The 2024 MAMA AWARDS, a globally recognized K-POP awards ceremony that captures attention both before and after its broadcast each year, has once again left an indelible mark with its exclusive performances and unparalleled entertainment.
Held over the weekend, the 2024 MAMA AWARDS unfolded as a relay event spanning the U.S. and Japan, with highlights from the ceremony making waves worldwide. The event's one-of-a-kind performances not only generated real-time buzz but also sparked a replay frenzy, dominating online charts. On X, MAMA-related keywords trended in 42 countries and regions, with over 860 entries recorded. Furthermore, related hashtags amassed approximately 13 million mentions on global social media platforms, an 800% increase from last year, showcasing its immense global reach. The official YouTube videos from the ceremony surpassed a combined 100 million views within just five days of release.
The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, which hosted the first leg of the event, received significant attention for its groundbreaking performances. Highlights included fresh and spirited showcases from global rookie artists and a legendary collaboration between Anderson .Paak and 30-year industry veteran Park Jin-young. Carrying that energy to Japan's Kyocera Dome Osaka, the event featured a blend of storytelling, cutting-edge technology bridging virtual and real-world elements, and spectacularly large-scale stages. Performances such as TXT's Yeonjun dancing alongside a robotic dog, a collaborative band "TOENZE" featuring members from TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, and ZEROBASEONE, and unique acts by virtual artist PLAVE, Lee Young-ji, and actress Lee Ji-ah, who surprised audiences by debuting as a rapper, became major talking points.
The cinematic staging of ZEROBASEONE's reinterpretation of Romeo and Juliet and a fairytale-like collaboration between BIBI and Ahn Jae-hyun also captured attention as visually stunning highlights.
However, the most-discussed moments were two historic performances. Bruno Mars and Rosé delivered a breathtaking debut of their duet APT. (Apartment), while BIGBANG reunited as a group after nine years for a legendary stage. True to his title as the "Icon of MAMA," G-Dragon reappeared with the charisma of his 2014 MAMA performance, presenting Untitled 2014 with a seamless piano introduction, followed by the debut of his new track POWER. Joined by Taeyang and Daesung, the trio also premiered their group's new song HOME SWEET HOME. BIGBANG's performance resonated globally, achieving over 10 million views on YouTube within a day and driving their songs to chart dominance. Untitled 2014 reentered Melon's TOP100, while HOME SWEET HOME topped both Melon HOT100 and TOP100 charts. BIGBANG's music also surged on China's QQ Music charts.
Bruno Mars and Rosé's APT. performance video climbed into the top trending music videos across various countries on YouTube, amassing over 12 million views. Additionally, following the MAMA AWARDS, the song reentered Spotify's Global Top 1 and saw a sharp increase in downloads, streaming, and radio play on Billboard Japan, with radio play rising 2.3 times compared to the previous week, securing the No. 1 spot.
Celebrating its 24th year, the MAMA AWARDS has evolved from Mnet's 1999 "Video Music Awards" into the premier global K-POP ceremony. Rebranded in 2022, it continues to spread hope, empathy, and positive energy through music. As the only K-POP awards event of its kind, MAMA AWARDS is poised to further elevate the genre's value and shape its future on the global stage.
