SEOUL — The 2025 Melon Music Awards (MMA), held on December 20 at the Gocheok Sky Dome, solidified its reputation as the biggest night in K-pop. While the ceremony celebrated a diverse array of talent, the evening undoubtedly belonged to the return of the king and queen of the industry: G-Dragon and Jennie.
A Historic Sweep: G-Dragon’s Triple Daesang
Nearly a decade after his last major awards run, G-Dragon proved his enduring cultural grip by sweeping three of the night’s four Grand Prizes (Daesangs). His critically acclaimed project Übermensch earned him Artist of the Year and Album of the Year, while his smash hit "Home Sweet Home" took home Best Song of the Year.
In total, G-Dragon claimed seven trophies, including Best Male Solo and Best Songwriter. His performance was the undisputed highlight of the nighta cinematic medley featuring guest appearances by BIGBANG's Taeyang and Daesung, bringing the 18,000-strong crowd to its feet.
Jennie Makes History
BLACKPINK’s Jennie continued her solo dominance, securing the final Grand Prize of the night: Record of the Year. Her win marks a historic milestone for a female solo artist, recognizing the immense impact of her solo album and its innovative production.
Jennie’s stage was a high-concept production of "Seoul City" and "Like Jennie," featuring over 50 backup dancers. Upon accepting her award, she gave a tearful speech thanking her fans and her team for supporting her "new beginning" as a solo artist.
aespa: The Queens of Performance
While the soloists swept the Daesangs, aespa continued their reign as the industry's premier performance group. They took home two major honors: Global Artist and the prestigious Stage of the Year.
The group's performance, titled "No Limits," featured a futuristic, high-octane setlist including "Drift" and "Dirty Work." Their wins cement their status as the leaders of the "fourth generation," with the committee praising their technical precision and global touring success throughout 2025.
Rising Stars and Virtual Icons
The 2025 MMA also highlighted the changing landscape of K-pop:
Best New Artist: Awarded to ALLDAY PROJECT and Hearts2Hearts, both of whom have seen meteoric rises this year.
Virtual Domination: The virtual boy group PLAVE won a spot in the Top 10 Artist (Bonsang) list, a historic first for a virtual act, alongside heavyweights like IVE, RIIZE, and NewJeans.
Best Group: IVE (Female) and BOYNEXTDOOR (Male) took home the honors for their respective categories, marking a massive year for both groups.
2025 MMA Major Winners At-A-Glance
Award | Winner |
Artist of the Year (Daesang) | G-Dragon |
Album of the Year (Daesang) | Übermensch — G-Dragon |
Best Song of the Year (Daesang) | "Home Sweet Home" — G-Dragon |
Record of the Year (Daesang) | Jennie |
Stage of the Year | aespa |
Best Female Solo | Rosé |
Best Male Group | BOYNEXTDOOR |
Best Female Group | IVE |
