Solo Artists Take Center Stage at MMA 2025
The 2025 Melon Music Awards (MMA), held on December 20 at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome, marked a defining moment for K-pop. The ceremony confirmed a clear industry shift as solo artists, rather than idol groups, dominated the most prestigious categories.
G-Dragon delivered the night’s most commanding performance, winning three of the four Daesang (Grand Prize) awards. He claimed Song of the Year for “Home Sweet Home,” Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year for Übermensch. It was the strongest showing by a single artist at MMA in recent years and underscored his enduring influence after returning with his first full-length album in nearly 12 years.
Jennie Makes MMA History
BLACKPINK’s Jennie secured the remaining Daesang, winning Record of the Year. The victory was historic, making her the first solo artist to receive the award since the category was introduced. Her debut album Ruby posted the highest first-week sales by a female K-pop soloist in 2025 and charted internationally, reinforcing her global reach beyond group activities.
Industry-Wide Signals of Change
Solo performers occupied six of the ten Top Artist spots, while established groups such as aespa, IVE, RIIZE, and BOYNEXTDOOR maintained a strong presence. The results highlighted a dual-track system in K-pop, where groups remain foundational, but solo careers are increasingly driving commercial success.
Another standout was virtual idol group PLAVE, which earned Top 10 Artist recognition and crossed major sales milestones. Their success illustrated how technology-driven acts are expanding K-pop’s audience rather than replacing traditional idols.
With awards heavily weighted toward Melon’s streaming and sales data, the 2025 MMA outcomes reflected measurable market performance. Collectively, the results suggest that K-pop is entering a more flexible era—one where soloists, virtual artists, and groups coexist in a rapidly evolving ecosystem.
