On the evening of September 8th, The Fact Music Awards 2024 (TMA) concluded after two nights of events, featuring numerous influential K-pop idols. TMA is an esteemed annual music award show that presents a single Daesang (the most prestigious award) to the most impactful South Korean artist. Consequently, K-pop fans eagerly await TMA results each year, marking the start of the year-end award season.
However, this year’s TMA experienced a tepid response from the public. Hosted in Japan, both nights of the event did not evoke the usual level of excitement. Many K-pop fans were, in fact, not even aware that TMA 2024 was taking place.
aespa and NewJeans Share a Defining Moment
On the second night, TMA 2024 garnered significant attention with the participation of top girl groups aespa and NewJeans. Regarded as leading groups of their era, their rivalry for accolades often captivates netizens.
Amid the competitive atmosphere of their fandoms, aespa and NewJeans actually share a close friendship. Both groups openly support and promote each other’s music, and they went viral in May for collaborating on a dance challenge.
Moreover, both groups share unique connections as they have been influenced by HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk. aespa is perceived as a prime competitor to HYBE’s top female group, while NewJeans transitioned from being HYBE’s “darling”to facing challenges due to disagreements with Min Hee-jin. These circumstances continually generate buzz around their interactions.
During The Fact Music Awards 2024, aespa and NewJeans shared a “defining” moment, which netizens dubbed the standout highlight of the awards show. The visuals of these top idols were striking, each showcasing distinct charms. Fans labeled it the “visual explosion” of K-pop’s 4th generation, a rare occurrence since previous collaborations like BLACKPINK and Red Velvet. The moment when NewJeans playfully “acted cute” with aespa also became a viral sensation.
A Series of Controversial Awards
With the awards show concluded, the winners were unveiled. This year, the Daesang at TMA was awarded to aespa. Following their explosive return with their debut album and the title track “Supernova,” which dominated music platforms and achieved a Perfect All-Kill record, aespa’s Daesang win was viewed as well-deserved.
However, aside from the Daesang, nearly all other categories at TMA 2024 ignited controversy. The Bonsang Artist of the Year list notably excluded several high-achieving artists. Bonsangs were presented to TWS, NiziU, Kim Jae Joong, NewJeans, aespa, JO1, and ITZY. Many fans expressed disappointment, arguing that several of these recipients were less well-known. Major male groups like SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, TXT, and ENHYPEN were entirely absent, sparking further debate.
The most criticized among them was TWS, the new boy group under Pledis. As the “younger brother of SEVENTEEN,” TWS’s debut was shrouded in controversy due to allegations of chart manipulation. Their debut track “Plot Twist” ascended music charts in an atypical manner, maintaining a top position on MelOn for over six months, despite the lack of public recognition.
Many K-pop enthusiasts felt TWS’s achievements did not correspond with reality. Consequently, when TWS secured three awards at TMA while SEVENTEEN went home empty-handed, suspicions were reignited.
TMA 2024 faced criticism concerning the legitimacy of its awards and the conversation surrounding it. The results were mockingly deemed as “distributed evenly among artists present at the show,” calling the credibility of the awards into question, with some suggesting TMA’s declining influence each year is rooted in these issues.
List of TMA 2024 Award Winners:
- Daesang: aespa
- Hot Stage of the Year: Kim Jae Joong
- Bonsang Artist of the Year: TWS, NiziU, Kim Jae Joong, NewJeans, aespa, JO1, ITZY
- Next Leader: TWS, NCT Wish
- Global Hot Trend: EVNNE, nSSIGN, xikers, KISS OF LIFE
- Global Generation: Kep1er, &TEAM
- Hottest Award: NEXZ, UNIS
- Hot-Potential: woo!ah!, YOUNG POSSE
- World Best Performer: NewJeans, ITZY
- Listener’s Choice: aespa
- Today’s Choice: TWS
- Worldwide Icon: NewJeans
- Best Music Spring: V (BTS) – FRI(END)S
- Best Music Summer: Lim Young Woong – Home
- Best Music Winter: Lim Young Woong – Do Or Die
- Musinsa Popularity: NewJeans
- TMA Popularity: JO1
- Fan N Star Choice: PLAVE, Lim Young Woong
- Fan N Star Four Star: Stray Kids
- Angel N Star: Lim Young Woong
Source: K14
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