The 2025 Korean Music Awards are just around the corner! On February 6, the nomination committee revealed the nominees for the 22nd edition of this annual event that celebrates artists from various categories and genres.

This year, it’s going to be an intense showdown between fan-favorite K-pop groups aespa and BLACKPINK’s Rose for the coveted Artist of the Year title. Other strong contenders in this major category include K-Indie group Danpyungsun and the Moments Ensemble, rock band Silica Gel, and solo artist Lee Seung Yoon.

Aespa and Rose will also go head-to-head in categories like Song of the Year and Best K-pop Song of the Year. The four-member girl group from SM Entertainment, featuring Karina, Winter, Giselle, and Ningning, topped the K-pop nominations, while Danpyungsun and the Moments Ensemble led the overall nominations with six nods.

The 2025 Korean Music Awards, sponsored by PRIZM, PhotoGray, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Korea Creative Content Agency, will be live-streamed on the KMA YouTube channel and PRIZM LIVE on Thursday, February 27, at 8 pm KST.

Check out all the nominees for the 22nd Korean Music Awards!

Check out the complete list of nominees for the 2025 Korean Music Awards

• Best Album of the Year

1. “Hail to the Music” by Danpyunsun and the Moments Ensemble
2. “Miniseries 2” by Sumin and Slom
3. “Armageddon” by aespa
4. “AAA” by hyukoh and Sunset Rollercoaster
5. “Power Andre 99” by Silica Gel

• Artist of the Year

1. Danpyunsun and the Moments Ensemble
2. Silica Gel
3. BLACKPINK’s Rose
4. aespa
5. Lee Seung Yoon

• Rookie of the Year

1. Sanmanhan
2. Joo Hyelyn
3. Sam San
4. ILLIT
5. Meeroo Choi
6. TWS

• Song of the Year

1. “Bam Yang Gang” by BIBI
2. “Supernova” by aespa
3. “APT” by Rose and Bruno Mars
4. “Independent” by Danpyunsun and the Moments Ensemble
5. “WHY, WHY, WHY” by SUMIN, Slom

• Best Pop Album

1. “Tales of Sensuality” by Kim Yoon Ah
2. “Beyond” by Sunwoojunga
3. “Lasha” by Savina & Drone
4. “40” by Rooftop Moonlight
5. “PSST!” by John Park

• Best Pop Song

1. “Ban Yang Gang” by BIBI
2. “Star Candy” by Sungwoojunga
3. “Love Wins All” by IU
4. “Diving” by Rooftop Moonlight
5. “Small Girl ft Doh Kyung Soo (DO)” by Lee Youngji

• Best K-pop Album

1. “2” by (G)I-DLE
2. “Armageddon - The 1st Album” by aespa
3. “I Did” Yves
4. “ASSEMBLE24” by tripleS
5. “RIIZING Epilogue: The 1st mini-album” by RIIZE

• Best K-pop Song

1. “APT” by Rose, Bruno Mars
2. “Magnetic” by ILLIT
3. “Supernova” by aespa
4. “plot twist” by TWS
5. “Girls Never Die” by tripleS

• Best Rap & Hip Hop Album

1. “Garion 2” by Garion
2. “Free Hukky Shibaseki & the God Sun Symphony Group: Odyssey.1” by B-Free, Hukky Shibaseki
3. “Whether the Weather Changes or Not” by O’KOYE
4. “Escape’ by EK
5. “Distorted” by KWAII

• Best Rap & Hip Hop Song

1. “Power” by G-Dragon
2. “Mouth Gun (ft Zico)” by QM
3. “Fire (ft CHANGMO)” by Fleeky Bang
4. “PRIDE” by KWAII
5. “INDO” by B-Free, Hukky Shibaseki

• Best Rock Album

1. “Kim Soo Chul’s 45th Anniversary Album Where Are You” by Kim Soo Chul
2. “Ruckus” by Seoul Lady
3. “Fire and Light” by Noise emission
4. “Yeok Seong” by Lee Seung Yoon
5. “ORDINARY CHAOS” MONO4OLY

• Best Rock Song

1. “Where are you” by Kim Soo Chul
2. “Behind you” by stuffed animal
3. “Anthems of Defiance” by Lee Seung Yoon
4. “Fake Empire” by MONO4OLY
5. “Independence” by Danpyungsun and the Moments Ensemble

• Best Modern Rock Album

1. “Flight” by Leaves Black
2. “Angel Interview” by Meaningful Stone
3. “Hail to the Music” by Danpyunsun and the Moments Ensemble
4. “Power Andre 99” by Silica Gel
5. “AAA” by Kyukoh, Sunset Rollercoaster

• Best Modern Rock Song

1. “Days Happier Than Today Will Be Few in My Remaining Life” by Danpyunsun and the Moments Ensemble
2. “annie” by wave to earth
3. “Anthems of Defiance” by Lee Seung Yoon
4. “H O M E” by HANRORO
5. “Young Man” by Hyukoh, Sunset Rollercoaster

There are still some categories missing from this list: Best Jazz & Crossover - Jazz Album, Best Metal & Hardcore Album, Best R&B & Soul Album/Song, Best Electronic Album/Song, and Best Folk Album/Song.

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