2022 MAMA AWARDS, the World’s No.1 K-POP Awards, Announces Hosts, Additional Performers and Collaboration Stages

Leading entertainment company CJ ENM held today the ‘2022 MAMA AWARDS’ Global Press Conference offline in Seoul and globally live streamed. At the press conference, the company officially announced the rebranding of the awards show in addition to unveiling new performers, special collaboration stages, and hosts for the 2022 MAMA AWARDS. This year’s awards will be held at the Kyocera Dome Osaka, Japan and live streamed worldwide via global channels on November 29th and 30th (KST).

The global press conference featured CJ ENM’s Head of Music Entertainment Kim Hyun Soo to discuss the 23-year heritage and rebranding of 2022 MAMA AWARDS, and CJ ENM’s Chief Producer Yoon Shin Hye to unveil further details regarding this year’s show. A special speaker, music critic Kim Youngdae, also provided his insight on the K-pop industry’s increasing global presence and trends.

This year’s show will also be packed with iconic scenes from top-notch artists and collaboration stages that only MAMA AWARDS can deliver. First, j-hope of BTS, will perform his solo stage with the title ‘I am your HOPE’. Other collaboration stages include:

- Girl group (G)I-DLE and rock band JAURIM 

- Rookie girl groups IVE, Kep1er, NMIXX, LE SSERAFIM and NewJeans

- Jung Jaeil (multi-award-winner composer behind ‘Parasite’ and ‘Squid Game’), rapper Tiger JK and 3RACHA (Stray Kids)

These artists join the previously revealed performers: KARA, HYOLYN, ZICO, Lim Young Woong, Forestella, Stray Kids, (G)I-DLE, ITZY, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, DKZ, BIBI, JO1, TREASURE, ENHYPEN, NiziU, INI, IVE, Kep1er, NMIXX, LE SSERAFIM, NewJeans and Street Man Fighter dance crews. (*Debut order)

The hosts for MAMA AWARDS were revealed as well. First, actor Park Bo-gum, formerly host for the awards show for three consecutive years from 2017-2019, will return, hosting the night of “We are K-POP”. Singer JEON SOMI was announced as the host of the night of “The world we build together”. The hosts, a concept unique to MAMA AWARDS, will be the storytellers conveying this year’s concept ‘K-POP WORLD CITIZENSHIP’. Yoon Shin Hye, CJ ENM Chief Producer explained, “The stages will embody the K-POP World Citizenship through a united voice that transcends language, barriers and generations.” 

Explaining the milestones and history of MAMA AWARDS, Kim Hyun Soo, CJ ENM Head of Music Entertainment said “Going beyond Asia, 2022 MAMA AWARDS now embarks on a new journey as the World’s No.1 K-POP AWARDS. Based on our slogan ‘We Are K-POP’, we will not only present a new direction and future for K-POP, but spread values such as the positive influence of K-POP through iconic performances that resonate with a global audience.”

First launched in 1999 as Korea’s first music video ceremony, the awards show evolved to become the first Asian music award show under the name MAMA (Mnet ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS). This year, the ceremony has taken another leap as the World’s No.1 K-POP Awards, going beyond Asia, and rebranded itself into MAMA AWARDS. The renewed trophy in alignment with the rebrand is called the “Hyper Cube,” and carries the values of K-POP encompassing challenge, passion, dream, growth, expansion and singularity. The design symbolizes the connectivity between the fan and the artists that continuously endures and evolves.

Music critic Kim Youngdae added that “MAMA AWARDS is the first awards show that has seen the potential of global K-POP. As K-POP is cementing itself as an influential category in the music global market, MAMA AWARDS’ status will also evolve concurrently.”

2022 MAMA AWARDS will be livestreamed on global platforms with English subtitles, including the Mnet K-POP YouTube channel. The red carpet will be broadcast from 4PM (KST) and the award show will go live from 6PM (KST).