Comp 2: Mnet Asian Music Awards Winners & Issues
The end of year awards are beginning to kick off in South Korea, however, things are slightly different this year compared to last year. Due to COVID-19, restrictions are put in place to not only to protect the people in the entertainment industry but the public as well. Without having the roaring audience to cheer on the winners and the selected performers on, we lost that hype and excitement that is normally there.
One of the latest award shows, Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA), an award show run by Mnet, was held on the 6th of December. They recently have been caught up in some controversy after being accused by Korean and International fans of the mistreatment of the Idols who attended. Photos had been seen all over social media of Idol groups stood in the car park during freezing weather. Some of the photos revealed some of the Idols sitting in their cars getting their make up done. It was later claimed by Dispatch that Actors and Actresses who attended the awards were seen in private waiting rooms and not outside with the Idols. Fans didn't take this well and started throwing claims that MAMA was being discriminatory towards the Idols while giving the Actors and Actresses special treatment.
It was later revealed by Dispatch again, that the Actors and Actresses were given catering options in their private waiting rooms and given access to public toilets. Comparing to what the Actors and Actresses had, the Idols waiting in the cold only had portable toilets, which are known for not being the most hygienic of places. Especially, during a global pandemic, you would have thought that Mnet would have implemented extra measures to protect the Idols' health. A lot of Idols suffer from health problems, such as back problems and being cramped in a car for several hours isn't the most ideal.
Fans continue to express their anger over social media platforms like Twitter, shaming Mnet for not doing a better job. There is yet to be an official response from the Mnet, but there are sources claiming they have a response. Until Mnet released an official response we will not know the answers for their actions.
There was a COVID-19 scare after the awards, Chungha a solo singer had tested positive for COVID-19 on the 7th of December after coming into contact with someone who had the deadly virus. Although, Chungha didn't attend the awards she had coming into contact with a few Idols before they had attended. Twice's Sana is one of the people she can come into contact with, this caused the whole of Twice and their manager to be tested. Luckily, the manager and Twice tested negative for the virus but Sana will remain out of any group activities until her self isolation is over. However, many other Idols have gotten tested and a lot of their results have come back negative, but there are still a few waiting for their results.
Even though there was a lot of drama going on during the Mnet Asian Music Awards, some good did come out of it. Fans were thrilled and excited at home to be able to watch the awards through Youtube for free. Getting to see their favourite Idols winning awards and performing their hearts out to give the best performance they can. Once the live stream was over, the very next day clips of the awards, mostly performances, were being uploaded to Youtube by fans and Mnet K-POP. One of the most viewed videos from the awards is Twice's song Cry For Me, this was one of the last performances to be uploaded and it gained has 8.3 million views from being uploaded as of writing this.
Here are the winners:
Best Male Group: BTS
Best Female Group: BLACKPINK
Best Male Artist: EXO’s Baekhyun
Best Female Artist: IU
Best New Male Artist: TREASURE
Best New Female Artist: Weeekly
Best Vocal Performance – Solo: IU (“Blueming”)
Best Vocal Performance – Group: MAMAMOO (“HIP”)
Best Dance Performance – Solo: Hwasa (“Maria”)
Best Dance Performance – Male Group: BTS (“Dynamite”)
Best Dance Performance – Female Group: BLACKPINK (“How You Like That”)
Best Hip Hop & Urban Music: Zico (“Any Song”)
Best Band Performance: DAY6 (“Zombie”)
Best Collaboration: “eight” by IU (prod. by and feat. BTS’ Suga)
Best of Next: CRAVITY
Discovery of the Year: ATEEZ
Best Music Video: BTS (“Dynamite”)
Best Stage: MONSTA X
Best OST: Gaho (“Start” from “Itaewon Class”)
Favourite Dance Performance – Group: TXT (“Can’t You See Me”)
Favourite Dance Performance – Male Solo: Taemin (“Criminal”)
Favourite Dance Performance – Female Solo: Jessi (“NUNU NANA”)
Favourite Male Group: NCT
Favourite Female Group: IZ*ONE
Favourite Asian Artist: WayV
Global Favorite Performer: SEVENTEEN
The Most Popular Artist: TWICE
Worldwide Fans’ Choice Top 10: BTS, BLACKPINK, TWICE, MAMAMOO, SEVENTEEN, ATEEZ, GOT7, TXT, TREASURE, NCT
Best Asian Artist – Japan: Official Hige Dandism
Best Asian Artist – Mandarin: G.E.M
Best Asian Artist – Thailand: Ink Waruntorn
Best Asian Artist – Indonesia: Rizky Febian
Best Asian Artist – Vietnam: Binz
Best New Asian Artist – Japan: Fujii Kaze
Best New Asian Artist – Mandarin: Chin Siou
Best New Asian Artist – Thailand: Milli
Best New Asian Artist – Indonesia: Tiara Andini
Best New Asian Artist – Vietnam: Amee
Best New Asian Artist: JO1
Notable Achievement Artist: SEVENTEEN
Inspired Achievement: BoA
Best Executive Producer of the Year: Bang Si Hyuk
Best Producer of the Year: Pdogg
Best Composer of the Year: Yovie Widianto
Best Engineer of the Year: Goo Jong Pil, Kwon Nam Woo
Best Video Director of the Year: Lumpens
Best Choreographer of the Year: Quang Dang
Best Art Director of the Year: MU:E
