOT!" (Feat. JENNIE)
Best Band Performance
- DAY6 – "Welcome to the Show"
- HYUKOH, Sunset Rollercoaster – "Young Man"
- LUCY – "The knight who can’t die and the silk cradle"
- N.Flying – "Into You"
- QWER – "T.B.H"
Best Collaboration
- GroovyRoom – "Yes or No" (Feat. HUH YUNJIN of LE SSERAFIM, Crush)
- Jay Park – "Taxi Blurr" (feat. NATTY of KISS OF LIFE)
- Lee Young Ji – "Small girl" (Feat. D.O.)
- Sung Si Kyung, Naul – "Even for a moment"
- ZICO – "SPOT!" (Feat. JENNIE)
Best OST
- Crush – "Love You With All My Heart" (Queen of Tears OST)
- ECLIPSE – "Sudden Shower" (Lovely Runner OST)
- LEE CHANGSUB – "Heavenly fate" (A Not So Fairy tale OST)
- Roy Kim – "Whenever, Wherever" (My Demon OST)
- TAEYEON – "Dream" (Welcome to Samdal-ri OST)
Best Music Video
- aespa – "Armageddon"
- IU – "Love wins all"
- IVE – "HEYA"
- K.Will – "No Sad Song For My Broken Heart" (Prod. Yoonsang)
- SEVENTEEN – "MAESTRO"
Best Choreography
- aespa – "Supernova"
- ILLIT – "Magnetic"
- LE SSERAFIM – "CRAZY"
- NewJeans – "Supernatural"
- RIIZE – "Impossible"
- TAEMIN – "Guilty"
Conclusion
The 2024 MAMA Awards promise to be a groundbreaking event that not only celebrates the best of K-pop but also pushes the boundaries of what is possible in live performance through the integration of art and technology. With a stellar lineup of performers and an exciting list of nominees, fans around the world will be eagerly awaiting the results when the awards air this November.