Melon Music Award
for Album of the Year
Awarded forTop performing digital albums
CountrySouth Korea
Presented byKakao M
First awarded2005 (online)
2009 (ceremony)
Currently held byIve – I've Ive (2023)
Most awardsBTS (4)
Most nominationsIU, BTS (6)
WebsiteOfficial website

The Melon Music Award for Album of the Year is an award presented by South Korean entertainment company Kakao M at the annual Melon Music Awards, with its inaugural online ceremony in 2005. Award winners are based on data collected from the Melon music platform and honors artists who have had exceptional performance during the recording year.[1] Since 2009, it has comprised one of the daesang (grand prize) awards given at the event, alongside Song of the Year, Artist of the Year, and later Record of the Year—the latter of which was introduced during the 2018 ceremony.[2]

From 2005 to 2008, award winners were announced online, although there was no album accolade given in 2007 or 2008. The ceremony was officially held offline in Seoul starting with the 2009 awards, with Album of the Year becoming one of the ceremony's grand prizes.[3] The ceremony has been held at various venues throughout Seoul. As of 2021, the criteria for the Album of the Year accolade currently consist of a breakdown of 60% digital sales and streaming figures, 20% evaluation from a panel of judges, and 20% online voting.[4]

BTS is the most awarded artist in the category, having won four times in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Other artists who have won the award more than once include 2NE1, Busker Busker and IU. BTS and IU are the most nominated artists in the category, having been nominated six times.

Winners and nominees

Kim Jong-kook holding a microphone with both hand
2006 recipient Kim Jong-kook
G-Dragon with brown hair looking leftwards
2009 award recipient G-Dragon
2NE1 in dark outfits looking forwards
Two-time award winner 2NE1 (2010–11)
Busker Busker smiling and posing
Two-time recipient Busker Busker (2012–13)
g.o.d sitting on stair steps at a concert
2014 award winner g.o.d
Exo performing onstage in red and black outfits
2015 recipient Exo
BTS on a red carpet with a purple background
Four-time award winner BTS, winning in 2016 and 2018–20
IU holding a MMA trophy while talking into a microphone
Two-time award winner IU (2017, 2021)
Ive performing onstage
2023 award winner Ive

From 2005 to 2008, the Melon Music Award winners were announced online and were based entirely on online voting.[5] In 2007 and 2008, there was no album accolade announced by the event committee.

List of online award winners (2005–2008)
Year Winner(s) Album Ref.
2005 SG Wannabe Saldaga [6]
2006 Kim Jong-kook Fourth Letter [7]
2007 No award given [8]
2008 [9]

The Melon Music Awards were held in a traditional live format for the first time since 2009, with Album of the Year consisting of one the three daesang prizes, alongside Artist of the Year and Song of the Year. Because of this, the 2009 event is regarded as the first "official" ceremony in the show's history.[10]

List of daesang award winners and nominees (2009–present)
Year Winner(s) Album Nominees[a] Ref.
2009
 G-Dragon Heartbreaker [11]
[12]
2010 2NE1 To Anyone [13]
[14]
2011
 2NE1 2nd Mini Album [15]
[16]
2012
 Busker Busker Busker Busker 1st Album [17]
[18]
2013
 Busker Busker 2nd Album [19]
[20]
2014
 g.o.d Chapter 8 [21]
[22]
2015
 Exo Exodus [23]
[24]
2016
 BTS The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever [25]
[26]
2017
 IU Palette [27]
[28]
2018
 BTS Love Yourself: Tear [29]
[30]
2019
 Map of the Soul: Persona [31]
[32]
2020 Map of the Soul: 7 [33]
[34]
2021 IU Lilac [35]
2022 Lim Young-woong Im Hero [36]
2023 Ive I've Ive [37]

Records

Most nominations[edit]

Most award nominations
Number Artist[b]
6 IU
BTS
4 Exo
Big Bang
2NE1
3 AKMU
Bolbbalgan4
Psy
2 (G)I-dle
Girls' Generation
G-Dragon
Jang Beom-june
NewJeans
SG Wannabe
Shinee

Most awards[edit]

Most award winners
Number Artist[b]
4 BTS
2 IU
Busker Busker
2NE1

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Shortlisted nominees are listed—except for 2009, where no shortlist was announced.
  2. ^ a b Order is listed by most recent occurrence

References

  1. ^ Lee, Jae-lim (October 21, 2021). "Melon Music Awards will be virtual again this year". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on April 10, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  2. ^ Hicap, Jonathan (December 5, 2021). "BTS, IU, Aespa win grand prizes at Melon Music Awards 2021". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  3. ^ Lee, Soo-hyun (November 19, 2009). 음원 이용자가 뽑는 멜론뮤직어워드 등장 [Melon Music Awards chosen by music users appears]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022 – via Naver.
  4. ^ Hicap, Jonathan (December 6, 2020). "Winners at 2020 Melon Music Awards". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  5. ^ Lee, Soo-hyun (November 19, 2009). "음원 이용자가 뽑는 멜론뮤직어워드 등장" [Melon Music Awards chosen by music users appears]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2022 – via Naver.
  6. ^ "2005 Melon Music Awards Winners" (in Korean). Melon. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  7. ^ "2006 Melon Music Awards Winners" (in Korean). Melon. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  8. ^ "2007 Melon Music Awards Winners" (in Korean). Melon. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "2008 Melon Music Awards Winners" (in Korean). Melon. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  10. ^ "음악사이트 멜론, 첫 디지털 음원 연말 시상식 개최!" [Music site Melon hosts the first digital music year-end awards ceremony!]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Naver. November 9, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  11. ^ "2009 Melon Music Awards Winners" (in Korean). Melon. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  12. ^ Kim, Hyun-woo (December 16, 2009). 빅뱅 지드래곤 불참불구 MMA 대상 올해의 앨범상 수상 기염 [Big Bang's G-Dragon wins the MMA Award for Album of the Year despite his absence]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  13. ^ "2010 Melon Music Awards Winners" (in Korean). Melon. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  14. ^ [2010 MMA] 2010 멜론뮤직어워드 – 2부 (Online broadcast) (in Korean). Melon. December 17, 2010. Event occurs at 08:36. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  15. ^ "Winners of 2011 Melon Music Awards". KBS World. November 24, 2011. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  16. ^ [2011 MMA] 2011 멜론뮤직어워드 – 3부 (Online broadcast) (in Korean). Melon. November 25, 2011. Event occurs at 24:03. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  17. ^ "2012 Melon Music Awards Winners" (in Korean). Melon. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  18. ^ 2012 MelOn Music Awards 2부 (Online broadcast) (in Korean). Kakao M. December 23, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ "2013 Melon Music Awards Winners" (in Korean). Melon. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  20. ^ '멜론뮤직어워드' 버스커버스커 대상 2연패 성공 [Busker Busker wins Grand Prize for 2 consecutive years at the 'Melon Music Awards']. Newsen (in Korean). November 14, 2013. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  21. ^ "2014 Melon Music Awards Winners" (in Korean). Melon. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  22. ^ Jeon, Yoon-hee (November 13, 2014). '2014 멜론뮤직어워드' 올해의 앨범상 god "큰상 오랜만" '울컥' [G.o.d wins '2014 Melon Music Awards' Album of the Year: "Big award after a long time," 'crying']. Korea Economic TV (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via Naver.
  23. ^ "2015 Melon Music Awards Winners" (in Korean). Melon. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  24. ^ [2015 MelOn Music Awards] Part.2 (2부) (Online broadcast) (in Korean). Kakao M. November 8, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ Chung, Joo-won (November 20, 2016). "BTS, Exo, Twice top 2016 Melon Music Awards". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  26. ^ [2016 MelOn Music Awards] Part.2 (2부) (Online broadcast) (in Korean). Kakao M. November 21, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2021 – via YouTube.
  27. ^ Kim, So-yeon (December 3, 2017). "BTS, Exo, IU win big at 2017 Melon Music Awards". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  28. ^ Hwang, Hye-jin (December 2, 2017). [멜론뮤직어워드]아이유, 올해의 앨범상 수상 '상 욕심 없는데 타고싶었다' [[Melon Music Awards] IU wins Album of the Year Award]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  29. ^ Herman, Tamar (December 3, 2018). "BTS Performs 'Idol' at Melon Music Awards 2018". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  30. ^ [2018 MMA] 2018 멜론뮤직어워드 – 2부 (Online broadcast) (in Korean). Melon. December 3, 2018. Event occurs at 99:13. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  31. ^ Herman, Tamar (December 1, 2019). "BTS Turn 2019 Melon Music Awards Into Mini Concert Before Picking Up Top Honors". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  32. ^ Yang, Su-bok (November 30, 2019). [2019 MMA] 방탄소년단, 올해의 앨범-아티스트상 싹쓸이 "아미 사랑해요" [[2019 MMA] BTS sweeps away Album of the Year – Artist Award: "I love you Army"]. Single List (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  33. ^ Hicap, Jonathan (December 6, 2020). "Winners at 2020 Melon Music Awards". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  34. ^ [MMA 2020] 올해의 앨범 수상소감 – 방탄소년단 (Online video) (in Korean). Melon. December 5, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  35. ^ Yeo, Gladys (December 5, 2021). "Here are all the winners from the Melon Music Awards 2021". NME. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  36. ^ 임영웅, 올해의 앨범→BTS, 올해의 레코드 수상[MMA2022] [Lim Young-woong, Album of the Year → BTS, Record of the Year Award [MMA2022]]. MK Sports (in Korean). Naver. November 26, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  37. ^ Yeo, Gladys (December 4, 2023). "Here are all the winners from the 2023 Melon Music Awards". NME. Retrieved December 6, 2023.

External links

Melon Music Awards
Melon Music Award for Album of the Year
Categories