Melon Music Awards 2025 returns to Seoul: New date, venue & voting system revealed

The annual edition of the K-pop world’s biggest event: Melon Music Awards (MMA) is happening just a week before Christmas in Seoul.

It’s the biggest event of K-pop universe that determines its winners based on Melon’s yearly streaming data, user votes and evaluations by industry experts.

The revamped judging criteria for “TOP10” category

The organizers have revamped the judging criteria for the main “TOP10” category, shifting from previous formula of 80 percent streaming data and 20 percent fan vote to a new breakdown: 60 % streaming data, 20% fan vote and 20 % expert evaluation, according to a statement released by the organizing platform, Kakao Entertainment.

The date has been finalized for December 20 for the 17th edition Melon Music Awards to be held at Sky Dome Seoul (one of largest Korea’s indoor venues).

What is MMA?

The Melon Music Awards has become one of the most prestigious K pop award events, honoring the accomplishments of artists’ using a combination of evaluating criteria.

MMA first began online in 2005 and moved to real events by 2009, becoming a high voltage year-end festival for both fans and artists.

Over the years, unlike many other award shows, it has acquired the term “the true home of K-pop,” providing a fan-accessible extravaganza of the year in music.

What’s new in MMA this year?

Besides, revamping the judging criteria, Melon intends to connect music buffs and get pumped for MMA 2025 with a series of pre-event activities.

That includes exclusive benefits, such as high sought after MMA tickets, for a build up to the main ceremony. Of course, in addition, voting for the “TOP10” and multiple category awards will also take place, as more insights and scoop is expected to be dropped soon on the official MMA page on the Melon platform.

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