The global representative K-pop awards ceremony ‘2024 MAMA AWARDS’ concluded successfully on the 23rd, generating numerous discussions and continuing its impact.
For 25 years, the ‘2024 MAMA AWARDS’ has continued to take on new challenges, being the first K-pop awards ceremony held in the United States. Starting from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on November 21, local time, and continuing to the Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan on November 22 and 23, the event was broadcast live to over 200 countries and regions worldwide, marking a new chapter. The stages that transcended limits have been a hot topic every day. In particular, the interactive stage, infused with groundbreaking technology, maximized the charm of K-pop and provided a unique visual experience.
Every year, the ‘MAMA AWARDS’ has taken on new challenges with dramatic and cutting-edge directing. This year, under the concept ‘BIG BLUR: What is Real?’, it posed the question of what we truly love and what is real in an era where boundaries of taste, culture, and region are blurred and converging, showcasing answers to that question on stage.
The opening video of the ‘2024 MAMA AWARDS’ held at the Kyocera Dome Osaka was composed of AI-generated music and some visuals, effectively raising the question of ‘what is real’ from the start. Following this, Tomorrow X Together's Yeonjun appeared on stage with a robotic dog, opening the grand theme stage that expressed a connection to the Kyocera Dome across time and space. During the performance, IVE's Yujin created another iconic moment with a bow performance that spanned the venue. Fans who watched the stage exclaimed, “The opening scale was insane,” and “The directing was incredible,” while also questioning, “Did Yujin actually shoot an arrow?” proving that a legendary performance was born in line with the concept of ‘what is real’.
In Chapter 2 on the 23rd, explosive viewership was recorded with G-Dragon's stage video, which recreated his childhood using advanced technology. The stage of BIBI's mega hit ‘Bam Yanggang’, reborn with orchestral arrangements, showcased a fairy-tale-like performance with special effects.
Meanwhile, aespa's stage themed around the multiverse showcased cutting-edge technology, reaching the pinnacle of splendor, and surpassed 4 million views on YouTube just three days after its release, garnering intense attention from global fans. Additionally, Bruno Mars and Rosé, who premiered the much-discussed ‘APT.’ performance, and SEVENTEEN, who captivated fans with their ‘Maestro’ stage featuring robots, have all contributed to the extraordinary reactions towards the ‘2024 MAMA AWARDS’ stage, truly exciting K-pop fans worldwide.
Meanwhile, the ‘MAMA AWARDS’ started in 1999 as Mnet’s ‘Video Music Awards’ and was renamed ‘Mnet ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS’ in 2009, declaring it the first Asian music awards in South Korea. In 2022, it underwent rebranding to ‘MAMA AWARDS’.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
