The Melon Music Awards (MMA) is a major South Korean music awards ceremony organized by Melon, the country's largest music streaming platform, and Kakao Entertainment. Launched in 2009, the awards are unique among K-pop ceremonies because nominations and winners are primarily determined by quantitative digital consumption data from the Melon platform. The 2025 edition took place on December 20, 2025, at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, with G-Dragon winning seven awards including three Daesangs.
G-Dragon closed the 2025 ceremony with a five-song performance: "DRAMA," "POWER," "HOME SWEET HOME" (with Taeyang and Daesung appearing via VCR), "TOO BAD," and "Crooked." He wore a crown during the opening and moved freely between the main stage and the artist seating area, at one point handing his microphone to Zico, who continued the performance from his seat. G-Dragon draped his scarf around Zico's neck in appreciation. The moment became one of the most discussed scenes from the ceremony. His seven awards (Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Top 10, Millions Top 10, Best Male Solo, and Best Songwriter) tied the record for most awards by a single artist at one MMA ceremony.
How the Melon Music Awards Work
The awards follow a data-driven selection process:
- Eligibility: Artists must have appeared on Melon's monthly charts during the eligibility period (typically December of the prior year through November of the current year). A minimum threshold of digital consumption (streams and downloads) is required for consideration.
- Nominations: Nominees are selected based on Melon platform data, including streaming numbers, download counts, and unique listener metrics. The Top 10 Artists category is determined by a combination of digital data and fan voting.
- Voting: Winners are decided through a weighted scoring system: Melon digital data (60%), fan voting through the Melon app (20%), and judge panel evaluation (20%). This data-heavy weighting distinguishes the MMA from other K-pop awards where fan voting plays a larger role.
- Ceremony: The ceremony is held annually, typically in late November or December. The 2025 edition returned to Gocheok Sky Dome for the first time in three years. It is broadcast through Melon and Wavve in South Korea, 1theK for international audiences, U-Next in Japan, and MagentaTV in selected European territories.
The four Daesang (grand prize) categories are Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year. These represent the highest honors at the ceremony.
Real-World Example: The 2025 Melon Music Awards
The 2025 Melon Music Awards took place on December 20 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. G-Dragon was the biggest winner of the night, sweeping seven awards total. He won three Daesangs: Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year for his third solo album "Ubermensch." This tied the record for most awards by a single artist at one MMA ceremony.
Jennie won Record of the Year, the fourth Daesang, for her solo work. Other notable winners included Babymonster, IU, IVE, Lim Young-woong, Plave, Riize, Rosé, and Seventeen, who were all nominated for Album of the Year alongside G-Dragon.
The Artist of the Year nominees included G-Dragon, Aespa, BoyNextDoor, IVE, Jennie, Lim Young-woong, NCT Wish, Plave, Riize, and Rosé. G-Dragon's win marked a major comeback moment, as "Ubermensch" was his first solo album in over a decade.
Past Winners by Category and Year
The Melon Music Awards have been presented annually since 2009. Below is a reference table of Daesang (grand prize) winners from the last three ceremonies. Four Daesangs are awarded each year: Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year.
| Year | Artist of the Year | Album of the Year | Song of the Year | Record of the Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | G-Dragon | G-Dragon - "Ubermensch" | G-Dragon - "HOME SWEET HOME" | Jennie |
| 2024 | aespa | aespa - "Armageddon" | aespa - "Supernova" | (G)I-DLE |
| 2023 | NewJeans | IVE - "I've IVE" | NewJeans - "Ditto" | NCT DREAM |
aespa's 2024 sweep of three Daesangs (Artist, Album, and Song of the Year) set the record for most wins by a girl group at a single MMA ceremony, with seven total awards. The group's "Supernova" also won the Digital Daesang at the 2025 Golden Disc Awards, making it one of the most decorated K-pop songs of the era. NewJeans won five awards at the 2023 ceremony, including two Daesangs, in their debut year on the Melon platform. IVE's Album of the Year win in 2023 for "I've IVE" followed their Digital Song of the Year win at the 2023 Golden Disc Awards. NCT DREAM won Record of the Year in 2023, adding to their four total awards that night.
aespa performed "Drift," "Rich Man," and "Dirty Work" at the 2025 ceremony. Ningning missed the red carpet and award segments due to feeling unwell but joined her members on stage and completed the performance without issues.
PLAVE, the virtual boy group, performed "Dash" and "BBUU!" at the 2025 ceremony. PLAVE was nominated for Album of the Year alongside G-Dragon and won the Millions Top 10 category for "Caligo Pt.1."
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The Melon Music Awards are the most data-driven major K-pop ceremony. Because 60% of the scoring comes from Melon digital consumption data, artists with strong streaming and download numbers on the Melon platform have a measurable path to nomination regardless of label size or fan voting campaigns.
This data-driven approach means independent artists who build genuine streaming traction on Melon can earn consideration. The 20% fan voting weight still rewards fanbase engagement, but the heavy data weighting means streaming performance matters more than at fan-voted ceremonies like the MAMA Awards.
For independent artists targeting the Korean market, focus on Melon platform performance, release timing within the eligibility window, and building streaming consistency. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to track your performance across platforms. Check the Melon website for eligibility details and chart thresholds.
Related Resources
- Streaming Royalty Calculator - Track streaming performance that feeds into MMA nominations
- Target Streams Calculator - Set streaming goals for awards eligibility
- 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Build revenue alongside awards strategy
- How to Get Your Music on Spotify Playlists - Playlist placement drives streaming data behind nominations
- What Is an Artist Development Deal - Understand label deals before pursuing awards
- Music Awards Directory - Browse all music awards in our directory
- Golden Disc Awards - The other major sales-based K-pop ceremony, using Circle Chart data
- Seoul Music Awards - A major K-pop ceremony where fan voting carries significant weight
- MAMA Awards - The Mnet Asian Music Awards, a fan-voted K-pop ceremony
- Circle Chart Music Awards - Awards based on Circle Chart data
- Korean Music Awards - A critics-based Korean music awards ceremony
- Melon Official Site - Eligibility details and chart thresholds
