Highlights from the 23rd Korean Music Awards: Jennie Shines Bright
Celebrating Musical Excellence at the Korean Music Awards
The 23rd Korean Music Awards (KMA) recently took place in Seoul, showcasing a vibrant celebration of music that emphasizes artistic merit and innovation rather than commercial success. Often compared to the Grammys, the KMAs are known for their focus on musical artistry. This year's event featured significant wins across various categories, with BLACKPINK's Jennie making headlines. She achieved remarkable success with her album Ruby and the hit single 'like JENNIE', solidifying her status as a talented artist beyond her popularity.
Key Nominations and Victories
Unlike many mainstream award shows, the Korean Music Awards are determined by a panel of critics, music journalists, and industry experts, ensuring that each accolade carries substantial artistic weight. Effie led the nominations with six, closely followed by Jennie and NMIXX, each with five. However, Lee Chan-hyuk emerged as the standout winner of the night, taking home three awards. Jennie excelled in the K-pop categories, winning Best K-Pop Song for 'like JENNIE' and Best K-Pop Album for Ruby, achieving these honors based solely on her artistic merit, independent of fan votes.
In the major categories, Lee Chan-hyuk's Endangered Love was awarded Song of the Year, while CHUDAHYE CHAGIS' SOSUMINJOK took home Album of the Year. Hanroro was recognized as Musician of the Year, marking a significant milestone in his career. The Rap & Hip-Hop categories saw Sik-K and Lil Moshpit achieve a rare double win, claiming both Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album for K-Flip+ and Best Rap/Hip-Hop Song for 'LOV3', a feat last accomplished by Nucksal x Cadejo three years prior. Their collaboration continues to demonstrate a successful synergy.
These were the standout victories of the evening! Other notable winners included:
- Best Pop Album: Lee Chan-hyuk – EROS
- Best Rock Song: Lee Seung-yoon – 'PunKanon'
- Best Alternative Rock Album: Shin In c – Shining Strike
- Best R&B/Soul Album: Yoon Da-hye – Wang
- Best Folk Album: Kwon Tree – The Fragrance of Life
- Best Metal/Hardcore Album: Baan – Neumann
- Best Jazz Album: Malo – Malo Live at Muddy
- Best Jazz Instrumental Album: Mijung Lim – Impromptu
- Rookie of the Year: Woo Huijun