Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) 2021 will begin with a special collaboration performance by six members of the fourth-generation idol groups, including ITZY, Stray Kids, and TOMORROW x TOGETHER (TXT). These K-pop idols will work together for a joined performance that is titled BlooM the Sound.
The opening act will be performed by Stray Kids member Hyunjin, ATEEZ member Wooyoung, TXT member Yeonjun, ITZY member Yeji, Aespa member Karine, and ENHYPEN member Heeeung.
Girl group ITZY will also collaborate with Squid Game actor Heo Sung Tae for another special performance on the award night. The organizers have revealed that the young K-pop idols are gearing up to surprise their fans with this joined act.
Performers and Special Collaborations
The annual award ceremony is sure to Make Some Noise as the concept for this year hints. Along with the K-pop bands, the show will also present live onstage performances of internationally famous artists, including Ed Sheeran.
"Ed Sheeran wrote BTS's Permission to Dance. He has some ties with K-pop. He's the singer who sang Bad Habits, one of the most-loved pop songs this year in Korea. He is preparing a MAMA version performance," Park Chan Wook, chief producer of Mnet, revealed.
Other exciting performances to look out for this year include the reunion of Wanna One and a special act by the eight members of Street Woman Fighter. All the members of the top fourth-generation K-pop groups are also gearing up for a special collaboration stage.
"The members are full of anticipation. The production team is preparing with various ideas in mind. We'll create a stage that's like a gift for fans," Wook said.
Mnet has announced the complete lineup of performers for the annual award ceremony. A total of 12 K-pop bands will attend the event to light up the stage. aespa, ATEEZ, Brave Girls, ENHYPEN, INI, ITZY, JO1, Kep1er, NCT 127, NCT DREAM, Stray Kids, and TXT are the groups gearing up to perform on stage this year.
Two more K-pop groups joined the performance lineup of this year's annual award ceremony on December 3. The organizers announced on Friday that Jannabi and NCT U will showcase their new songs. at the glam event.
Evaluation Criteria
For the first in its history, the annual event will introduce some new changes to the evaluation criteria. According to the new rules, streaming data from Apple Music will be included to determine the winners in the Worldwide Icon of the Year and Worldwide Fans' Choice Top 10 categories. Until last year, data from YouTube, Twitter, and Gaon Chart were considered to declare the winner in these categories.
"K-pop is taking over the world. It's revolutionary and has creative melodies, and it's contributing to the development of pop music. I'm happy to provide an opportunity to fans around the world to celebrate the growth of K-pop and vote for their favorite artists. Vote for the Worldwide Fans' Choice Top 10 by streaming on Apple Music. With the inclusion of streaming data, [MAMA's] status as a global music show will be strengthened further," Zane Lowe Global Creative Director if Apple Music shared.
MAMA 2021 will be held on December 11 at the Contents World of CJ ENM in Paju City of Gyeonggi province and it will be broadcast live from 6 pm KST.
