The countdown to one of K-Pop’s biggest nights has begun. Melon has officially opened voting for the 2025 Melon Music Awards (MMA 2025), inviting fans around the world to rally behind their favorite artists ahead of the ceremony on December 20 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.
This year marks the 17th edition of the prestigious event, and the competition is shaping up to be one of the most intense in MMA history. Eligible songs include all releases from October 31, 2024, to November 19, 2025, with Melon scoring and industry metrics used to determine nominees across multiple major categories.
Fierce Competition for “Artist of the Year”
The coveted Artist of the Year category features a powerhouse lineup of 10 nominees—each representing a dominant force in 2025’s music scene. The lineup includes:
G-DRAGONaespa
JENNIE
ROSÉ
IVE
RIIZE
BOYNEXTDOOR
PLAVE
NCT WISH
Lim Young Woong
Fans are already flooding social platforms with predictions as these acts battle for the biggest title of the night.
“Album of the Year” Packed With Global Favorites
The Album of the Year race brings an equally competitive selection, with standout releases such as:
BABYMONSTER — DRIP
ROSÉ — rosieIVE — IVE EMPATHY
PLAVE — Caligo Pt. 1
SEVENTEEN — HAPPY BURSTDAY
IU — 꽃갈피 셋
RIIZE — ODYSSEY
G-DRAGON — Übermensch
JENNIE — Ruby
Lim Young Woong — IM HERO 2
Each album dominated discussions throughout the year, making this category one of the most unpredictable.
Fans Decide the “Best Song of the Year”
The Song of the Year nominees highlight the tracks that shaped 2025:
BABYMONSTER — “DRIP”ROSÉ — “toxic till the end”
BOYNEXTDOOR — “I LOVE YOU (Just for Today)”
G-DRAGON — “HOME SWEET HOME”
IVE — “REBEL HEART”
JENNIE — “like JENNIE”
MAK TUB — “The Child of Beginning”
10CM — “Reach You”
HUNTR/X — “Golden”
조째즈 — “모르시나요”
From viral TikTok hits to chart-topping singles, fans now have the final word.
Rookie Artists Battle for Their First Big Award
The Rookie of the Year category features rising stars who made major impacts this year:
JAESSBEE조째즈
Hearts2Hearts
KiiiKiii
ALLDAY PROJECT
Each contender represents a fresh wave of creativity shaping the next generation of K-Pop.
Massive Lineup + Millions TOP10 + Genre Awards
Additional fan-voting categories include:
Best Solo – Female & MaleBest Group – Female & Male
Best OST
Best Pop Artist
Track Zero Choice (highlighting indie innovators)
The Millions TOP10 shortlist also features 26 teams whose albums surpassed major streaming milestones.
Fans Rewarded With Daily Prizes Just for Voting
Melon is boosting participation with daily attendance rewards. Voters who check in each day have the chance to win:
MMA 2025 ticketsLuxury tea collections
Ceramic wine glasses
Movie packages
Premium ice cream sets
And a special December 14 bonus draw for additional MMA tickets (90 winners)
Any Melon user can vote, but attendance gifts are exclusive to members with active Melon passes.
#EVENT MMA2025 최종 라인업 아티스트를 소개합니다💚
— Melon 멜론 (@melon) December 8, 2025
멜론에서 LIVE 알림 설정하고✨
인용으로 인증 캡처 이미지 남기면#MMA2025 초대권 드려요🎫
LIVE 알림 설정하기
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📍이벤트 기간 : ~12/11(목)
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🎁선물 : MMA2025 초대권… pic.twitter.com/ogYZw3HWYK
This year’s ceremony, themed “Play The Moment,” will spotlight music as a shared experience between artists and fans.
The confirmed performer lineup already includes:
G-DRAGON, JENNIE, ROSÉ, aespa, IVE, EXO, WOODZ, BOYNEXTDOOR, RIIZE, NCT WISH, Jay Park, 10CM, Han Roro, ILLIT, PLAVE, Hearts2Hearts, KiiiKiii, ALLDAY PROJECT, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, IDID and more.
Fans can watch the event live via Melon app/web, Wavve (Korea), U-NEXT (Japan), Magenta TV (Germany), and globally on Melon and 1theK’s official YouTube channels.
