The 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards ceremony, also known as 2021 MAMA, organized by CJ E&M and broadcast through its music channel Mnet, took place live on December 11, 2021. The ceremony was held at CJ ENM Contents World in Paju, South Korea. The theme for the ceremony was titled as "Make Some Noise". The ceremony was the 23rd in the show's history, and the last to be named as the "Mnet Asian Music Awards," as the show rebranded for the following edition.
Background
[edit]
On July 20, 2021, it was reported by Ilgan Sports the ceremony is undergoing discussion to be held in Hong Kong despite the ongoing pandemic and travel restrictions.[1] On September 7, it was announced the ceremony would be held at CJ ENM Contents World in Paju, South Korea. This will be the second consecutive year, the ceremony will take place in South Korea only.[2]
On October 13, Mnet announced that Lee Hyori will be hosting the ceremony. She will be the first female host for Mnet Asian Music Awards. In addition, Mnet also announced that the theme of the ceremony titled as "Make Some Noise".[3] Mnet also announced that it will be airing a 7-episode special documentary titled "MAMA: The Original K-pop Awards" from October 28, to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the Mnet Asian Music Awards.[4] According to video teaser posted on Mnet's Twitter, the documentary is expected to feature interviews from Psy, Park Jin-young, Exo's Kai, Twice's Nayeon, Sana, and Jihyo, Mamamoo's Hwasa, Stray Kids, Super Junior, Shinee, and 2NE1.[5]
On November 16, a global press conference was held. It was revealed that the awards ceremony will be an offline event with a limited audience in accordance with government disease prevention guidelines. South Korean-based company, Samil PwC, will be auditing the ceremony. Mnet also announced additional performers including British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, the 8 crews of Street Woman Fighter, a reunion stage of Wanna One, and a collaboration stage between members of top fourth-generation K-pop groups.[6]
On December 9, Mnet announced the 2021 MAMA Ambassadors. Rain, Song Joong-ki, Ed Sheeran and Han Ye-ri will deliver the key values that made K-content globally loved by global audiences.[7] On December 11, Mnet released a special album titled, "Do the dance", performed by Lee Hyori on music streaming platforms.[8]
Performers
[edit]
Ed Sheeran, Street Woman Fighter, and Wanna One were announced as performers on November 16, 2021.[9] The rest of the performers were announced on November 25.[10] On December 5, Kep1er withdrew from the ceremony after a staff member from the group tested positive for COVID-19.[11] Some performances are pre-recorded.
The list of presenters was announced on December 7, 2021.[38] Choi Si-won was originally scheduled as a presenter but was diagnosed with COVID-19 a day before the ceremony.[39]
Lee Hyun-yi & Ahn Hyun-mo – red carpet hosts
Lee Sun-bin & Lee Do-hyun – Best New Artists (Male & Female)
Haha, Monika, & Shin Ga-bee – KTO Breakout Artist
Kim Seo-hyung – Best Band Performance
Kim Young-dae & Kim Hye-yoon – Best HipHop & Urban Music
Yeo Jin-goo – Best Dance Female Group
Jo Jung-suk – Album of the Year
Heo Sung-tae & Nam Yoon-su – Best OST
Jo Bo-ah & Ahn Bo-hyun – Worldwide Fans' Choice Top 10
Rain & Noh Hong-chul – Worldwide Fans' Choice Top 10
Han Ye-ri – The value of being different segment
Lee Jung-jae – Worldwide Icon of the Year
Song Joong-ki – Breaking the Norm
Kwon Yul – TikTok Favorite Moment
Tiffany Young & Choi Soo-young – Best Female Group
Song Joong-ki – Song of the Year
Uhm Jung-hwa – Artist of the Year
Criteria
[edit]
K-pop categories
[edit]
All songs that have been released from October 29, 2020, to October 31, 2021, are eligible to be nominated.[40]
^Best New Male/Female Artist, Best Male/Female Artist, Best Male/Female Group.
^Best Dance Performance (Solo/Male/Female Group), Best Vocal Performance (Male/Female/Group), Best Hip-hop & Urban Music, Best Band Performance, Best Collaboration, Best OST.
^ abPre-voting will be held from November 4 to 22, 2021. Main voting period will be held from November 25 until the live broadcast of the show.
Asia Music categories
[edit]
Artists from Japan, Greater China, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam who have worked on songs released from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021.[40]
Professional categories
[edit]
Music experts who participated in the production, creation, activities etc., of K-Pop's records and digital songs released from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021.[40]
Winners and nominees
[edit]
BTS won ten awards, including the Artist of the Year (Daesang), Song of the Year (Daesang), Album of the Year (Daesang), Worldwide Icon of the Year (Daesang), Best Male Group, Best Dance Performance, Best Music Video, Worldwide Fans' Choice Top 10, TikTok Favorite Moment and 2021 Visionary.IU won three awards, including Best Female Artist, Best Vocal Performance, and Best Collaboration.Aespa, Best Dance Performance – Female Group and Best New Female Artist
Winners and nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Winners listed first and highlighted in bold.[41][42]
Online voting for Worldwide Fans' Choice Top 10 opened on the official website and Twitter on November 4, 2021. Online voting for Worldwide Icon of the Year opened on the official MAMA website and Twitter on November 25, 2021. Voting on the official website and Apple Music ended on December 9, 2021, while voting on Twitter ended during the live broadcast.[43]
Main Awards
[edit]
The list of nominees for all categories excluding Album of the Year, Worldwide Icon of the Year, and Best Music Video, were announced on November 3, 2021, through the official website.[44]
Artist of the Year (Daesang)
Song of the Year (Daesang)
BTS
Aespa
IU
NCT 127
Oh My Girl
BTS – "Butter"
Aespa – "Next Level
IU – Celebrity
Lee Mu-jin – "Traffic Light"
Oh My Girl – "Dun Dun Dance"
Album of the Year (Daesang)
Worldwide Icon of the Year (Daesang)
BTS – Be
Aespa – Savage
IU – Lilac
NCT 127 – Sticker
NCT Dream – Hot Sauce
BTS
Enhypen
Lisa
NCT 127
NCT Dream
Seventeen
Stray Kids
Tomorrow X Together
Treasure
Twice
Best Male Group
Best Female Group
BTS
NCT 127
NCT Dream
Seventeen
Stray Kids
Tomorrow X Together
Twice
(G)I-dle
Brave Girls
Itzy
Oh My Girl
Red Velvet
Best Male Artist
Best Female Artist
Baekhyun
D.O
Kai
Kang Daniel
Lee Mu-jin
IU
Heize
Lisa
Rosé
Taeyeon
Best Dance Performance – Male Group
Best Dance Performance – Female Group
BTS – "Butter"
NCT 127 – "Sticker"
NCT Dream – "Hot Sauce"
Seventeen – "Ready to Love"
Shinee – "Don't Call Me"
Stray Kids – "Thunderous"
Aespa – "Next Level"
Itzy – "In the Morning"
Oh My Girl – "Dun Dun Dance"
Red Velvet – "Queendom"
STAYC – "ASAP"
Twice – "Alcohol-Free"
Best Dance Performance – Solo
Best Vocal Performance
Rosé – "On The Ground"
Baekhyun – "Bambi"
Hyuna – "I'm Not Cool"
Jeon Somi – "Dumb Dumb"
Lisa – "Lalisa"
Taeyeon – "Weekend"
IU – "Celebrity"
AKMU – "Nakka" (with IU)
Davichi – "Just Hug Me"
Heize – "Happen"
Lee Mu-jin – "Traffic Light"
Best OST
Best Collaboration
Jo Jung-suk – "I Like You" (Hospital Playlist Season 2)
10cm – "Borrow Your Night" (Romance 101)
Choi Yu-ree – "Wish" (Hometown Cha Cha)
Lee Mu-jin – "Rain and You" (Hospital Playlist Season 2)
The list of nominees for Worldwide Fans' Choice Top 10, were announced on November 3, 2021, through the official website.[44]
Worldwide Fans' Choice Top 10
BTS
Enhypen
Lisa
NCT 127
NCT Dream
Seventeen
Stray Kids
Tomorrow X Together
Treasure
Twice
List of nominated artists
(G)I-dle
Aespa
AKMU
Ash Island
Astro
Ateez
Brave Girls
Chungha
CL
Davichi
Exo
Fromis 9
Heize
Hyuna
iKon
Itzy
IU
Jannabi
Jeon Somi
Jessi
Kang Daniel
Lee Mu-jin
Lee Seung-gi
Loona
Mamamoo
Mino
Monsta X
NU'EST
Oh My Girl
Rain
Red Velvet
Rosé
SF9
Shinee
STAYC
Sunmi
Super Junior
Taeyeon
The Boyz
Weeekly
Favorite Asian Artist
Favorite International Artist
INI
Ed Sheeran
Special Awards
[edit]
Category
Winner
Best Asian Artist
Japan
JO1
Mandarin
Accusefive
Thailand
Tilly Birds
Indonesia
Anneth
Vietnam
Quân A.P [vi]
Best New Asian Artist
Japan
Ado
Mandarin
Anson Lo
Thailand
Sprite X Guygeegee
Indonesia
Lyodra
Vietnam
Hoàng Duyên [vi]
TikTok Favorite Moment
BTS
KTO Breakout Artist
Brave Girls
2021 Visionary (CJ E&M)
BTS
Aespa
Yoo Jae-suk
Choi Jung-nam
Youn Yuh-jung
Hwang Dong-hyuk
Professional Categories
[edit]
Category
Winner
Work
Best Executive Producer of the Year
Bang Si-hyuk
BTS
Best Producer of the Year
Teddy
Lalisa
Best Composer of the Year
Yoo Young-jin
"Savage"
Best Engineer of the Year
Gu Jong-pil & Kwon Nam-woo
"Celebrity"
Best Video Director of the Year
Lumpens
"Butter"
Best Choreographer of the Year
Leejung Lee
"Money"
Best Art Director of the Year
MU:E
"Butter"
Multiple Awards
[edit]
The following artist(s) received three or more awards:
Awards
Artist(s)
10
BTS
3
IU
Aespa
Broadcast
[edit]
The ceremony of the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards was broadcast live worldwide from Mnet in South Korea, to simulcast across CJ E&M channels; other international networks, and online via Mnet K-pop, Mnet TV, M2, and KCON's YouTube account.[45] The red carpet was broadcast live 2 hours before the main ceremony.
FET Friday Video, FET Mobile Circle app (Far EasTone)
Philippines
GigaPlay (Smart Communications)
Singapore
MeWATCH
Indonesia
Indosiar, Vidio, JOOX
Malaysia
JOOX, TonTon
Thailand
JOOX
Myanmar
tvN Asia
Maldives
Sri Lanka
Vietnam
FPT TV, FPT Play, Foxy
Sub-Saharan Africa
tvN Asia (through DStv)
Notes
[edit]
^Restricted access in some countries due to broadcasting rights.
References
[edit]
^Hwang, Ji-young (July 20, 2021). "[단독] '2021 MAMA' 코로나 위기 속 홍콩 개최 논의 '솔솔'" [[Exclusive] Discussion about holding '2021 MAMA' in Hong Kong amid Corona crisis 'Solsol']. Daum (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
^Kim, Jin-seok (September 7, 2021). "[단독]2021 MAMA, 12월 11일 개최 ... 2년 연속 국내" [[Exclusive] 2021 MAMA to be held on December 11th ... 2 years in a row] (in Korean). JTBC. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021 – via Naver.
^Im, Mi-ji (October 13, 2021). "이효리, '2021 MAMA' 호스트 확정..역대 최초 여성 호스트(공식)" [Hyori Lee, confirmed as host for '2021 MAMA'...First female host in history (official)] (in Korean). Herald POP. Archived from the original on October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021 – via Naver.
^Hong, Se-young (October 6, 2021). "[DA:이슈] 갑분 'MAMA' 다큐...추억팔이vsMnet 자존감 회복" [[DA:Issue] Gabbun 'MAMA' documentary...Selling Memories vs. Mnet Self-Esteem Recovery] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021 – via Naver.
^Hwang, Hye-jin (November 16, 2021). "이효리·워너원·스우파→에드시런까지...2021 MAMA 변화와 도전(종합)" [Hyori Lee, Wanna One, Supa → Ed Sheeran...2021 MAMA Changes and Challenges (Comprehensive)] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved December 11, 2021 – via Naver.
^Moon, Wan-sik (November 25, 2021). "2021 MAMA, 에스파→TXT 12팀 최종 라인업 공개" [2021 MAMA, Espa → TXT 12 Team Final Lineup Revealed] (in Korean). MT Star News. Retrieved December 11, 2021 – via Naver.
^Park, Jeong-seon (December 3, 2021). "NCT, '2021 MAMA' 무대서 신곡 '유니버스' 무대 첫 공개" [NCT to unveil new song 'Universe' for the first time on stage at '2021 MAMA'] (in Korean). Dailian. Archived from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021 – via Naver.
^Park, Se-yeon (December 11, 2021). "에드 시런, 페이보릿 인터네셔널 아티스트 "한국서 공연으로 만나길"('2021 MAMA')" [Ed Sheeran, Favorite International Artist "Hope to meet you at a concert in Korea" ('2021 MAMA')] (in Korean). Maeil Business Newspaper. Retrieved December 11, 2021 – via Naver.
^Lee, Min-ji (December 11, 2021). "워너원, 우여곡절 끝 3년만 무대 어땠나 "기적 같아"[2021 MAMA]" [Wanna One, how was the stage after 3 years of twists and turns "It's like a miracle" [2021 MAMA]] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved December 11, 2021 – via Naver.
^Lee, Seul-bi (December 7, 2021). "'2021 MAMA' 엄정화·비→송중기·조정석...시상자 전격 공개" ['2021 MAMA' Uhm Jung-hwa, Rain → Song Joong-ki, Jo Jung-suk...Announcement of the presenter] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Retrieved December 11, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kim, Seon-hee (December 10, 2021). "[전문] 최시원, 코로나 19 확진" [[Special] Siwon Choi, confirmed with COVID-19] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021 – via Naver.
^Lee, Jae-hoon (December 11, 2021). "방탄소년단, 아티스트 오브 더 이어 포함 9관왕..2021년도 가득 채웠다(종합)[2021 MAMA]" [BTS wins 8 trophies at '2021 MAMA' despite not attending...Sweep all 4 targets (Comprehensive)] (in Korean). Newsis. Retrieved December 11, 2021 – via Naver.