With a legacy dating back nearly 25 years, it is safe to say that the MAMA AWARDS are a staple of the K-Pop industry. Since the very first music video ceremony held in South Korea by CJ ENM’s music channel Mnet back in 1999, the show has expanded to honor Asian artists across the globe, with shows taking place in countries such as Macao, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and more. This year the MAMA AWARDS made history once more, extending the ceremony to three days of live presentations not just in Japan, but one of the largest entertainment capitals in the world: Los Angeles, California. Home to the illustrious Academy Awards (commonly referred to as the Oscars), the Dolby Theatre opened its doors to some of the biggest up-and-coming stars including Anderson .Paak, ILLIT, KATSEYE, RIIZE, TWS, Young Posse, and legendary singer and producer J.Y. Park. Also making an appearance to host the show and red carpet were admired actor Park Bo Gum and Eric Nam.
The night was filled with a wide variety of themed performances, giving audience goers a glimpse into the bright future of the industry. The Opening Sequence served as a tribute to some of the most memorable names in K-pop, with fresh faces like TWS, ILLIT, and RIIZE each getting the opportunity to cover popular songs from recent years. TWS exuded youthful charm with a playful take on “Dynamite” by BTS. They definitely leaned into the La La Land vibe with a theatrical intro and colorful backdrop. As one of the youngest groups in attendance, the members’ excitement was evident both on stage and off which definitely enhanced the viewing experience. Their bright smiles radiated to the very back of the venue, hyping up the audience for what was coming next. The darling group ILLIT was next, opting for a schoolgirl concept with adorable pink outfits for their rendition of “Heart Shaker” by TWICE, a crowd-favorite. To wrap up the beginning portion of the show, RIIZE paid homage to their direct seniors NCT 127 with a powerful performance of “Kick It,” eliciting an enthusiastic response from the audience.
Soon, it was time for the very first award to be presented: BEST NEW MALE ARTIST. As this is a title that a group can only receive a nomination for (and potentially a win) once in their entire careers, rookie artists await this moment with bated breath each and every year. The presenter for this prestigious award was the legendary American actor Dustin Hoffman, best known for roles in movies such as “Kramer vs. Kramer,” “Rain Man,” “The Graduate,” and so much more. As a new fan of K-pop (both he and his family attended KCON LA earlier this year,) Hoffman was thrilled to become part of the MAMA AWARDS legacy by giving an industry newcomer their first win. In a strong field of contenders, TWS ended up clinching the victory.
NOMINEES: 82Major, Ampers&One, All(H)Ours, NCT Wish, Nowadays, TWS
WINNER: TWS
After that came the first solo medley of the night by Young Posse. The girls surprised the entire theater by running up and down the aisles at the very beginning before rushing to the stage for a charismatic hip-hop performance consisting of “Ate That,” “Loading Freestyle,” and “XXL.”
The second award on the schedule was FAVORITE GLOBAL PERFORMER MALE, which was presented by Lance Bass of the famous American boy band NSYNC Considering NSYNC’s successful background as well as the fact that they recently collaborated with K-Pop sensations Stray Kids at the American Music Awards, Lance Bass was a perfect addition to the MAMA AWARDS guest lineup. From one internationally beloved artist to another, Bass excitedly handed off the golden trophy to RIIZE.
WINNER: RIIZE
One of the main highlights of the night would have to be the duo of the Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders and KATSEYE. The cheerleading squad formations were simply mesmerizing, and their fiery sequence served as a perfect segway into KATSEYE’s big entrance. The girls themselves, also donning customized cheerleader uniforms, crushed the stage with a combination of their songs “Debut” and “Touch.” What really sold the performance was the gymnastic elements added to the choreography, including an impressive synchronized jump split executed by several members.
TWS then returned to the stage, this time showing off their original songs “Oh Mymy: 7s” and smash hit “Plot Twist.” With a school club theme, TWS proved exactly why people should really join their real-life fan club, as the catchy tracks and impressive dancing with props galore were a true delight to watch, especially as they hit their ending pose with a blast of confetti.
ILLIT, also no stranger to viral tracks of their own, tapped into the personalized theme of ‘ILLusion IT’ through “Magnetic” and “Cherish (My Love).” The members appeared up high in theater boxes as well as atop a gigantic sparkly unicorn, and the spectacular display was topped off with a gorgeous spinning parasol dance break.
For the third award, BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE MALE GROUP, renowned Korean-American director and writer Lee Isaac Chung was invited to present. He expressed much excitement for the opportunity, as he once sat in the very same seats as the groups in attendance when he was nominated for two Academy Awards back in 2021 for the film “Minari.” It was hard to predict who might win this category, as many boy group dances that made waves throughout the past year. But at the end of the day, TWS came out on top once again for “Plot Twist.”
NOMINEES: ENHYPEN (“Sweet Venom”), NCT 127 (“Fact Check”), RIIZE (“Love 119”), SEVENTEEN (“God of Music”), Stray Kids (“Lalalala”), TWS (“Plot Twist”)
WINNER: TWS - (“Plot Twist”)
Before the lights even had the chance to turn back on, cheers could be heard throughout the entire auditorium as the silhouettes of Wonbin and Shotaro from RIIZE became visible. To begin the group’s featured performance, the two carried out a spectacular dance as a pair as a gorgeous eclipse shined behind them. From there, the rest of the members made their way on stage for two of their most dynamic dance songs, “Get a Guitar” and “Boom Boom Bass.”
For the BEST NEW FEMALE GROUP award, yet another Hollywood star was tapped to present: Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph! As a fellow female entertainer who was also honored for her craft at the Dolby Theater, Randolph was absolutely delighted to reveal the winner, ILLIT.
NOMINEES: BabyMonster, ILLIT, Meovv, QWER, Unis, Young Posse
WINNER: ILLIT
As the night began to wind down, it was time for the very last performance. Through a witty video introduction in which J. Y. Park acted out a case of memory loss, (only to be reminded of his longstanding career through song) fans and artists alike jumped up with enthusiasm when the singer triumphantly appeared. The medley consisted of five of his most iconic songs from his decades-long career, including “Don’t Leave Me,” “She Was Pretty,” “Honey,” “Who’s Your Mama?” and a collaborative stage with eight-time Grammy-winner and good friend Anderson .Paak. Not only that, but the JYP Entertainment founder even prepared an exciting announcement - the debut date of his company’s brand new boy group, KickFlip, scheduled for January 1, 2025.
For his contributions to the legacy of K-Pop, J. Y. Park was honored with the final prize of the night, the Inspiring Achievement Award.
WINNER: J. Y. Park
The K-Pop phenomenon shows no sign of stopping soon, with consistent efforts of artists and those behind the scenes pushing to expand the influence of Asian music around the world. Harry H.K. Shin, Head of Music Entertainment at CJ ENM, stated that "With constant passion and creativity, the MAMA AWARDS will continue striving to create an award show that makes unforgettable moments for fans and artists and unites audiences across cultures."
Photographs by CJ ENM
