Incheon — A packed Inspire Arena watched the Melon Music Awards 2025 crown its biggest stars tonight. G‑Dragon and Jennie shared the Grand Prize for Artist of the Year and delivered the night’s most‑talked‑about stages. G‑Dragon also took Album of the Year for Übermensch and Best Solo (Male), while IVE and BOYNEXTDOOR claimed the top group trophies. Here are the confirmed winners and the moments fans are replaying.
Who won: Melon Music Awards 2025 winners (live‑confirmed)
Melon’s live winners feed and ceremony coverage were compiled in real time by allkpop. The headline co‑Daesang for Artist of the Year was reported by Chosun.
Grand Prizes (Daesang)
- Artist of the Year (Daesang): Co‑recipients — G‑Dragon and Jennie (Chosun)
- Top 10 Artists (Artist of the Year list): aespa, BOYNEXTDOOR, G‑Dragon, IVE, Jennie, Lim Young Woong, NCT WISH, PLAVE, RIIZE, Rosé (allkpop)
- Album of the Year (Daesang): G‑Dragon — Übermensch (winner)
Main & special categories
- Best Group (Female): IVE (winner)
- Best Group (Male): BOYNEXTDOOR (winner)
- Best Solo (Male): G‑Dragon (winner)
- Track Zero Choice: HANRORO — “Goodbye, My Summer” (winner)
Millions — Top 10 (Albums) recognitions
Melon highlighted multiple titles in a list‑style “Top 10 (Albums)” segment. These were labeled as winners in that block:
- G‑Dragon — Übermensch (winner)
- IVE — IVE EMPATHY (winner)
- Jennie — Ruby (winner)
- PLAVE — Caligo Pt.1 (winner)
Noted nominees
- Album of the Year nominees included: BABYMONSTER (DRIP), IU (Kkot Galpi 3), IVE (IVE EMPATHY), Jennie (Ruby), Lim Young Woong (IM HERO 2), PLAVE (Caligo Pt.1), RIIZE (ODYSSEY), Rosé (rosie), SEVENTEEN (HAPPY BURSTDAY).
- Song of the Year: nominees shown in the live feed included 10CM (“To Reach You”), BABYMONSTER (“DRIP”), BOYNEXTDOOR (“IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU”), G‑Dragon (“HOME SWEET HOME” feat. Taeyang & Daesung), HUNTR/X (“Golden”). Winner label was not visible in the captured portion; awaiting official confirmation.
- Best OST nominees: Changsub (BTOB) (“True Love”), Doh Kyung Soo (D.O.) (“FOREVER”), HUNTR/X (“Golden”), PLAVE (“We Don’t Stop”), TXT (“When the Day Comes”). Winner not displayed in the excerpted feed.
- Best Pop Artist nominees: Don Toliver, Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, KATSEYE, Lady Gaga.
Stages that lit up Inspire Arena
Two centerpiece sets defined the show. G‑Dragon returned to the MMA stage with “HOME SWEET HOME,” cinematic LED backdrops, and a medley that nodded to BIGBANG’s legacy. Jennie’s “Ruby” arrived with a live band, a reworked bridge, and a confetti‑red finale — a statement solo moment apart from BLACKPINK activity (Chosun).
IVE delivered an MMA‑style mash‑up of “HEYA” and selections from IVE EMPATHY with an extended dance break. PLAVE blended avatars and live members in a mixed‑reality stage that drew loud cheers and instant replays. RIIZE, BABYMONSTER, and SEVENTEEN also rolled out high‑energy cuts primed for short‑form edits.
Red carpet: statement looks to bookmark
Fashion had a night of its own. G‑Dragon’s tailored all‑black look mixed couture and streetwear, echoing his Übermensch concept. Jennie turned heads in ruby‑toned couture tied directly to her album imagery. IVE went chic monochrome; RIIZE leaned street‑preppy; PLAVE delivered futuristic metallic styling (Chosun).
Timeline: how MMA 2025 unfolded
- Red carpet rolled out at Inspire Arena, Incheon (Dec 20 KST).
- Top 10 Artists (Artist of the Year list) confirmed during the pre‑show and early ceremony blocks.
- Album of the Year announced for G‑Dragon — Übermensch; later in the show, he also accepted Best Solo (Male).
- Daesang headline: G‑Dragon and Jennie recognized as co‑recipients of Artist of the Year.
- Best Group trophies: IVE (Female) and BOYNEXTDOOR (Male).
- “Millions — Top 10 (Albums)” recognition highlighted G‑Dragon, IVE, Jennie, and PLAVE among the year’s top performers on Melon.
- Note: Song of the Year and some specialty categories were not labeled with final winners in the captured live feed.
Fan talk: what’s trending right now
- G‑Dragon and Jennie trended immediately after the co‑Daesang reveal. Fans praised GD’s reflective speech moments and Jennie’s live‑band arrangement.
- IVE and PLAVE fandoms celebrated big wins with streaming pushes and chart screenshots across X/Twitter.
- Clips of PLAVE’s mixed‑reality stage and IVE’s extended dance break are already spawning edits and dance covers.
Why this matters
- Legacy + new wave: G‑Dragon’s Album of the Year caps a solo resurgence while honoring BIGBANG’s impact. Jennie’s shared Daesang underscores her independent brand power in 2025.
- Group momentum: IVE’s Best Female Group win and strong showings by PLAVE and RIIZE reflect how streaming strength translates to MMA hardware.
- Albums era: The “Millions — Top 10 (Albums)” picks mirror real listener demand on Melon during the eligibility year.
Fast facts
- Venue: Inspire Arena, Incheon.
- Grand Prize (Artist of the Year): G‑Dragon & Jennie (co‑recipients).
- Album of the Year: G‑Dragon — Übermensch.
- Best Group (Female): IVE. Best Group (Male): BOYNEXTDOOR.
- Track Zero Choice: HANRORO — “Goodbye, My Summer.”
What to watch next
- Official VOD and full winners page: expect final confirmation on Song of the Year and any categories not visible in the live feed.
- Agency notes: look for post‑ceremony statements from G‑Dragon’s team, Jennie, Starship (IVE), and PLAVE’s label. Tour or special edition announcements could follow.
- Chart bumps: monitor Melon and Circle (Gaon) for post‑MMA spikes on Übermensch and Ruby; editors can prep quick before/after charts.
- More content: red carpet galleries, couture close‑ups, and 15–30s clips of GD’s speech and Jennie’s band bridge are primed for socials.
