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The 2024 MAMA Awards are just around the corner, and the first set of star-studded performers have officially been announced.
The three-day event, which celebrates the brightest stars in K-pop, will kick off on Nov. 21 at the Hollywood Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for the first time, where KATSEYE, ILLIT and RIIZE will perform. The awards ceremony will then take place at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan on November 22 and 23, with ENHYPEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER and IVE performing on the first day and Aespa, INI and ZEROBASEONE taking the stage on the second day.
This year’s MAMA Awards, presented by Visa, will feature the concept of “Big Blur: What Is Real?,” reflecting the growing trend of blurred boundaries between industries, culture, music genres and technology. In correspondence with the theme, the ceremony will “present surreal but real experiences and showcase visually captivating performances through the convergence of art and technology,” per a press release.
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In addition to the performers, the 2024 MAMA Awards nominees were also revealed by entertainment company CJ ENM. The eligibility period ranged from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024, and the nominees were decided on based on an evaluation of global music data as well as a panel of specialists.
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One of the new categories this year is best choreography, and the Visa Fans’ Choice awards have returned. The first round of votes will take place from Oct. 14 to 25, and the second round will follow starting on Nov. 1. Fans can vote on X as well as the global K-pop platform Mnet Plus, which will list out the nominees.
See the full list of 2024 MAMA Awards nominations below, and catch the show when it airs worldwide in November.
Best New Male Artist82MAJORALL(H)OURSAMPERS&ONENCT WISHNOWADAYSTWS
Best New Female ArtistBABYMONSTERILLITMEOVVQWERUNISYOUNG POSSE
Best Male GroupENHYPENNCT DREAMSEVENTEENStray KidsTOMORROW X TOGETHERZEROBASEONE
Best Female Group(G)I-DLEaespaIVELE SSERAFIMNewJeansTWICE
Best Male ArtistBAEKHYUNJiminJung KookLim Young WoongTAEMIN
Best Female ArtistIUJENNIENAYEON (TWICE)TAEYEONYUQI ((G)I-DLE)
Best Dance Performance Male SoloJimin– WhoJung Kook – Standing Next to YouKEY – Pleasure ShopTAEMIN – GuiltyTAEYONG – TAP
Best Dance Performance Female SoloHWASA – NAJENNIE – You & MeNAYEON (TWICE) – ABCDSUNMI – Balloon in LoveYUQI ((G)I-DLE) – FREAK
Best Dance Performance Male GroupNCT 127 – Fact Check RIIZE – Love 119SEVENTEEN – God of MusicStray Kids – LALALALAENHYPEN – Sweet VenomTWS – plot twist
Best Dance Performance Female Group(G)I-DLE – Super Ladyaespa – SupernovaILLIT – MagneticIVE – BaddieLE SSERAFIM – EASYNewJeans – How Sweet
Best Vocal Performance SoloBIBI – Bam Yang GangIU – Love wins allLEE MU JIN – EpisodeLim Young Woong – WarmthTAEYEON – To. X
Best Vocal Performance Group(G)I-DLE – FateAKMU – HeroDAVICHI – A very personal storyPLAVE – WAY 4 LUVRed Velvet – Cosmic
Best Rap & Hip-Hop PerformanceDEAN – DIE 4 YOULee Young Ji – Small girl (Feat. D.O.)Leellamarz -Boys Like Girls (Feat. Gist, Jayci yucca)RM – LOST!ZICO – SPOT! (Feat. JENNIE)
Best Band PerformanceDAY6 – Welcome to the ShowHYUKOH, Sunset Rollercoaster – Young ManLUCY – The knight who can’t die and the silk cradleN.Flying – Into YouQWER – T.B.H
Best CollaborationGroovyRoom – Yes or No (Feat. HUH YUNJIN of LE SSERAFIM, Crush)Jay Park – Taxi Blurr (feat. NATTY of KISS OF LIFE)Lee Young Ji – Small girl (Feat. D.O.)Sung Si Kyung, Naul – Even for a momentZICO – SPOT! (Feat. JENNIE)
Best OSTCrush – Love You With All My Heart (Queen of Tears OST)ECLIPSE – Sudden Shower (Lovely Runner OST)LEE CHANGSUB – Heavenly fate (A Not So Fairy tale OST)Roy Kim – Whenever, Wherever (My Demon OST)TAEYEON – Dream (Welcome to Samdal-ri OST)
Best Music Videoaespa – ArmageddonIU – Love wins allIVE – HEYAK.Will – No Sad Song For My Broken Heart (Prod. Yoonsang)SEVENTEEN – MAESTRO
Best Choreographyaespa – SupernovaILLIT – MagneticLE SSERAFIM – CRAZYNewJeans – SupernaturalRIIZE – ImpossibleTAEMIN – Guilty
Olivia Rodrigo handled what could have been an embarrassing — and scary — situation like a pro. In a video circulating TikTok from one of the “Drivers License” singer’s show at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia, Rodrigo is seen hyping up the crowd by running across the stage. However, there was an opening in […]
Looking for some motivation to help power you through the start of another work week? We feel you, and with some stellar new pop tunes, we’ve got you covered. These tracks from artists including Jeremy Zucker & Chelsea Cutler, Mt. Joy, Yukimi and more will get you energized to take on the week.
Coolest Pop Song of the Week: Bishop Briggs, “Good For Me”
“I’m dreaming of all I ever wanted,” Bishop Briggs sings, stretching out the word “dream” to glide a little bit longer before following falling back down with, “was it ever good for me?”
The chorus to “Good For Me,” a darkly pretty meditation on achieving longtime goals as your identity evolves, buttresses Briggs’ tone with a dream-pop arrangement built around a driving beat and gradually deepening guitar chugs. Her voice, which has often been deployed as a hurricane-level force in the past, bends and lilts here, simmering in the question rather than finding a declaration.
Eight years ago, the UK native hit it big with “River,” a soul-rock anthem that crossed over to alternative radio and reached the top 5 on the Rock Airplay chart. Briggs continued finding success at the format, with seven entries on the Hot Rock & Alternative chart across her first two studio albums (2018’s Church of Scars and 2019’s Champion) on Island Records; a half-decade later, the singer-songwriter is now in her thirties, a new parent, still grieving the tragic loss of her sister, Kate McLaughlin, and operating outside of the major label system, while delivering the most revealing and emotionally resonant songs of her career.
“Good For Me,” the latest offering from new album Tell My Therapist I’m Fine (out this Friday through Virgin Music Group), crystallizes the album’s compelling juxtaposition of Briggs figuring out the possibilities of the next phase of her career while simultaneously settling into her skin. Songs like “My Serotonin” and “Shut It Off” allow Briggs to keep rocking out, but she now turns up the volume to emphasize her lyrical darts rather than shout over them. Meanwhile, Briggs mourns her sister and also utilizes her grief to push herself forward — in “Mona Lisa on a Mattress,” for instance, she doubles her voice and sings about a broken romance, “Kate would always say, I should run away,” as a means of finding resolution through a memory.
In the center of the album is “Good For Me,” the subtleties of its production and the maturity of its lyrical perspective slowly blooming and hooking the listener. Briggs has experienced several life changes since her last album, and is wondering what she’s even chasing anymore — but the care given to that exploration makes the song, and its host album, worth absorbing in full.
Here are some more new pop songs worth checking out this week…
Jeremy Zucker & Chelsea Cutler, “A-Frame”
Director Martin Scorsese is among the producers on an upcoming documentary about the Beatles‘ legendary first trip to the United States slated to stream exclusive on Disney+ starting Nov. 29. According to Variety, Beatles ’64 will feature never-before-seen footage of the band and its rabid fans at the height of Beatlemania.
Scorsese produced the doc directed by David Tedeschi (Personality Crisis: One Night Only), which will also feature new interviews with living Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. The film follows McCartney and Starr and late bandmates John Lennon and George Harrison as they land in New York in Feb. 1964, promising to reveal “a more intimate behind the scenes story” of the group’s iconic debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, as well as footage of the Fab Four’s first American show at the Washington D.C. Coliseum.
The quartet made their debut appearance on Sullivan’s variety show on Feb. 9, 1964, a performance that was seen by a record-breaking 73-million people and is often cited by musicians of a certain vintage as their inspiration for starting a rock band. Variety reported that the doc also features rare footage shot by documentarians Albert and David Maysles (Gimme Shelter).
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A synopsis of the film reads: “On February 7, 1964, The Beatles arrived in New York City to unprecedented excitement and hysteria. From the instant they landed at Kennedy Airport, met by thousands of fans, Beatlemania swept New York and the entire country. Their thrilling debut performance on The Ed Sullivan Show captivated more than 73 million viewers, the most watched television event of its time. Beatles ’64 presents the spectacle, but also tells a more intimate behind the scenes story, capturing the camaraderie of John, Paul, George, and Ringo as they experienced unimaginable fame.”
In addition to Scorsese – who also directed 2011’s George Harrison: Living in the Material World doc — other producers of the doc include McCartney, Starr, Harrison’s widow, Olivia Harrison, Lennon’s son, musician Sean Ono Lennon, and others.
The new Beatles doc will be accompanied by the Nov. 22 release of all seven American Beatles albums in a vinyl reissue collection entitled The Beatles: 1964 U.S. Albums in Mono; the albums will be available individually as well as in a box set. According to Variety, the reissue will include 180-gram albums that have been out of print on vinyl since 1995, including Meet the Beatles!, The Beatles’ Second Album, A Hard Day’s Night (Original Motion Picture Sound Track), Something New, The Beatles’ Story, Beatles ’65 and The Early Beatles.
If it’s anything but a spotlight, Mariah Carey wants nothing to do with your overhead bulbs. In a clip from the superstar’s upcoming guest appearance on Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers’ Las Culturistas podcast posted Sunday (Oct. 13), Mimi went on a hilarious tirade against a certain interior design choice. “I can’t with the overhead […]
K-pop boy band ENHYPEN will look to keep their chart winning streak going next month when they drop their second studio repackage album, ROMANCE : UNTOLD -daydream-. The collection due out on Nov. 11 from singers Jake, Jay, Heeseung, Jungown, Sunghoon, Sunoo and Ni-ki is the follow-up to July’s ROMANCE: UNTOLD, the group’s second full-length […]
Shawn Mendes has been at this half his life, but it wasn’t until he hunkered down in the studio post-COVID to work on his upcoming fifth studio album, Shawn (Nov. 15) that the 26-year-old singer said he really found his true self.
In a chat with old pal and mentor John Mayer for Interview magazine, Mayer suggested that Shawn “doesn’t sound like an artist trying to impress him or herself to their friend,” but instead one that finds its own way to the finish line in exactly the way the artist intended, even if, initially, it felt a bit, well, “boring.”
Mayer described what he imagined as Mendes listening back to the album opener — which he initially thought was boring — and layering on a few instruments, a couple more top harmonies and realizing, as Mendes noted, “‘This is exactly what I wanted.’” In fact, Mendes said after a few weeks of “pushing through this gunk” in the studio, he got to a place where things were “so beautiful and deep. I was like, ‘Wait, this is medicine.’”
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According to Mayer’s four-step rule for music: Is it good? Do I like It? Is it me? and Can I replicate it live and have a good time doing it?, his friend killed it this time around. “Dude, I never thought that the most stripped-back art I’ve made would return the most to me,” said Mendes. “It’s already given me more than any of my albums by so much, and I haven’t even shown anyone.”
He has shared the album with his folks though, and in the most important sign-off, his mom, who usually doesn’t really weigh in, listened to the single “Isn’t That Enough” and proudly told her son, “‘Oh you found yourself.’” Mendes agrees, adding that thanks to therapy and the experience of being “burned and frozen,” he’s not as extreme as he used to be, both in his relationships and in his professional life.
In general, Mendes told Mayer, he’s “a lot more secure” in who he is these days, adding, “it feels really nice to put something out that’s going to portray me that way.” And while he’s feeling more self-assured and centered, Mendes said he’s also still on the fence about how much he wants to be “in the conversation” all the time.
“It’s always on my mind, like, how are people going to react? I delete Instagram, because I’m like, “’I’m not going to read the comments and be like, have any celebrities commented on this photo?,’” he said. “And then I redownload it and I’m immediately looking again. I have a lot of acceptance and patience for my humanity, but at the same time, I really want to exist in a more authentic way.”
Mendes canceled his Wonder tour in 2022 to focus on his mental health. “Understanding how setting boundaries does not make you an unkind person has really changed my life,” Mendes said in early 2023 “And also understanding that it’s not easy to do. It’s a difficult thing to do. It feels uncomfortable. It makes other people feel a little uncomfortable for a moment, but ultimately it’s a very powerful and helpful thing to do for every relationship. So yeah, boundary-setting is not mean, it’s actually very important. It’s very kind, actually.”
Mayer notes at one point in the interview that not only is there that song called “Isn’t That Enough” but another track features the lyric “isn’t that enough,” leading him to wonder if Mendes has finally found that balance of too much versus just enough. “If you’re asking for enough success, it’s never going to be enough. But I think I’ve learned to have enough come from more places in my life,” Mendes said, with the additional caveat, “I think that’s an extremely important thing to pass to the next generation, is that this sacrifice for pouring all of yourself into your art is immense.”
Mendes will preview songs from Shawn a day before its official release during a one-night-only screening of the concert film Shawn Mendes: For Friends and Family Only (A Life Concert Film), which will hit screens across the country on Nov. 14. So far, Mendes has released the singles “Why Why Why,” “Isn’t That Enough” and “Nobody Knows.”
The American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special, which aired on Oct. 6 on CBS, achieved a major milestone, reaching over 12.9 million viewers.
The star-studded special, celebrating five decades of iconic performances and fan-favorite artists, ranked as CBS’s top entertainment program for the month of October, outperforming major sports events such as the MLB Playoffs and NASCAR.
Averaging 6 million viewers, the AMAs became the second most-watched entertainment program of the day, trailing only the NFL. Social engagement added another layer of success, with over 65 million views across social platforms, making it the most-streamed AMAs in the show’s history.
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It also saw a +54% year-over-year growth from the previous show in 2022, and marked the largest year-over-year growth for any music special or award show in 2024.
The broadcast was packed with performances from legendary names including Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Green Day, and Gladys Knight.
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The show opened with a clip package from the first show, including Stevie Wonder playing “Superstition” and Gladys Knight & the Pips performing “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Both songs were No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973 and remain top-tier classics. The show then cut to Knight performing the song live, with three female backup singers taking the place of Gladys’ beloved Pips.
Emerging talent also shared the stage, including Stray Kids and RAYE, adding a contemporary edge to a night that honored five decades of music.
One of the standout performances came from EGOT recipient Jennifer Hudson, who honored 22-time AMA winner Whitney Houston by recreating a medley Houston performed on the 1994 AMAs, a pairing of “I Loves You, Porgy” from Porgy & Bess and her own smash “I Will Always Love You” from The Bodyguard.
With its fan-voted format, the AMAs have long been a reflection of popular tastes, and the 50th Anniversary Special made it clear why the awards have remained relevant for half a century.
The American Music Awards will return in 2025, live from Las Vegas over Memorial Day Weekend, with an ambitious tribute to America’s veterans and a celebration of the year’s most popular artists.
Rihanna could not be happier to be the mother of two rambunctious young boys. After a video of her son RZA trying to climb out of his playpen went viral last month, the singer/entrepreneur talked to Access Hollywood about what she’s learned from her children with boyfriend rapper A$AP Rocky — they also share year-old […]
Less than 48 hours after RIIZE announced it would welcome back seventh member Seunghan after a controversial 10-month hiatus, the decision has been flipped in a shocking about-face.
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On Sunday (Oct. 13), two directors under Wizard Production — the management division under the K-pop label SM Entertainment that is in charge of RIIZE — shared the news that Seunghan will permanently leave the boy band. According to the letter from Kim Hyeong Guk and Lee Sang Min, the return news was to “give the artist and the fans greater joy” before, “we realized that our decision had actually hurt fans more and caused them greater confusion instead.”
While some fans celebrated the comeback, others protested the decision by surrounding SM Entertainment’s local headquarters in Seoul with funeral wreaths — an increasingly common but concerning move from K-pop fans looking to make a bold statement, which has also recently been employed by the likes of fans of BTS and NewJeans.
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“Seunghan has consistently expressed his desire to leave the group for the sake of the members and the fans,” Wizard Production added. “Out of respect for the artist’s decision, we are announcing Seunghan’s departure from RIIZE, instead of his joining the group.”
The announcement included a promise that “We will support Seunghan in the future so that he can showcase his talents and follow his dreams,” seemingly indicating he will remain signed under SM Entertainment. (At press time, Seunghan is still listed as a member of RIIZE on SM’s official website as he was during his hiatus.)
Seunghan followed up with a handwritten letter posted to RIIZE’s Weverse account, where he still has an active account as a group member, to explain his decision to leave.
“After pondering deeply whether I’ve been thinking only of myself too much, whether I’m causing too much harm to the members and the company, and whether it’s really okay for me to be part of RIIZE, who should be loved, I only felt worried and apologetic,” the 21-year-old wrote. “So I think that my leaving the group is the right path for everyone. I don’t want to cause any more hurt or confusion for the fans, and I don’t want to harm the members any further, and I also don’t want to hurt the company any further.”
Seunghan added that he didn’t want to cause tension or infighting between fans.
Previously, on Oct. 11, RIIZE’s social media accounts announced that Seunghan would “gradually” rejoin the act beginning in November, citing “numerous discussions with the staff and members about the direction of the group’s future activities.” He also greeted fans in a letter, writing, “The members held my hand once again. I am only filled with gratitude and apologetic feelings for giving me another chance.”
Curiously, RIIZE member Wonbin had directly addressed fans about Seunghan’s return just hours before the reversal was announced — until its removal.
Writing on Weverse, Wonbin seemed to sense trepidation from some fans. “I am worried that you guys would struggle more and be confused if the members don’t say a word or react to anything, so, I am writing this after organizing the conversations we’ve had with the members,” the 22-year-old wrote. “I’m sure many of you have wondered if Seunghan was coming back or not a lot, or why there wasn’t a clear answer sooner… us, Seunghan, and the company, really talked about this for a long period of time.”
As Seunghan mentioned in his first letter to fans after his announced return, Wonbin emphasized that the decision came from within RIIZE.
“I hope that you guys realize the members have thought about this together again and again, considering this deeply,” Wonbin wrote. “I had wanted always to make all of our BRIIZE happy, but I’m sorry I am unable to do that… I know this post will not be able to erase all of your worries, but I hope that it can comfort you in your confusion, even just a little bit.”
Wonbin’s post was deleted from RIIZE’s Weverse account after Seunghan’s exit was confirmed. See a screenshot of the removed post, and a translation, from a social media account dedicated to sharing RIIZE’s Weverse activities.
#WONBIN 🌟 WROTE A POST“RIIZE wouldn’t be here without BRIIZE. As I always say, I want to continue making good memories with BRIIZE for a long, long time. So please keep looking at us warmly, like you always have, and keep cheering for us, it would mean so much to us” pic.twitter.com/c61nGQbbNe— RIIZE WEVERSE (@riize_weverse) October 12, 2024
Seunghan’s controversies began before RIIZE’s official debut. Since August 2023, the young singer has dealt with the fallout of leaked pre-debut photos and videos of him that ignited backlash within some of South Korea’s more conservative social climates. Images showed Seunghan in bed with an unidentified woman and smoking a cigarette, which some fans labeled as inappropriate for a K-pop idol, demanding that he exit the group. Last November, SM Entertainment announced that Seunghan would “halt activities indefinitely” with no follow-up news from the label leading fans, media and industry insiders forced to speculate about RIIZE’s future.
Read RIIZE’s full statement below from Wizard Productions (with translation provided via Soompi):
Hello, this is Wizard Production.
First, we sincerely apologize for hurting BRIIZE [RIIZE’s fandom] and causing confusion through our announcement of Seunghan’s return on October 11.
We feel particularly apologetic for prioritizing Wizard Production’s position, instead of making our top priorities the growth achieved by the six RIIZE members while working their hardest; the support of BRIIZE, who have been RIIZE’s greatest source of strength during that journey; and the preciousness of the times that RIIZE and BRIIZE have spent together.
We made this decision after debating it for a long time because we thought that if Seunghan returned after reflecting on his past wrongdoings and RIIZE showed another level of growth as a group, we would be able to give the artist and the fans greater joy.
However, the announcement of his return, we ruminated carefully on each and every one of the opinions and responses sent in by fans, and we realized that our decision had actually hurt fans more and caused them greater confusion instead.
At the same time, Seunghan has consistently expressed his desire to leave the group for the sake of the members and the fans.
Out of respect for the artist’s decision, we are announcing Seunghan’s departure from RIIZE, instead of his joining the group.
We will support Seunghan in the future so that he can showcase his talents and follow his dreams.
Above all else, we also sincerely apologize for creating hardships and confusion for the six members who have, ever since their debut, always given their all while thinking of the fans and who made the RIIZE of today possible by thinking and working harder than anyone else in each and every moment.
We will continue to do our utmost to support the RIIZE members so that they can grow even further in the future as well.
Wizard Production will be careful and cautious in all matters in the future, and we will work hard so that RIIZE and BRIIZE can be happy together for a long time.
– Wizard Production directors Kim Hyeong Guk, Lee Sang Min
Read Seunghan’s full letter below (with translation provided via Soompi):
Hello, this is Seunghan.
I know that many people took the matter of my return to activities seriously, and I too am aware of the seriousness of the current situation.
After pondering deeply whether I’ve been thinking only of myself too much, whether I’m causing too much harm to the members and the company, and whether it’s really okay for me to be part of RIIZE, who should be loved, I only felt worried and apologetic.
So I think that my leaving the group is the right path for everyone.
I don’t want to cause any more hurt or confusion for the fans, and I don’t want to harm the members any further, and I also don’t want to hurt the company any further.
I’d like to thank the company and the members, who made efforts to give me another opportunity, and I’m also both sorry and thankful to the people who have cheered me on all this time despite my many shortcomings.
I truly do not want the relationship between RIIZE and BRIIZE, who were growing together while supporting one another, to be damaged because of me. It also breaks my heart to see the fans, for whom it should be more than enough to just love RIIZE, fighting with each other because of me.
I will sincerely cheer on RIIZE, whom I love, while hoping that they will receive more love in the future.