Latest news with #MAMA
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
2025 MAMA Awards to be held in in November
This year's Mnet Asian Music Awards ceremony will be held in Hong Kong on Nov. 28-29, organizer CJ ENM announced Thursday. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of music channel Mnet, the award show will return to the city that has hosted MAMA Awards the most times — from 2012 to 2018. Mnet launched the K-pop awards in 1999. Known then as the Mnet Music Video Festival, MAMA has since grown to be one of the most prestigious annual music awards shows in the K-pop industry. The upcoming ceremony will be the largest ever and will take over Kai Tak Stadium, which opened in March and can accommodate up to 50,000 in audience. Last year, the ceremony was held in Los Angeles, a first for a K-pop award show, before heading to Osaka, Japan, drawing a total audience of about 93,000. G Dragon marked his solo comeback at the awards ceremony while Rose and Bruno Mars performed 'APT.' for the first time on stage. Last year's biggest winner was Seventeen which nabbed seven trophies, including the grand prize and album of the year. Aespa took home six trophies, including song of the year for 'Supernova.'
Pink Villa
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
2025 MAMA AWARDS returns to Hong Kong after seven years: Know date, venue, what to expect from this year's K-pop event
The highly anticipated 2025 MAMA Awards is set to return to Hong Kong for a large-scale celebration of music, performance, and global K-pop influence. This year's edition will take place over two days: November 28 and 29 at Kai Tak Stadium. It is a massive new venue that opened earlier this year. First Hong Kong return in seven years This marks the first time since 2018 that the MAMA Awards will be hosted in Hong Kong. It is a city that played a key role in the ceremony's international expansion. It is known for being one of the most iconic MAMA locations over the years. Hong Kong has long been a central hub for the K-pop concert scene in Asia. According to the organizers, the decision to bring the event back to the city aligns with the celebration of Mnet's 30th anniversary. As the channel reflects on three decades of music broadcasting, Hong Kong was chosen as the location that best symbolizes MAMA 's journey and global growth. A record-breaking venue and production scale The 2025 ceremony is expected to be the biggest MAMA yet. Organizers revealed that the scale of the show will increase nearly four times compared to previous years. The Kai Tak Stadium, which opened its doors in March 2025, can seat up to 50,000 attendees. This makes it one of the largest and most advanced venues ever used for a MAMA event. This state-of-the-art facility offers top-tier stage technology and infrastructure. This will allow for cutting-edge performances, stunning visuals, and ambitious stage designs that push the boundaries of live production. CJ ENM, the media company behind the event, has promised fans never-before-seen stages that match the scale of this milestone year. A celebration of K-pop culture The MAMA Awards has evolved into a globally recognized event. Over the years, it has grown into a celebration of music that transcends borders. It spotlights artists who have shaped the soundscape of the global music industry. By returning to Hong Kong, MAMA continues its mission of connecting fans and artists from across the world. The event will also spotlight major achievements in K-pop throughout 2025, from debut sensations to global breakout stars. Fans gear up for another unforgettable year News of the venue and dates has already set social media ablaze. Fans are expressing excitement over the return to Hong Kong and speculating about which artists will take the stage. From show-stopping performances to unexpected collaborations, the MAMA Awards never fails to deliver moments that live on long after the final curtain. As November approaches, fans can expect a steady rollout of announcements. This includes nominees, presenters, performers, and special stages that promise to make the 2025 edition a historic one.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SEVENTEEN's 10 Best Songs So Far: Critic's Picks
When SEVENTEEN debuted on May 26th, 2015, all odds were stacked against the group. More from Billboard Rick Derringer, Legendary Guitarist & 'Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo' Hitmaker, Dead at 77 Bunnie XO Addresses Haters Calling Her Love for Jelly Roll 'Fake' After Brief Red Carpet Kiss Morgan Wallen's 'I'm the Problem' & 'What I Want' With Tate McRae Launch Atop Billboard's Country Charts Formed by relatively small label Pledis Entertainment (acquired by HYBE in 2020), the 13-piece ensemble faced an uphill battle in the competitive K-pop scene — not the least because of their humble origins and unusually large lineup. 'It feels like it took a long time for us to get here,' Woozi said after the outfit's first MAMA daesang win in 2023. 'We were a group that started with a lot of fingers pointed at us, saying that it would be impossible for us to make it.' That SEVENTEEN has survived for ten years in the industry is a feat in and of itself, but even more impressive are the accomplishments they've managed to rack up along the way. In the last year alone, the group has performed at Glastonbury (the first K-pop act to do so), headlined a U.S. arena tour and brought 140,000 fans to Japan's largest stage for two of the most-attended concerts by a K-pop group in history. It's no secret they know how to put on a show, after all, but on top of some of the best stage presence in the business, the group's self-producing status has made their story worth following since day one: every single album has top-to-bottom writing and composition credits from Woozi and close collaborator Bumzu, while other members also regularly contribute to the process. Thus, SEVENTEEN's music is tied to their actual identity in ways most boy bands can't claim — the Hip-Hop Unit ( Wonwoo, Mingyu and Vernon) pen their own raps about everything from trainee doubts to selling out stadium tours; the Performance Unit (Hoshi, Jun, The8 and Dino) use an innate understanding of rhythm to inspire melodies; the Vocal Unit (Jeonghan, Joshua, Woozi, DK and Seungkwan) bring real life emotion to their ballads — and it's only grown with the 13 boys-turned-men as they've come into their own as artists. To celebrate 10 years of K-pop's most entertaining maestros, Billboard has rounded up 10 of the best songs from SEVENTEEN's first their sizeable roster originally made them underdogs, SVT has always found strength in numbers. So how better to match the epic scale of 'Super,' a jersey-club-supercharged battle cry, than with 228 extra dancers? The single is a manifesto on how this sprawling collective has propelled themselves to such record-breaking heights, down to its victory-lap chorus: 'I love my team, I love my crew/ We already made it this high … it's all thanks to you.' Setting aside all the Chinese mythology and anime references, this legendary hype song embraces a startlingly simple wisdom: the view from the top is better when subtle minimalism of 'Home' is roomy enough to live inside. An emotive future bass beat cleverly subverts expectations: as plinking synths and ghostly, mechanical harmonies build to their inevitable ends, the foundations suddenly fall away. Anti-drop choruses like this one have become something of a calling card for Woozi and Bumzu, who create masterful release from empty moments. Another genius aspect of this production? Beats of silence leave room for an intimate call-and-response: 'What do I do/ Without you?' the members muse, a question that is volleyed right back to a decade before raising a toast to their skyward climb on 'Cheers,' the unit leaders stared up the face of that cliff: 'So that the light shining upon SEVENTEEN doesn't go out/ Every day the light's on in our studio,' Hoshi raps on 'Change Up,' beside fellow creative stewards and Woozi. Self-producing comes with great responsibility, of course, but they don't make this grind sound like a slog. Instead, the trio rollicks along to a lively trumpet riff, pushing past hardship to joy, which is exactly the scrappy mentality that built them from the basement level wistful, starry-eyed and autobiographical anthem needs very little to fill stadiums. As the team nods to nights spent in practice rooms, driven by the idea of a brighter tomorrow, guitar chugs and sing-along chants sway them like the gentle summer breeze. A bop for the blue hour — itself released during a liminal time in their careers — this beloved B-side still reverberates to this day, particularly Vernon's prophetic lines: 'This time/ Our dawn is hotter/ When the day is bright/ The world is ours.'It's no exaggeration to say 'Fallin' Flower' is a whole world unto itself. Supplementing the core lyrical metaphor and lush synth loop, its storytelling unravels through the elaborate choreography, reaching full bloom right alongside the song's climax. In a canon of conceptual Japanese singles that have cast the guys as everything from mods and rockers to race car drivers at the Last Supper, this breathtaking entry is still the best example of K-pop's ability to spin a musical motif into a fully realized work of art.'To You' is a creature comfort. Hardly alone in that regard — this is the group that's given us balms like 'Kidult' and 'All My Love,' after all — it shines as an earnest ode to the faces waiting across the threshold at the end of a long day. (Just take the line, 'I'm grateful to you, who greets me whenever I open the door,' which Woozi wrote about his cat.) A rich atmosphere of guitars and synths washes over the track like a warm bath; its catharsis comes both from those sublime vocal runs and how even the instrumental seems to take you into its a testament to the range of the five vocal team members that a breakup song of such earth-shattering scope has moments so quietly devastating. Honeyed coos balance sentiments as bitter as lemon piths: 'I would like it if you had a hard time/ And thought of me for a bit,' Jeonghan sighs, voice softly lilting. Despite its hushed opening, the potent ballad eventually unleashes an emotional wallop, deftly maneuvering between classic boy band harmonies and Seungkwan's mighty 'My baby, my baby, my baby' goes hand in hand with shadow. One cannot exist without the other, which is why the band confronts inner demons with empathy on this twinkling drum'n'bass deep cut. 'Oh, now I know you are part of me too/ I don't want to hide you, I want to hold your hand/ Because even my darkness will shine brightly,' they sing over skittering percussion. While their first Billboard 200 top 10 album constituted a bold new path, 'Shadow' balances this evolution with an ethos that's been there since the start. Who says forging ahead has to mean forgetting yourself?A hilariously reliable staple in their setlist repertoire, the guys could probably pull off 'Very Nice' in their sleep. Still, that's not to say the performance is a walk in the park: this high-energy extravaganza brings vocal acrobatics, jittery choreo and circus-esque brass to feelings of first love. (In the music video, hearts don't merely flutter; they explode into clouds of confetti.) While ultimately shut out on the weekly music show circuit upon release, the signature track has since become one of K-pop's national anthems, its joie de vivre powerful enough to get even skeptics on their feet. Ask anyone who's survived a few rounds of SVT's 'infinite' concert encores; the impact of 'Very Nice' is truly never-ending.'Pretty U' sparkles with boyish charm. Released within a year of their frothy, funk-pop debut 'Adore U,' this sleeker redux proved that the rookies were already raising the bar; SVT snagged their first music show trophy for it, something so far out of their imagined reach that was rendered utterly speechless. With hindsight, though, the breakthrough was a no-brainer: an irresistible music box that bottles adolescent emotion, 'Pretty U' synthesizes the many talents of K-pop's resident theater kids, from a cappella harmonies to its show-stopping staging. Almost a decade on, this remains their greatest record of youth, one that still shows no signs of ever getting old. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
IU left humiliated at Baeksang 2025? Fans urge When Life Gives You Tangerines star to boycott like MAMA after ‘biggest snub'
The 61st Baeksang Arts Awards wrapped up on Monday (May 5) with Netflix's When Life Gives You Tangerines taking home four major wins. While the drama was the most awarded of the night, fans were stunned that IU, the heart and soul of the show, didn't win a single award. Despite being nominated in both the Best Actress and Most Popular Actress categories, IU walked away empty-handed. For many, it was one of the biggest snubs in Baeksang history. IU, also known as Lee Ji Eun, has long been one of South Korea's most loved stars. With praised performances in dramas like My Mister, Hotel Del Luna, and now Tangerines, she has steadily grown as an actress after establishing herself as a successful soloist. Yet despite multiple Baeksang nominations over the years, her only wins remain in popularity categories, never for acting. IU in When Life Gives You Tangerines| Credit: X Now her fans, known as UENA, are asking her to draw a line. Just like she quietly stopped showing up at MAMA, fans want her to skip Baeksangs too. Why IU doesn't attend MAMA anymore It started in 2014. That year, IU had one of the strongest runs of her career. She released A Flower Bookmark, a cover album that performed extremely well. Her collaborations topped the charts, and Billboard named her the all-time leader of its K-pop Hot 100. Many felt that 2014 was finally IU's year to win the Daesang, the grand prize, at the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA). But instead of the big win fans hoped for, IU was given a lifetime achievement award. She was all of 20 years old at the time. The award is usually given to artists nearing the end of their careers, not someone in her prime. It felt more like a consolation than true recognition. Since then, IU has never returned to MAMA. While she has won awards like Best Female Artist, she has kept her distance. Fans want IU to treat Baeksang the same way After this year's Baeksang outcome, IU's fans are speaking up. Many feel it was yet another award show using her name and popularity without honoring her work. She was front and center in When Life Gives You Tangerines, a show that swept four awards that night, but she received none. Fans had hoped for either Best Actress or the Daesang, but both went to others. Kim Tae Ri won Best Actress for Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born, and Culinary Class Wars took the grand prize. Kim Hye Yoon of Lovely Runner was meanwhile awarded the Popularity Award. What made it worse for fans was how present IU was throughout the event. She was shown in multiple cutaways, smiling and clapping, only to walk away with nothing. Many fans called it humiliating and are now asking her to step away from Baeksangs altogether. "I hope IU treats Baeksang the same way she treats Mama! They want to give the award to any actress every year except IU! Is it because she's the only idol here? She has incredibly successful works both globally and domestically, so why hasn't she won any awards all these years?" one user wrote. Another fan wrote, "IU walking out empty-handed at the Baeksang Awards baffles me; this woman played two roles and managed to execute them both perfectly. Literally the biggest snub of the century, I'm at a loss for words." IU walking out empty handed at the baeksang awards baffles me, this woman played two roles and managed to execute them both perfectly. Literally the biggest snub of the century, I'm at a loss of words. #WhenLifeGivesYouTangerines — rara♡☆ (@wookjaes) May 5, 2025 A third wrote, "Korean award shows are a joke anyway; let's get IU that best actress award more prestigious than any Baeksang or Daesang. Let's give her as an amazing actress internationally." Korean award shows are a joke anyway, let's get IU that best actress more prestigious than any baeksang or daesang let's give her as an amazing actress internationally — archive (@nini_iu) May 5, 2025 "Baeksang judges didn't know about the emotion the public remembers," one user wrote. Baeksang judges didn't know about the emotion the public — Filipe (@filipe910910) May 6, 2025 IU played a dual role in When Life Gives You Tangerines, portraying both Oh Ae Sun, the central female lead, and her daughter, Yang Geum Myeong. The drama offered an emotional look at life's struggles and how love from a partner and family can help you find comfort through it all. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
I'm a mom. Florida lawmakers, DeSantis must ban cell phones in schools.
I am writing to you today as a parent, a chapter leader for MAMA (Mothers Against Media Addiction), and a member of the Distraction-Free Schools Policy Project to express my full support for House Bill 949 — the Wireless Communications Devices on School Grounds Act — which was passed unanimously by the House on April 16. I am asking the Senate Rules Committee to take this bill up now for a review. (The bill was received in the Rules Committee on Tuesday.) Cell phones do not belong in schools. They are an undeniable distraction, even outside of classroom instruction. Students come to school not only to learn academically, but to grow socially and emotionally — by engaging face-to-face, making eye contact, resolving conflicts, and yes, even learning through boredom. Instead, many will spend precious school hours browsing shopping sites, playing video games, watching pornography, and worse. According to the Seattle Children's Research Institute, adolescents ages 13–18 years spend 1.5 hours out of a 6.5-hour school day on their smartphones. That's nearly a quarter of the school day — and a quarter of our taxpayer-funded education — diverted to activities with no academic or developmental value. This is not just an issue of distraction. It is a misuse of public funding, and worse, a profound loss of learning opportunity. Florida has been a national leader in protecting children from online harm. From Gov. Ron DeSantis' critical decision to prioritize in-person learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, to supporting legislation like HB 379, which removed phones from classrooms during instruction, and HB 3, aimed at shielding children from pornographic content and harmful social media — Florida has consistently acted ahead of the curve. Passing HB 949 would build on this momentum, ensuring Florida students are not only safer but also better positioned to thrive academically and socially than their peers in states still allowing these constant distractions in schools. And in a crisis, experts state that students are safer listening to trained adults rather than reaching for their phones. A full school-day break from devices is necessary to allow students to be present and focused throughout the day. Opinion: Florida's future shouldn't be at the expense of wildlife. New bill honors both. The school environment when phones are allowed has grown silent, each child hunched over a glowing screen. In contrast, schools that implement full phone-free policies report more social interaction, improved classroom focus, and fewer disciplinary incidents. Teachers notice the difference, and over time, so do parents — often transitioning from initial hesitation to full support. To those who argue that students must "learn to manage" their devices: managing addiction is not a skill that can be taught. Smartphones and social media platforms are deliberately engineered to be addictive. Even tech executives (those who know the risks best) refuse to let their own children use these tools. Facebook whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams testified under oath that Silicon Valley executives ban screens in their own homes. If they won't expose their children to these products, why should we expose Florida's children during school hours? Let us also consider how phones intensify the emotional toll of adolescence. Imagine your worst day in middle or high school — embarrassed, awkward, maybe even bullied. Now imagine that moment recorded, uploaded, tagged and shared with the entire student body. That is a terrifying reality for today's students. Why are we arming them with surveillance tools — and permanent platforms for public shame — during the school day? School is not the place for social media rabbit holes, violent video streaming, or peer surveillance. It is a place for learning, growing, and becoming fully present in real life. If 23% of the school day is spent on phones, then 23% of our children's education — and our public investment — is lost to distraction, anxiety, and harm. Opinion: Palm Beach County out front using concierge care to fix broken health care system Let's follow the lead of the Florida districts already seeing success with bell-to-bell phone-free policies. Let's protect kids the way tech executives protect their own children. And let's ensure that every Florida student has the chance to focus, learn, and connect — without the shadow of a phone screen. I urge parents, educators, Florida senators and Gov. DeSantis to support HB 949. Our children deserve our protection. Jill Coleman is co-Chair of Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA) Palm Beach County. She is a resident of Palm Beach Gardens. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida schools should ban cell phones. Do it, DeSantis | Opinion
