The upcoming MMA 2025 will rock with Jennie and aespa. The K-pop superstars are set to appear at the ceremony taking place on December 20. Announced on Tuesday (Nov. 18), the BLACKPINK member — who has spent the past year expanding her profile as a powerhouse solo artist — and aespa are the latest names added to an already stacked roster.
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Jennie’s 2025 has been defined by significant chart success and global visibility. Her debut solo album Ruby, supported by five hit singles — “Mantra,” “Love Hangover,” “ExtraL,” “Like Jennie,” and “Handlebars” — positioned her as one of the most streamed female K-pop acts of the year. “Mantra” climbed to No. 3 on both the Billboard Global 200 and South Korea’s Circle Digital Chart, while “Like Jennie” reached No. 5 globally and became her third No. 1 hit on the Circle chart. Every single from the project also entered the top 30 of the Global 200 and charted on the Billboard Hot 100, a rare achievement for a Korean soloist. Her momentum continues. Just days before the MMA announcement, Jennie earned another major streaming milestone: “Like Jennie” surpassed 600 million Spotify streams, becoming her third track to reach the mark and the fastest-rising solo female hit of 2025 to do so.
For aespa, the upcoming performance follows the success of their recent EP Rich Man. The girl group returns to the MMA stage after dominating last year’s ceremony, where they won an impressive seven awards, including all three prestigious Daesangs. At the upcoming 2025 edition, aespa is expected to be a strong contender with their fifth EP Whiplash.
This year’s MelOn Music Awards also mark an important return to the Gocheok Sky Dome, the event’s first time back at the venue in three years. In addition to fan voting and streaming data, the 2025 ceremony introduces a new expert review panel designed to balance commercial performance with artistic evaluation. Organizers have positioned the show as a broader celebration of creativity, performance excellence, and industry impact.
Jennie and aespa join a wide-ranging lineup that spans major K-pop groups, rising rookies, and high-profile solo acts, including G-Dragon, Hearts2Hearts, ILLIT, IDID, KiiiKiii, and more.
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