Leading entertainment company CJ ENM announced today the addition of a new award category for the 2024 MAMA AWARDS as part of its ongoing efforts to set new standards for K-Pop awards, as it did 25 years ago. The new category aims to highlight every aspect of K-Pop, which extends far beyond just the music.
The newly added award category, “Music Visionary of the Year,” keeps with the theme of honoring K-Pop and the full scope of work involved in creating the music. The “Music Visionary of the Year” will serve as MAMA AWARDS’ signature category and will be awarded to the honoree who left a significant mark in K-Pop.
The addition follows last month’s MAMA AWARDS’ announcement on updated criteria and standards. The new criteria were set to better reflect the multifaceted success of artists as well as their songs, album design, and music videos that have connected with fans over the past year. For example, for “Album of the Year,” albums will no longer be judged solely on sales and will now consider their entire packages, including production quality, art and visuals, individual songs, industry impact, and more.
In addition, the “Best Choreography” category was introduced last month to recognize K-Pop choreographers and artists who contribute to the genre’s global success with synchronized dance moves and captivating performances.
For the first time in its history, the 2024 MAMA AWARDS, presented by Visa, will kick off in the United States before moving to Japan later this week. This decision to begin the show in a different time zone with awards and performances across the ocean is a significant step in broadening K-Pop’s global reach and connecting fans across time zones.
Boasting a 25-year legacy, the MAMA AWARDS have been at the forefront of K-Pop’s expansion, with award ceremonies hosted across Asia including Macao, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Japan. Reflecting CJ ENM’s commitment to elevate K-Pop music on a global scale, this year’s MAMA AWARDS will kick off at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on November 21 (PST) and will be held at the KYOCERA DOME OSAKA in Japan over two days from November 22 to 23 (KST/JST). 2024 MAMA AWARDS will also be broadcast worldwide including Mnet, its official YouTube channel Mnet K-POP and Mnet Plus.