NewJeans Nominated for Japan Record Awards Despite Departure of Min Hee-jin

Despite the departure of their 'mother' Min Hee-jin, the K-pop group NewJeans (뉴진스) has been nominated for the prestigious Japan Record Awards for the second consecutive year. According to their agency ADOR, NewJeans, consisting of members Minji (민지), Hani (하니), Danielle (다니엘), Haerin (해린), and Hyein (혜인), received the Excellent Work Award for their song 'Supernatural' at the 66th Japan Record Awards (日本レコード大賞).

The Excellent Work Award is given to songs that have gained significant popularity among the public and demonstrate outstanding artistry, originality, and planning. Notably, NewJeans is the only overseas artist nominated in this category this year. The ten songs selected for the Excellent Work Award will also compete for the Grand Prize, making 'Supernatural' a contender for the top honor at the live broadcast ceremony scheduled for December 30.

The Japan Record Awards, organized by the Japan Composers Association, is one of the oldest and most prestigious music award ceremonies in Japan, having started in 1959. Last year, before their official debut in Japan, NewJeans won two awards at the ceremony, including the Excellent Work Award for 'Ditto' and a Special Award.

Riding on their immense popularity, NewJeans will also participate in major year-end broadcasts and festivals in Japan. They are set to appear on Nippon TV's 'Best Artist 2024' on December 30 and Fuji TV's '2024 FNS Music Festival' on December 4, where they will connect with fans. Additionally, on December 31, they will make history as the first K-pop girl group to perform at the 'COUNTDOWN JAPAN 24/25,' Japan's largest indoor year-end festival.

NewJeans has had a remarkable year in Japan. Their debut single 'Supernatural,' released in June, topped the Oricon chart on its release day and received a Gold Disc certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan for exceeding 100,000 copies in shipments. As of October, the album has sold over 1.26 million copies according to Circle Chart. The title track 'Supernatural' quickly climbed to the top of major local music charts and has consistently ranked high on both domestic and international charts, showcasing the group's influence.

Moreover, NewJeans set a record as the fastest overseas artist to perform at Tokyo Dome, achieving this milestone in just 1 year and 11 months. Their fan meeting 'Bunnies Camp 2024 Tokyo Dome' held on June 26-27 sold out, attracting over 91,200 fans. They have also made a strong impression on various Japanese terrestrial music programs.

The Japan Record Awards will be broadcast live on TBS on December 30.