What Is 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards

Overview

The 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) was a multi-city K-pop awards event celebrating the year's top achievements in Asian music, particularly within the K-pop industry. Unlike previous editions held in a single location, MAMA 2017 expanded its reach by hosting ceremonies across three countries: Vietnam, Japan, and Hong Kong.

This international rollout emphasized Mnet's strategy to position MAMA as a global music brand. The event featured performances from top Korean acts and honored excellence in categories ranging from Best Male Artist to Song of the Year.

• November 30, 2017: The first ceremony was held at the Phu Tho Indoor Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, marking MAMA’s debut in Southeast Asia.
• December 1, 2017: The second leg took place at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan, drawing a large Japanese audience and featuring K-pop acts popular in the region.
• December 2, 2017: The final and largest ceremony occurred at the AsiaWorld–Expo in Hong Kong, where major awards like Artist of the Year were presented.
• The 2017 MAMA was hosted by South Korean actor Kim Woo-bin, who returned as the main presenter despite undergoing cancer treatment earlier that year.
• Global viewership reached over 190 countries via live broadcast, making it one of the most-watched K-pop award events of the year.

How It Works

The Mnet Asian Music Awards uses a hybrid voting system combining digital sales, expert evaluation, and fan participation to determine winners. Each category has specific weightings, ensuring a balance between commercial success and artistic merit.

• Digital Sales (40%):Streaming numbers and digital download counts from platforms like Melon and Genie are compiled over a designated eligibility period to assess popularity.
• Global Voting (30%): Fans worldwide can vote online for their favorite artists during a two-week window, with each account limited to one daily vote per category.
• Expert Judges (30%): A panel of music industry professionals, including producers and critics, evaluates entries based on artistic quality, innovation, and cultural impact.
• Album of the Year: This top prize considers physical sales, concept cohesion, and production value, with BTS’s Love Yourself: Her winning in 2017.
• Artist of the Year: Awarded to the performer with the best overall impact, factoring in year-long chart performance, media presence, and global reach.
• Worldwide Icon of the Year: Introduced in 2017, this new award recognized BTS for their unprecedented international influence and social media dominance.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2017 MAMA differed significantly from prior years in format, location, and global engagement. Below is a comparison with the 2016 edition:

The shift to multiple locations in 2017 reflected Mnet’s ambition to expand K-pop’s footprint in Asia and beyond. By staging events in high-population markets like Vietnam and Japan, MAMA increased regional fan engagement and media coverage.

Why It Matters

The 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards was a landmark event that highlighted the globalization of K-pop and the rising influence of fan-driven voting. It set new standards for production scale and international outreach in Asian music awards.

• BTS’s sweep of major awards signaled their transition from popular group to global superstars, with Artist of the Year cementing their 2017 dominance.
• The multi-city format demonstrated that K-pop events could thrive outside Korea, paving the way for future international award shows.
• Worldwide Icon of the Year acknowledged the importance of social media and global fandoms in defining modern music success.
• Performances by artists like Twice, EXO, and Wanna One were streamed millions of times, boosting K-pop’s visibility on YouTube and other platforms.
• The event generated significant economic impact for host cities through tourism, media rights, and sponsorships from brands like Hyundai and CJ ENM.
• MAMA 2017 reinforced South Korea’s soft power strategy, using pop culture to enhance national image and cultural diplomacy across Asia.

By blending fan engagement, expert evaluation, and international spectacle, the 2017 MAMA became a blueprint for future global music award events.