Are K-Pop Year-End Awards and Events Becoming Too Repetitive?

K-pop enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the culmination of the year with a series of awards and music festivals. These events traditionally showcase unique performances and collaborations that fans look forward to. However, there have been growing concerns about the diminishing quality of these events in recent years, particularly in 2022.

Reasons Behind the Lackluster 2022 Year-End Events

Decreased Presence of Veteran Artists

One notable change in 2022 was the notable absence of prominent figures from previous generations. Icons from the second and third generations, such as BTS and BLACKPINK, were missing from award ceremonies and festivals, leaving spaces primarily filled by fourth-generation idols and emerging talents. This shift has contributed to a perception that the events are lacking the star power and excitement of past years.

IVE thumbnail — In 2022, many year-end events predominantly featured fourth-generation and rookie artists.

BLACKPINK and BTS thumbnail — The absence of BTS and BLACKPINK significantly affected the atmosphere of the year-end celebrations.

This lack of star presence heavily impacted audience engagement and social media discussions surrounding these events. For instance, the 2022 Melon Music Awards (MMA), one of Korea’s most esteemed ceremonies, experienced a visible reduction in attendance, with many empty seats attributed to the absence of large fanbase groups. Furthermore, online discussions were primarily focused on award recipients rather than the performances themselves.

MMA 2022 — Empty seats were a common sight during the 2022 MMA ceremony.

Moreover, the end-of-year ceremonies lacked the spectacular stages and high-production-value performances that fans had come to expect. Even the revered MAMA, known for its explosive productions, failed to deliver captivating highlights, primarily due to logistical challenges associated with being held overseas, resulting in insufficient preparation time for the idols.

In previous years, audiences were treated to visually stunning and meticulously crafted performances. Unfortunately, 2022 saw a significant dip in the quality and excitement of these stages, with many performances marred by lip-syncing and uninspired remixes, leading to a diluted entertainment experience.

BTS MAMA 2018 — BTS delivered a memorable performance during the 2018 MAMA that fans still rave about.

Despite the absence of established names, the roster of artists at the 2022 year-end awards featured promising talents with notable achievements. While many fans expressed disappointment, there remained supporters eager to witness dynamic performances from these emerging stars. Nevertheless, the relative inexperience of many of these rookie groups hindered their ability to captivate audiences comparably to their predecessors.

Subpar Collaborations and Cover Performances

Collaborative performances are typically among the highlights of year-end celebrations, but 2022 did not meet expectations. Many anticipated collaborations fell flat, failing to deliver the excitement fans had hoped for.

Cover performances of classic hits, which used to stand out during events like the SBS Gayo Daejeon, lacked the impact seen in prior years, even with popular fourth-generation girl groups participating. The hesitance of many rookie artists to fully exhibit their charisma resulted in performances that lacked memorable climaxes, leading to perceptions of mediocrity, as seen in some netizen reactions.

NMIXX BLACKPINK cover performance — NMIXX’s cover of BLACKPINK’s song highlighted their challenges in delivering compelling performances.

The highly anticipated collaborative stage at the 2022 MAMA, which aimed to unite notable fourth-generation female rookies, transpired as a simplistic display lacking cohesive integration. The performance was marred by rushed preparations, uninspired set designs, and minimal interaction among performers. Audiences noted a disconnect in the performances due to contrasting stage outfits and little collaborative energy, diminishing the essence of a true collaboration.

Further complicating matters, generational rivalries often limit collaborations, as newer artists seem wary of potential fan conflicts. This trend of cautious interactions has become increasingly commonplace, stifling the organic chemistry that characterized earlier K-pop collaborations.

A Glimmer of Hope for Future Events

Despite the declining interest in year-end K-pop events, the upcoming 2024 awards season offers a promising outlook.

The lineup for the forthcoming MAMA Awards includes several veteran artists whose presence is expected to elevate the event’s profile. Notably, G-Dragon has confirmed his appearance, stirring excitement among fans, especially with the potential for a BIGBANG reunion, as he has been teasing a new song featuring other members.

Additionally, BLACKPINK’s Rosé is set to join the second day line-up, where she will likely showcase her latest single alongside superstar Bruno Mars. The inclusion of these high-profile artists brings renewed optimism for the 2024 MAMA, suggesting a potential resurgence of engaging performances in the K-pop landscape.

In conclusion, while the past year’s events may have left much to be desired, hope remains for the future of K-pop award ceremonies, as fans look forward to witnessing some of their favorite artists take the stage once more.

Source: k14

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