TheKorean Music Awards (Korean: 한국대중음악상;lit. Korean Popular Music Awards) is an annualSouth Korean music awards show that honors both mainstream and underground musical artists from a variety of genres.[1] Unlike other major South Korean music awards, which largely rely on record sales to determine winners, the Korean Music Awards distributes awards based on the recommendations of a panel of judges consisting of music critics, radio show producers, academics, and other professionals within the industry. The first ceremony was held in 2004,[2] and is regarded as one of the most prestigious music awards in the country.[3][4]
Kiha & The Faces is the only artist to win all three Grand Prizes (Musician, Album & Song of the Year.) The band is also the joint most decorated artist in KMA history with 7 awards, along withBTS.7-time award winnerBTS made history in 2019 by becoming the first artist to win Musician of the Year two years in a row. At the 18th Awards ceremony, they became the first artist to win Song of the Year twice.
^ab"이한철, 제11회 한국대중음악상 시상식 사회" [Lee Han-cheol hosts the 11th Korean Popular Music Awards ceremony].News1 (in Korean). February 12, 2014.Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. RetrievedNovember 16, 2021 – viaNaver.
^""한국의 그래미賞 만든다"…문화연대 '한국대중음악상' 제정 내달 시상" ['Creating Korean Grammys' … 'Korean Popular Music Awards' will be established next month].Kookmin Ilbo (in Korean). February 23, 2004.Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 26, 2022 – viaNaver.
^"올 '한국대중음악상' 누구품에" [Who's in the 'Korean Popular Music Awards' this year?].Munhwa Ilbo (in Korean). March 16, 2005.Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 26, 2022 – viaNaver.
^"'한국대중음악상' 수상 가수, 릴레이 콘서트" ['Korean Popular Music Award' winner, relay concert].No Cut News (in Korean). March 21, 2006.Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 26, 2022 – viaNaver.
^"엄정화가 한국대중음악상 받았다고?" [Uhm Jung-hwa won the Korean Popular Music Award?].OhmyNews (in Korean). March 10, 2007.Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 26, 2022 – viaNaver.
^"[★포토]한국대중음악상 후보작은?" [[★Photo] Who are the nominees for the Korean Popular Music Awards?].Star News (in Korean). February 12, 2008.Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 26, 2022 – viaNaver.
^"록밴드 언니네이발관, '한국대중음악상' 최다 5부문 후보" [Rock band Unnie Nabalkwan, nominated for the most 5 categories at the 'Korean Popular Music Awards'].Star News (in Korean). February 4, 2009.Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 26, 2022 – viaNaver.
^"[알림] 30일 '2010 한국대중음악상 시상식' 생중계" [[Notice] Live broadcast of '2010 Korean Music Awards Ceremony' on the 30th].The Hankyoreh (in Korean). March 26, 2010.Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 26, 2022 – viaNaver.
^"'한국대중음악상시상식' 다음달 개최" ['Korean Popular Music Awards Ceremony' to be held next month].Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). January 25, 2011.Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 26, 2022 – viaNaver.
^"이승열·장기하와얼굴들, 한국대중음악상 경합" [Lee Seung-yeol, Jang Ki-ha and the Faces compete for the Korean Popular Music Awards].Newsis (in Korean). January 18, 2012.Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 26, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Lee, Chun-woo (February 4, 2015)."'김사월&김해원' 한국대중음악상 휩쓸까?" [Will 'Kim Sa-wol & Kim Hae-won' sweep the Korean Popular Music Awards?].Busan Ilbo (in Korean).Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 26, 2022 – viaNaver.
^"대중음악상 프로듀서 250 4관왕, 뉴진스 3관왕" [Producer 250 wins 4 awards at the Korean Popular Music Awards, New Jeans wins 3 awards].Seoul Shinmun (in Korean).Naver. March 5, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 3, 2024.
^Lee, Jae-hoon (February 6, 2025).단편선 순간들·에스파, '한국대중음악상' 6·5개 부문 후보 [Danpyunsun and the Moments Ensemble and Aespa, 6·5 Nominations for the 'Korean Music Awards'] (in Korean).Newsis.Archived from the original on February 6, 2025. RetrievedFebruary 6, 2025 – viaNaver.
^"Nominees".15th Korean Music Awards (in Korean). 2018.Archived from the original on February 26, 2018. RetrievedFebruary 26, 2018.