In a spectacular showcase of K-pop excellence, artists under the HYBE umbrella emerged victorious at the 2023 MAMA Awards, held over two electrifying nights at the iconic Tokyo Dome in Japan.
The MAMA Awards, an annual celebration organized by entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM, not only spotlights South Korea’s top musical talents but also recognizes outstanding acts from across Asia.
Leading the charge was the rising girl group NewJeans, seizing the spotlight with an impressive double win. The group secured two coveted “Daesangs” (grand prizes) for Artist of the Year and Song of the Year, the latter awarded for their hit single “Ditto.” Meanwhile, the charismatic boy band Seventeen claimed the Album of the Year title for their extended play “FML,” released in April.
The global phenomenon BTS, despite their absence from the event, continued their reign by clinching the Worldwide Icon of the Year award. This marked the sixth consecutive year that the seven-member group, under the Big Hit Music label, secured this prestigious accolade.
The dominance of HYBE was further highlighted as all “Daesang” winners hailed from the entertainment conglomerate’s sub-labels: BTS from Big Hit Music, Seventeen from Pledis Entertainment, and NewJeans from ADOR.
Here’s a roundup of some of the other noteworthy winners at the 2023 MAMA Awards:
Best Male Group: Seventeen
Best Female Group: NewJeans
Best Male Artist: BTS’ Jimin
Best Female Artist: Blackpink’s Jisoo
Best New Male Artist: ZEROBASEONE
Best New Female Artist: TripleS
Best Dance Performance (Male Group): Seventeen (“Super”)
Best Dance Performance (Female Group): NewJeans (“Ditto”)
Best Dance Performance (Male Solo): BTS’ Jungkook (“Seven” feat. Latto)
Best Dance Performance (Female Solo): Blackpink’s Jisoo (“Flower”)
Best Vocal Performance (Group): AKMU (“Love Lee”)
Best Vocal Performance (Solo): Parc Jae Jung (“Let’s Say Goodbye”)
Best Music Video: Jisoo (“Flower”)
Best OST: BTS (“The Planet”)
Best Rap & Hip Hop Performance: Agust D (“People Pt.2” feat. IU)
Best Collaboration: BTS’ Jungkook (“Seven” feat. Latto)
Additionally, fan favorites and emerging talents were recognized in various categories, and the Worldwide Fans’ Choice Top 10 included NCT Dream, ATEEZ, TWICE, ZEROBASEONE, Lim Young-woong, Seventeen, Tomorrow X Together, Enhypen, Stray Kids, and BTS.
Notably, singer Jeon Somi and actor Park Bogum reprised their roles as hosts for the first and second night, maintaining the show’s vibrant energy and entertainment value, much like the previous year. The 2023 MAMA Awards once again solidified itself as a premier event honoring the best in Asian music.
(JR AMIGO/AI/MNM)
In a groundbreaking moment for the global K-pop phenomenon, SEVENTEEN, the highly acclaimed Korean boyband, etched their name in history as the first K-pop artist to grace the 13th UNESCO Youth Forum.
The historic event unfolded on November 14 at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, where SEVENTEEN, comprised of Seungkwan, Jun, Woozi, Mingyu, Joshua, and Vernon, captivated the audience with a session that seamlessly blended impactful speeches and performances of their chart-topping hits, including “WORLD,” “Darl+ing,” “Headliner,” “God of Music,” and “Together.”
Commencing the session, Seungkwan forged a poignant connection between his hometown, Jeju Island, and UNESCO, shedding light on the island’s recognition as a Biosphere Reserve, Natural World Heritage site, and Global Geopark.
He underscored the unprecedented honor of Jeju Island being the first locale worldwide to receive all three of UNESCO’s prestigious accolades, reflecting on his personal journey from a dream-filled boy on the World Heritage island to standing before the distinguished audience at UNESCO headquarters.
Following Seungkwan, Jun eloquently delved into the evolution of the group’s camaraderie, expressing how their bond strengthened despite geographical distances. “Because we were so far from each other, I never imagined that we could grow to become friends with our hands joined for all challenges to come,” he shared, emphasizing the synergy that transforms SEVENTEEN into a formidable team.
Woozi, in his reflection, acknowledged the group’s path to success, emphasizing the joy derived from shared moments and diverse strengths. Gratefully recognizing each member’s contributions, he highlighted the collaborative process that shaped SEVENTEEN’s unique identity. “Each of us had our own strengths, whether it was our vocals, performance, or hip hop. And as we learned from each other and came together as one, SEVENTEEN’s identity began to take shape,” he explained.
Mingyu took the stage to discuss SEVENTEEN’s philanthropic efforts, detailing impactful donations such as gifting 13 goats to children in Tanzania. He shared a touching moment when the group received a grateful letter from the children, emphasizing their commitment to ensuring that young people worldwide do not give up on their dreams.
Joshua, meanwhile, delved into his involvement with the Korean National Commission for UNESCO and the “Going Together” campaign. Expressing gratitude to their dedicated fanbase, known as CARATs, for supporting educational initiatives, he wished for the resonance of their UNESCO activities with youth across the globe. “We hope that our actions through UNESCO will reach young people everywhere, from the kids on islands even smaller than Jeju to those in every corner of the world who are fostering, reaffirming, and acting on their dreams even as we speak,” he articulated.
Concluding the session, Vernon introduced the songs that SEVENTEEN performed, weaving the lyrics seamlessly into his message of unity and hope for the future. “Let’s open up a new future together. I care you, you care for me, we can be all we need. Even a small action today can give people courage for many days to come… We will shine together. We’ve just met but we can dance together. If we are together. You and I are never losing our way. You and I, we will be walking straight.” The performance not only showcased SEVENTEEN’s musical prowess but also left an indelible mark on the prestigious UNESCO Youth Forum.
(JR AMIGO/AI/MNM)
Seventeen has achieved a historic milestone in the world of K-pop, becoming the first artist to sell five million copies of an album within the initial week of its release. This achievement was confirmed by Korea’s Hanteo Chart, which meticulously tracks song and album sales.
Seventeen’s groundbreaking accomplishment was realized through their latest album, “Seventeenth Heaven,” which made its debut on October 23. According to Hanteo Chart data, “Seventeenth Heaven” garnered a staggering total of 5,091,887 copies sold during the first week of its release, spanning from October 23 to 29.
This remarkable feat solidified Seventeen’s position as the pioneer in K-pop, setting a new standard for album sales during the first week, as per Hanteo Chart statistics.
A breakdown of their daily sales reveals that “Seventeenth Heaven” made a resounding impact on the very first day of its release, with 3,288,017 copies sold on October 23. This placed it in second place on Hanteo Chart’s all-time list of highest first-day album sales. The top spot in this category remains occupied by Seventeen’s previous album, “FML,” which garnered 3,998,373 copies on its debut day.
Here’s a glimpse of the highest first-week sales in K-pop history based on Hanteo Chart data, as documented by the Korean Sales blog:
1st Week Sales
SEVENTEEN – SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN (2023) – 5,091,887 copies [NEW]
Stray Kids – 5-STAR (2023) – 4,617,499 copies
SEVENTEEN – FML (2023) – 4,550,214 copies
NCT DREAM – ISTJ (2023) – 3,652,897 copies
BTS – MAP OF THE SOUL: 7 (2020) – 3,378,633 copies
BTS – Proof (2022) – 2,752,496 copies
BTS – BE (2020) – 2,274,882 copies
TXT – The Name Chapter: FREEFALL (2023) – 2,251,959 copies
TXT – The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION (2023) – 2,180,889 copies
Stray Kids – MAXIDENT (2022) – 2,163,349 copies
BTS – MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA (2019) – 2,130,480 copies
V – Layover (2023) – 2,101,974 copies
SEVENTEEN – Face the Sun (2022) – 2,067,769 copies
BTS – Butter (2021) – 1,975,363 copies
ZEROBASEONE – YOUTH IN THE SHADE (2023) – 1,822,028 copies
Aespa – MY WORLD (2023) – 1,698,784 copies
NewJeans – Get Up (2023) – 1,650,181 copies
NCT 127 – Fact Check (2023) – 1,647,873 copies
IVE – I’VE MINE (2023) – 1,605,948 copies [NEW]
NCT DREAM – Candy (2022) – 1,591,021 copies
Seventeen’s remarkable achievement with “Seventeenth Heaven” will undoubtedly be etched into K-pop history as a testament to their incredible popularity and the fervor of their dedicated fan base.
(JR AMIGO/ai/mnm)
By Patricia Lanzagarita
Company Sent Into Space, the world’s leading provider of commercial Near Space launches, sent a microphone into space for the music video of “God of Music” by the K-pop boy group “SEVENTEEN.”
Korean company SL8 initially proposed the idea and soon, sent them a disco-ball-inspired microphone which was customized for the literally out-of-this-world shot.
The engineers of Sent Into Space then designed a craft and attached the mic to it by using carbon fiber rods that will guarantee both its alignment and security when it launches into the air.
The company allotted just three (3) days to build the craft for the microphone so that it could get ready in time for the launch and retrieval of the footage before the music video’s release date.
From one of the company’s launch sites in Derbyshire, United Kingdom, the microphone was attached to a high-altitude balloon filled with lighter-than-air gas and it ascended to the sky.
The mic traveled up to an altitude of 113,000 feet and stayed in the air for a total of over 2 hours.
The MV received over 18 million views and became the 2nd most viewed YouTube video on the day of its release, last October 23.
“It was great to be a part of this project, and we loved seeing our shot in SEVENTEEN’s music video,” the company said.
Sent Into Space was founded in 2011 in Sheffield, UK by Chris Rose and Alex Baker. They initially had their very first flight from the back garden of Chris on December 17, 2010.
From their first project, the company has completed over 10,000 flights to the upper stratosphere highlighting the combination of aerospace engineering, video production, and marketing campaigns.
Source: Sent Into Space (https://bit.ly/3Fzruql)
(ai/mnm)
SEVENTEEN is set to make history as the first K-Pop artist to host their own session at the UNESCO Youth Forum. PLEDIS Entertainment announced this exciting news on October 27, 2023.
SEVENTEEN will take the stage at the 13th UNESCO Youth Forum, scheduled to be held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France on November 14 at 7 p.m. local time. During this one-hour special session, the group will deliver a speech and perform. Notably, no K-pop artist has ever been granted an entire session at the UNESCO Youth Forum in the past.
The focus of SEVENTEEN’s speech will revolve around the power of education and solidarity among young people to shape the future, not only for the youth but also for the entire planet.
The UNESCO Youth Forum for this year will occur on November 13 and 14, local time, in Paris.
(JR AMIGO/ai/mnm)