Seoul, South Korea – December 20, 2025 – The Melon Music Awards (MMA) 2025 concluded tonight at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, celebrating a year of outstanding achievements in the K-pop industry. The event, organized by Kakao Entertainment, was attended by some of the biggest names in Korean music, and featured performances and awards across a wide array of categories.
One of the night's biggest moments was Ed Sheeran winning Best Pop Artist. Although not present at the ceremony, the British singer-songwriter's global impact was undeniable.
Korean-Australian singer Rosé, G-Dragon, Jennie, IVE, and PLAVE emerged as the most-nominated acts of the year, earning five nominations each.
G-Dragon was the dominant force of the night, securing three Daesang (Grand Prize) awards: Artist of the Year, Song of the Year for "Home Sweet Home," and Album of the Year for "Übermensch". This marks a historic moment, solidifying his status as one of K-pop's most influential figures. G-Dragon also won Best Solo – Male and Best Songwriter. "Home Sweet Home" features BIGBANG members Taeyang and Daesung. His album, "Übermensch," released in February 2025, broke records and achieved both critical and commercial success.
BLACKPINK's Jennie also took home a Daesang, winning Record of the Year for "Ruby". This win is particularly significant as she is the first soloist in MMA history to win the category.
While soloists shined in the Daesang categories, K-pop groups also had a strong showing. aespa was awarded Global Artist and Stage of the Year. Winter from aespa attended the red carpet event. BOYNEXTDOOR received the award for Best Group – Male and Japan Favorite Artist by U-NEXT. BOYNEXTDOOR also was included in the Top 10 Artist list. Moreover, BOYNEXTDOOR took home four awards total. IVE won Best Group – Female. Both aespa and IVE, along with RIIZE, secured positions in the Top 10 Artist list and Millions Top 10 recognitions.
Other notable winners include ALLDAY PROJECT and Hearts2Hearts for New Artist of the Year, HUNTR/X for Best OST ("Golden" from "KPop Demon Hunters" OST), and KiiiKiii for Best Music Video ("I DO ME"). ILLIT won Best Performance – Female, and RIIZE won Best Performance – Male.
The MMA eligibility period spanned from October 31, 2024, to November 19, 2025, with winners determined by a combination of digital performance (60%), expert judges' evaluations (20%), and fan voting (20%). The Millions Top 10 category placed a greater emphasis on digital performance (80%) and fan votes (20%).
The Melon Music Awards 2025 showcased the diverse talent and global reach of K-pop, with established artists and rising stars alike being recognized for their achievements. The dominance of solo artists in the Daesang categories signals a potential shift in the K-pop landscape, while the continued success of groups highlights the strength of the industry's traditional training and audience-building systems.
