MAMA 2024 Countdown: Essential Nominations and Performance Speculations

The 2024 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) are set to unfold across the United States and Japan. The event will commence on November 21 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, followed by two days of festivities on November 22-23 at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka. This move to the USA has generated significant buzz regarding the event’s structure and organization.

Thrilling Nominations

Recently, MAMA unveiled its list of nominees, spotlighting rising stars and leading solo performers. Competitive categories such as Best Male/Female Group and Best Solo Artist are loaded with renowned names, intensifying the rivalry among fandoms as they prepare to cast their votes.

SEVENTEEN and aespa are leading the charge in nominations, with SEVENTEEN widely anticipated to snatch Album of the Year for their impressive collection “Seventeenth Heaven,” which has sold over 5.7 million units. Meanwhile, aespa is a formidable contender for Song of the Year with their popular track “Supernova.”

The spotlight is also on Jung Kook and his debut album “GOLDEN” , with fans rallying for him to secure top honors.

Rookie Rivalry

The race for Best New Artist is heating up, featuring three talented female groups: ILLIT, BABYMONSTER, and MEOVV. ILLIT has set a high bar with their debut success, while BABYMONSTER enjoys robust support from their fanbase.

Aiming for a Comeback?

In an effort to recapture its lost allure, MAMA is striving for a resurgence following its previous decline in popularity. The 2023 edition received criticism for low enthusiasm, but this year’s stellar lineup and nominations suggest MAMA is set to rebound.

The initial performer roster features ILLIT, KATSEYE, and RIIZE in the USA segment, while aespa, IVE, ENHYPEN, and others will grace the stage in Japan. Speculations are circulating about appearances from BIGBANG and G-Dragon, creating a buzz among fans.

Overview of MAMA 2024 Nominees:

Daesang Categories:

Artist of the Year: 82MAJOR; aespa; ALL(H)OURS; AMPERS&ONE; BABYMONSTER; Baekhyun; ENHYPEN; (G)I-DLE; ILLIT; IU; IVE; Jennie; Jimin; Jung Kook; LE SSERAFIM; Lim Young Woong; MEOVV; Nayeon; NCT DREAM; NCT WISH; NewJeans; NOWADAYS; QWER; SEVENTEEN; Stray Kids; Taemin; Taeyeon; TWICE; TWS; TXT; UNIS; YOUNG POSSE; Yuqi; ZEROBASEONE
Song of the Year: aespa – “Armageddon” ; aespa – “Supernova” ; AKMU – “Hero” ; BIBI – “Bam Yang Gang” ; Crush – “Love You With All My Heart” (“Queen of Tears” OST); Davichi – “A very personal story” ; DAY6 – “Welcome to the Show” ; DEAN – “DIE 4 YOU” ; ECLIPSE – “Sudden Shower” (“Lovely Runner” OST); ENHYPEN – “Sweet Venom” ; (G)I-DLE – “Fate” ; (G)I-DLE – “Super Lady” ; GroovyRoom – “Yes or No (Feat. Huh Yunjin, Crush); Hwasa – “NA” ; Hyukoh, Sunset Rollercoaster – “Young Man” ; ILLIT – “Magnetic” ; IU – “Love wins all” ; IVE – “Baddie” ; IVE – “HEYA” ; Jay Park – “Taxi Blurr (Feat. Natty)” ; Jennie – “You & Me” ; Jimin – “Who” ; Jung Kook – “Standing Next to You” ; K.will – “No Sad Song For My Broken Heart (Prod. Yoon Sang)” ; Key – “Pleasure Shop” ; LE SSERAFIM – “CRAZY” ; LE SSERAFIM – “EASY” ; Lee Chang Sub – “Heavenly fate” (“A Not So Fairy Tale” OST); Lee Mu Jin – “Episode” ; Lee Young Ji – “Small Girl (Feat. D.O.)” ; Leellamarz – “Boys Like Girls (Feat. Gist, Jayci yucca)” ; Lim Young Woong – “Warmth” ; LUCY – “The knight who can’t die and the silk cradle” ; N.Flying – “Into You” ; Nayeon – “ABCD” ; NCT 127 – “Fact Check” ; NewJeans – “How Sweet” ; NewJeans – “Supernatural” ; PLAVE – “WAY 4 LUV” ; QWER – “T.B.H” ; Red Velvet – “Cosmic” ; RIIZE – “Impossible” ; RIIZE – “Love 119” ; RM – “LOST!” ; Roy Kim – “Whenever, Wherever” (“My Demon” OST); SEVENTEEN – “God of Music” ; SEVENTEEN – “MAESTRO” ; Stray Kids – “LALALALA” ; Sung Si Kyung, Naul – “Even for a moment” ; Sunmi – “Balloon in Love” ; Taemin – “Guilty” ; Taeyeon – “Dream” (“Welcome to Samdalri” OST); Taeyeon – “To. X” ; Taeyong – “TAP” ; TWS – “plot twist” ; Yuqi – “FREAK” ; Zico – “SPOT! (Feat. Jennie)” .
Album of the Year: aespa – “Armageddon” ; ATEEZ – “THE WORLD EP.FIN: WILL” ; Baekhyun – “Hello, World” ; ENHYPEN – “ROMANCE: UNTOLD” ; (G)I-DLE – “2” ; IVE – “I’VE MINE” ; Jung Kook – “GOLDEN” ; LE SSERAFIM – “EASY” ; NCT 127 – “Fact Check” ; NCT DREAM – “DREAM()SCAPE” ; RIIZE – “RIIZING” ; SEVENTEEN – “SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN” ; Stray Kids – “樂-STAR” (“ROCK-STAR”); TWICE – “With YOU-th” ; TXT – “The Name Chapter: FREEFALL” ; ZEROBASEONE – “MELTING POINT” .

Additional Categories:

Best Dance Performance Female Group: (G)I-DLE – Super Lady; aespa – Supernova; ILLIT – Magnetic; IVE – Baddie; LE SSERAFIM – EASY; NewJeans – How Sweet.
Best Dance Performance Male Group: NCT 127 – Fact Check; RIIZE – Love 119; SEVENTEEN – God of Music; Stray Kids – LALALALA; ENHYPEN – Sweet Venom; TWS – plot twist.
Best Dance Performance Male Solo: Jimin – Who; Jung Kook – Standing Next To You; Key – Pleasure Shop; Taemin – Guilty; Taeyong – TAP.
Best Dance Performance Female Solo: Jennie – You & Me; Nayeon – ABCD; Hwasa – NA; Sunmi – Balloon in Love; Yuqi – Freak.
Best Choreography: aespa – Supernova; LE SSERAFIM – Crazy; ILLIT – Magnetic; NewJeans – Supernatural; RIIZE – Impossible; Taemin – Guilty.
Best Music Video: aespa – Armageddon; IVE – HEYA; IU – Love wins all; K.Will – No Sad Song For My Broken Heart; SEVENTEEN – MAESTRO.
Best OST: “Sudden Shower” – ECLIPSE (Lovely Runner); “Love You With All My Heart” – CRUSH (Queen of Tears); “Dream” – TAEYEON (Welcome to Samdal-ri); “Heavenly Fate” – Lee Chang Sub (A Not So Fairy Tale); “Whenever, Wherever” – Roy Kim (My Demon).
Best Collaboration: Zico – SPOT! (Feat. Jennie); Jay Park – Taxi (Feat. Natty KISS OF LIFE);