Mnet will reportedly apply a significant change in the judging criteria on Mnet ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS (MAMA) starting this year and thereafter.
The company behind the most looked-forward event, MAMA, finally revealed the nominees on Wednesday.
Its official videos posted on Mnet K-POP's official YouTube Channel disclosed the major categories this year, including Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Best New Male Artist, Best New Female Artist, Best Male Group, and Best Female Group, to name a few.
Aside from presenting the categories and nominees, Mnet also confirmed the changes all MAMA events starting this year would adapt.
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Mnet Reveals Changes On MAMA Judging Criteria
According to the South Korean music channel, the selection process will fall under different categories. Expert judges will select the well-deserved artists and music that provide massive contributions to the K-pop industry. Meanwhile, K-pop fans can still vote on the artists who made trends this year.
The 2021 MAMA – and the future events – will have four major categories: The Artist of the Year, The Song of the Year, and the Album of the Year, which will be decided by expert judges based on the quality of work in addition to its album and music sales.
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The winner for the last major category, the Worldwide Icon of the Year, will be selected based on K-pop fans' votes. The same process will be applied to hail the winners for Worldwide Fans' Choice TOP 10.
Mnet reportedly aims to ensure fairness in all categories as the changes balance the factors for all the artists. Apple Music became the latest addition to the ceremony, as the music platform will regularly join the awards nights starting this year to share its K-pop chart.
Global voting will also happen twice to allow fans to choose the best groups and musicians to be included on Worldwide Fans' Choice TOP 10.
2021 MAMA Announces Nominees
As of the writing, Mnet already divulged the 15 categories and the nominees who made it on the list.
DRIPPIN, ENHYPEN, EPEX, MIRAE, and P1Harmony are battling to score the Best New Male Artist Award, while aespa, Jo Yu Ri, Kwon Eun Bi, LIGHTSUM, and STAYC are up for the female version of the honor.
Three EXO members made it to the list of Best Male Artist nominees – Baekhyun, D.O., and Kai. Kang Daniel and Lee Mujin join them to ensure a neck-to-neck battle. For the Best Female Artist, BLACKPINK Members Lisa and Rose; SNSD Taeyeon, IU, and Heize are up to win the trophy.
Soompi and other Korean media outlets have already shared the complete list of the nominees. Fans also have ample time to think about who among these artists deserves to win.
The 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards ceremony will be held at the CJ ENM's Contents Studio on December 11.
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