The 2025 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) nominations have officially been announced — and it’s shaping up to be a battle of K-pop icons, with Jennie and G-DRAGON leading the pack at the top of the charts.
On October 16, MAMA organizers revealed the full list of nominees for this year’s ceremony, set to take place in Hong Kong, China, from November 28–29. As always, MAMA marks the year-end climax for the Korean music industry, but this year’s list has taken fans by storm for bringing together two generational titans — BLACKPINK’s Jennie and BIGBANG’s G-DRAGON — in what many are calling a symbolic showdown of eras.
Jennie: The New Global Solo Powerhouse
Jennie dominates with seven nominations, appearing across nearly all major categories — Best Female Artist, Best Music Video, Best Collaboration, Best Dance Performance (Female Solo), Song of the Year, and more.
Her album RUBY and hit single “like JENNIE” have earned widespread praise for merging pop precision with personal storytelling, marking a defining moment in her career.
This year, Jennie proved her global influence as both a trendsetter and creative force, handling production and concept direction independently — solidifying her position as one of the most powerful solo artists in K-pop history.
G-DRAGON: The King Returns
Facing off against Jennie is none other than the legendary G-DRAGON, who stormed back into the scene with Übermensch — a project that redefined musical experimentation in K-pop. https://kbizoom.com/g-dragons-ubermensch-review-jaw-dropping-mvs-but-acquired-taste-music/
Like Jennie, G-DRAGON earned seven nominations, including Best Male Artist, Best Collaboration, Song of the Year, and Artist of the Year.
His collaboration track TOO BAD with Anderson .Paak was praised for its genre-blending sound and artistic vision https://kbizoom.com/g-dragons-comeback-shakes-gen-z-a-legend-returns-but-is-he-too-old-for-the-game/. Critics have hailed the song as a return to G-DRAGON’s avant-garde roots, once again proving why he remains the “Creative King” of K-pop even after 15 years in the industry.
Rosé, Mark, and the Rising Forces of 2025
Rosé (BLACKPINK) and Mark (NCT) follow closely behind with six nominations each, recognized for their vocal strength and artistic versatility.
Rosé’s “toxic till the end” and collaboration APT. with Bruno Mars earned her a solid presence across performance and song categories. Meanwhile, Mark’s “Fraktsiya” with Lee Young-ji further cements his image as one of Gen 4’s most innovative idols.
Taeyeon and aespa also made strong appearances with five nominations each, while the Best New Artist category is filled with competitive rookie acts such as ALLDAY PROJECT, CORTIS, KickFlip, and izna, signaling a fierce new generation ready to take the stage.
A New Generation of Competition
The 2025 MAMA nominations spotlight both established icons and next-gen stars, capturing the dynamic evolution of the K-pop industry.
In group categories, SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, RIIZE, ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM, IVE, aespa, and BABYMONSTER lead the competition — each representing a distinct era of sound and fandom dominance.
The Song of the Year list reads like a who’s who of modern K-pop, featuring Jennie’s “like JENNIE” and “ZEN”, G-DRAGON’s “TOO BAD”, aespa’s “Dirty Work”, IVE’s “REBEL HEART”, and BLACKPINK’s “JUMP”.
Meanwhile, Album of the Year nominees include G-DRAGON’s Übermensch, Jennie’s RUBY, SEVENTEEN’s SPILL THE FEELS, aespa’s Whiplash, and IVE’s IVE EMPATHY — showcasing how diverse artistic direction and global storytelling define 2025’s musical landscape.
MAMA 2025: When Generations Collide
This year’s MAMA promises more than awards — it’s a symbolic crossover of eras, where the foundations of K-pop’s golden age meet the innovation of the new wave.
Fans online have dubbed it the “Jennie vs. G-DRAGON Showdown,” though many celebrate it as a historic reunion of artistry and influence, two figures who helped redefine what it means to be a solo artist in Korea’s pop scene.
As one viral comment on X (formerly Twitter) put it: “This isn’t just Jennie vs. G-DRAGON — it’s the past, present, and future of K-pop colliding.”
The 2025 MAMA Awards will be held on November 28–29 in Hong Kong, promising a spectacular night that could mark a new chapter in global K-pop history.
Sources: Kenh14,Mnet
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