MAMA Awards Makes Historic Debut in the U.S. with Rosé's First Performance of 'Apartment' in Japan

On November 21, the iconic Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, known for hosting the Academy Awards, was filled with K-pop fans as it hosted the inaugural MAMA Awards in the United States. The event, organized by CJ ENM, attracted a crowd of over 3,000 fans who erupted in cheers as the K-pop group RISE took the stage.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the MAMA Awards marked a significant milestone by making its debut in the world's largest music market, the United States. This was the first time a K-pop awards ceremony was held in America. Park Jin-young, a singer and producer who shared the stage with American artist Anderson .Paak, reflected on the challenges of breaking into the U.S. market in the early 2000s, stating, "At that time, creating such a stage seemed like a reckless dream. Honestly, K-pop has not yet become mainstream in the U.S., but we need to continue holding local events to appeal to the public."

The ceremony featured a surprise appearance by veteran actor Dustin Hoffman, who presented the award for Best New Male Artist. He remarked, "I witnessed the incredible talent and passion of K-pop groups at a concert in LA last year." Director Lee Isaac Chung, known for his work on the film Minari, humorously noted while presenting the Best Dance Performance – Male Group award, "I’m standing on a stage I couldn’t reach when Minari didn’t win an Oscar (for Best Director)." Both awards went to the rookie K-pop group TO1.

Following the Los Angeles event, the MAMA Awards continued in Osaka, Japan, where the evening ceremony at the Kyocera Dome featured BLACKPINK's Rosé and Bruno Mars, who have recently gained global popularity with their song 'Apartment.' The two artists celebrated their win for the Global Sensation award by clinking their trophies together on stage. The performance of 'Apartment' marked its first live presentation, following its recent success on various global music charts. Park Chan-wook, head of CJ ENM's Convention Business Division, expressed pride in the event's U.S. debut, stating, "I believe we have contributed to enhancing K-pop's capabilities by successfully entering the American market. We will continue to consider the U.S. as a potential location for future award ceremonies."