The nominations for the 2025 MAMA Awards sent shockwaves through the global K-pop community. BTS members, BLACKPINK soloists, and aespa are dominating multiple categories as the prestigious ceremony returns to Hong Kong after seven years.
The announcement has ignited both excitement and debate. While fans celebrate seeing their favourite artists recognised, a controversial change in judging criteria has cast a shadow over this year’s awards.
BTS and BLACKPINK Members Lead Individual Categories
Individual members from K-pop’s biggest groups are making serious waves in the 2025 MAMA Awards nominations. BTS members Jin and j-hope secured spots across several categories, competing for Artist of the Year alongside other industry heavyweights.
🏆 Congratulations #BTS Members for the nominations at the 2025 MAMA!
— Artist Of The Year: Jin & J-hope
— Album Of The Year: Jin “Happy”
— Song Of The Year: J-hope “Mona Lisa”, V “Winter Ahead” & Tablo x RM “Stop the Rain”
— Fans Choice Male: Jin and Jhope
— Best Male Artists:… pic.twitter.com/QOqUuy7qIu— BTS Charts Daily (@btschartsdailyc) October 16, 2025
BLACKPINK’s solo careers continue to shine bright:
- Rosé earned nominations for her collaboration “APT.” with Bruno Mars
- Jennie received nods for Best Music Video (“ZEN”) and Best Choreography
- Jisoo joined the Artist of the Year race
- The group’s track “JUMP” is competing in Best Music Video
G-Dragon’s comeback single “TOO BAD” featuring Anderson .Paak appears in an impressive five categories. The BIGBANG leader’s nomination across Best Hip Hop & Urban Music, Best Rap Performance, Best Collaboration, Best Music Video, and Best Choreography demonstrates his continued influence.
aespa and Rising Acts Battle for Top Honours
Girl group aespa secured multiple nominations, including their hit “Whiplash” for Best Choreography. Their track “Dirty Work” is competing for Song of the Year, while the group itself contends for the prestigious Artist of the Year award.
Best Female Group Nominees at 2025 MAMA Awards
Fourth-generation groups are making their presence felt:
- ENHYPEN, SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, and TXT vie for Artist of the Year
- BABYMONSTER, IVE, LE SSERAFIM, and TWICE represent the fierce female group competition
- Rookie groups like RIIZE and ZEROBASEONE challenge established acts
Controversy Erupts Over Judging Criteria Changes
The 2025 ceremony faces backlash after Mnet revised its scoring system. Judges’ panel weight jumped from 20% to 40% in major categories including Artist of the Year and Best New Artist.
Album sales dropped from 40% to 30% influence on results. Fan votes remain at just 10%, sparking accusations of reduced transparency.
Critics argue the changes could favour certain acts over others. Social media exploded with complaints, particularly regarding the Best New Artist category where rookie group ALLDAY PROJECT received nominations.
“40% for judges score for rookie of the year… MAMA you can’t be more obvious than this,” one fan tweeted, reflecting widespread concerns about fairness.
How Fans Can Vote
First-round voting for Fans’ Choice categories runs through October 26 at 11:59 PM KST. Voters can participate through the Mnet Plus app or the official website.
The voting breakdown:
- 90% from Mnet Plus votes
- 10% from X (formerly Twitter) votes
- Second round adds 10% real-time Mnet Plus votes
Twenty artists from each Fans’ Choice Male and Female category advance to round two. That phase kicks off October 30 at 6:00 PM KST.
2025 MAMA Awards Event Details and What’s at Stake
The 2025 MAMA Awards unfold across two nights at Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong on November 28-29. This marks the first time the ceremony occupies Hong Kong’s largest stadium, with a capacity for 50,000 attendees each night.
Four grand prizes (daesang) headline the awards:
- Artist of the Year (40% judging, 30% streaming/downloads, 30% physical sales)
- Album of the Year (40% judging, 60% physical album sales)
- Song of the Year (40% judging, 60% streaming/downloads)
- Fans’ Choice of the Year (voting-based)
Eligible music must have been released between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025. Last year, SEVENTEEN took Artist of the Year, aespa’s “Supernova” won Song of the Year, and BTS’s Jimin claimed Fans’ Choice.
Also Read: Diane Keaton Dies at 79: Family Reveals Cause of Death
The Road Ahead
With nominations now public, the race intensifies across all categories. The revised judging criteria adds unpredictability to outcomes that previously seemed straightforward based on sales and streaming numbers.
Best New Artist nominees include AHOF, ALLDAY PROJECT, izna, and seven other rookie acts. Established artists like Baekhyun, Taeyeon, and Yuqi compete for individual recognition.
Fans worldwide will watch closely as voting progresses and the November ceremony approaches. Whether the controversial criteria changes affect final results remains to be seen.
The 2025 MAMA Awards promise spectacular performances and historic moments as K-pop continues its global dominance. Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium will witness K-pop history unfold across two unforgettable nights.
