From Ok-pop gossip to the star-studded afterparty in West Hollywood, here is what Billboard discovered and overheard in the course of the first-ever MAMA Awards ceremony within the States.
KATSEYE pose backstage on the 2024 MAMA Awards in Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre on Nov. 21, 2024.
Rahul Bhatt
For the primary time in its 25-year historical past, the MAMA Awards held its inaugural ceremony in the USA for the primary day (Nov. 21) of its 2024 ceremony in Los Angeles. Broadcasting dwell from the long-lasting Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, the most important Ok-pop awards kicked off their three days of festivities with chart-topping teams, legendary musicians, and a tightly packed schedule of pleasure that followers might watch throughout social media and stream completely on Samsung TV Plus.
The historic day kicked off with a media occasion in a morning press convention the place reporters heard from and talked to performers J.Y. Park and RIIZE, in addition to the top of CJ ENM conference enterprise Park Chan Uk.
That afternoon, the celebs made their method onto the purple carpet. Earlier than the official ceremony started, Billboard spoke to all of the artists in attendance like J.Y. Park and RIIZE, in addition to TWS, Younger Posse, ILLIT, KATSEYE, and host Park Bo Gum (watch all right here). As soon as the present started, all of the artists carried out on stage — with Park and KATSEYE bringing on particular friends — whereas J.Y., RIIZE, TWS, and ILLIT all received awards all through the night time. Retaining with the Hollywood theme, a slew of shock presenters had been additionally readily available together with Oscar and Billboard Music Award winners.
Whereas followers have been glued to the worldwide stream to not miss a minute of the printed, Billboard was additionally on the scene all through MAMA’s momentous day to catch all belongings you won’t have seen on TV.
From whispers contained in the venue a few new boy band to look at to the non-public moments with artists like ILLIT and J.Y. Park, plus an unique backstage shot of KATSEYE above, listed below are moments from the KCON LA 2024 weekend that you just didn’t see.
JYP Lays Out VCHA’s Future
On a media day the morning earlier than the inaugural MAMA Awards US, reporters heard feedback and requested questions of J.Y. Park, RIIZE, and the top of CJ ENM conference enterprise Park Chan Uk.
A serious theme across the press convention was Ok-pop persevering with to unfold internationally, which Park, the founder and largest shareholder of JYP Leisure, stated was being performed by rigorously created localized acts. The producer shared plans for JYP woman group VCHA, created on a actuality program A2K [America to Korea], and launched a sequence of singles from late 2023 till March of this 12 months.
“We’re getting ready for full actions subsequent 12 months for VCHA,” Park stated. “Our plan is to distinguish this group from our current Ok-pop artists with particular and distinctive contents. The prep interval is taking a bit of longer than traditional as a result of the preparation effort is taking longer than anticipated.”
Park shared extra about his imaginative and prescient in a follow-up query about VCHA.
“I needed to verify they’re not Ok-pop so far as music and visuals,” he added. “Although they’re produced by a Ok-pop firm, I don’t need them to be Ok-pop; I need them to be what they’re. They’re not born and raised in Korea, they’re not influenced by Korean tradition, they’re proficient youngsters who’re born and raised right here [in the United States]. We are attempting to verify the following upcoming album is themselves. In contrast to our Ok-pop and Korean artists, I believe the inventive groups can be a mixture with American producers, musicians, choreographers, and ensuring it’s them. It’s going to be very totally different. The brand new music, the album, the brand new video can be very totally different from JYP.”
Shifting the Stars’ Seats
Whereas seating preparations at award exhibits are typically a enjoyable, sizzling matter, the Ok-pop acts attending the MAMA Awards US tended to be in a relentless state of flux off-camera. All through the night time, followers noticed artist attendees like RIIZE, TWS, Younger Posse, ILLIT, KATSEYE and transferring seats relying on who was leaving to carry out or returning to their seats. Whereas American exhibits are likely to favor seat fillers as an alternative of transferring movie star seats, the big quantity of shifting and transferring between the celebs nonetheless noticed the televised manufacturing look flawlessly produced to viewers.
Lance Bass Embraces the MAMA Expertise
As somebody who is aware of a factor or two about music award exhibits, *NSYNC member Lance Bass offered the award for Favourite International Performer Male to his boy band friends in RIIZE and made probably the most of his time at MAMA’s inaugural stateside present. Whereas his dressing room was on the identical ground as visitor presenters like Dustin Hoffman, the star shared some respectful bows with RIIZE after the band’s successful speech and linked up with the night time’s host, actor Park Bo-Gum, to take photographs collectively.
RIIZE-ing Tensions
Whereas followers nonetheless grapple with final month’s information that unique group member Seunghan wouldn’t be returning to RIIZE after his many months of hiatus (with an announcement final week from the label SM Leisure that the singer would as an alternative debut as a soloist in 2025), native followers in Los Angeles tried to lift their voices for the 21-year-old — to various outcomes.
These outdoors the venue had been making their emotions clear (a number of folks held a big banner that learn “Idols Are Human SM Shield Seunghan”) whereas holding flags and indicators with Seunghan’s face. Nevertheless, these attending inside had been discovering pushback and points from the venue over RIIZE-related merchandise.
Throughout social media, RIIZE followers documented what they are saying had been supplies that supported something associated to the group as seven members or associated Seunghan — in addition to some that didn’t — had been being confiscated or barred from getting into. Some followers even reported that something coloured orange (the group’s unofficial shade) wasn’t allowed into the venue. Contained in the Dolby Theatre, Billboard did see venue staff taking totally different supplies from followers by the night time.
In a touching second from the night time, RIIZE member Anton appeared to acknowledge the fan wrestle whereas nonetheless displaying them love in his portion of the group’s acceptance speech for Favourite International Performer Male.
“We actually are grateful for our followers for being there for us,” the East Coast native informed the viewers. “Quite a bit has occurred within the one 12 months that we’ve been performing as artists, even within the final 12 months since final 12 months’s MAMA; I’m certain many people are conscious with what occurred, we’re all the time grateful to our followers, our BRIIZE…there have been many occasions and it’s a bit cliche to say this, I do know, however all of the members and I can do is promise to followers that we’ll all the time work laborious and check out our greatest to point out the perfect model of ourselves that we will. However all we will hope for is that our followers can be there to help RIIZE and our future as properly. , there’s lots of open communication between us and our firm; it’s actually supportive. We’re all the time grateful for our followers; our greatest hope is that RIIZE and BRIIZE can be there for one another.”
The Kats and the Rams Bond
After KATSEYE slayed a high-flying rendition of their tracks “Debut” and “Contact” in a particular collaboration with the Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders squad, the 2 groups’ connection appeared to proceed post-performance as six members from the cheer squad joined the Chartbreakers to take a seat with them within the viewers to look at the remainder of the ceremony.
Hoffman’s Heckler
American award exhibits are extra rowdy than a typical Ok-pop ceremony, so a heckler shouting at Dustin Hoffman because the actor offered the Greatest New Male Artist award was not the wildest factor for the viewers to listen to. Nevertheless it nonetheless earned stunned and anxious faces from reporters and workers members within the viewers.
TWS’ Shock for College students
Ok-pop rookie standouts TWS had probably the greatest performances of the night time, bringing “Oh Mymy : 7s” and “Plot Twist” to life with a school-themed idea that noticed the sextet using desks for choreography and ending with a big marching band enjoying with them.
Los Angeles Occasions contributor Christine Terrisse shared with reporters that she discovered the performers who appeared on the finish had been marching band members from the native Tetlaff Junior Excessive from Cerritos who needed to write essays to elucidate why they needed to take part. Terrisse ran into two of the performers, each Ok-pop followers, and shared the quotes with Billboard.
“I’m actually excited to see all of the totally different teams I’ve seen to this point,” stated Gia, 14, who performs alto saxophone. “I discover it actually enjoyable being up on there, it’s such a brand new expertise.”
“This is sort of a once-in-a-lifetime alternative that I’m by no means gonna have once more, most likely,” added Anushree, who performs clarinet. “However I really feel like assembly all these totally different folks and having this expertise can also be gonna assist me develop whereas like having a superb time as properly.”
The younger instrumentalists additionally spoke up and agreed a few have to erase the labels when it got here to music.
“Among the finest issues that’s happening is it just like the inclusivity,” Anushree, who performs clarinet, stated of the MAMAs coming to the States, including, “However I believe one of many worst issues as properly is that they’re focusing rather a lot on the inclusivity…[K-pop stars] are superb, however like I don’t know why they need to be categorized as like ‘Ok-pop,’ they may simply be pop or one thing. However I’ll nonetheless hearken to them.”
Digital camera Spoilers?
Whereas viewers streaming or at residence could have been saved in suspense when it got here to the Greatest New Feminine Artist winner at this 12 months’s MAMAs, the digital camera folks on the scene weren’t significantly refined. Whereas each ILLIT and Younger Posse had been each nominees for the award and within the viewers ready for the outcomes, a cameraman was solely taking pictures ILLIT (seated within the entrance row) whereas poor Younger Posse (within the second row) appeared a bit ignoredTK.
Whereas it was usually talked about how holding the primary MAMA Awards US on the Dolby Theatre was outstanding for the venue additionally internet hosting the Oscars, the digital camera work was a stark distinction in comparison with the Academy Awards expertise when viewers can see each nominee’s response in actual time.
Da’Vine Directs ILLIT
Following ILLIT’s emotional speech accepting the Greatest New Feminine Group award (the place the members thanked supporters in Korean, Japanese, and English), the quintet started strolling all the way down to their seats within the viewers as an alternative of heading backstage to have fun their win. Fortunately, Da’Vine Pleasure Randolph offered the award, and the actress received the Academy Award for Greatest Supporting Actress on the Dolby Theatre this previous March (pictured above), she referred to as out to the “Magnetic” ladies and warmly instructed them to return backstage along with her.
We love seeing celebs look out for each other.
The Stars Stand Up for JYP
As J.Y. Park’s MAMA US finale efficiency with Anderson .Paak drew to a detailed, and several other stars in attendance led the group to get on their toes to honor the music legend. The members of RIIZE, Younger Posse, and KATSEYE stood up and inspired the remainder of the Dolby Theatre to face up with them to point out much more like to Park.
KATSEYE’s Lara and Megan regarded significantly hyped as they grooved and sang alongside all through the 15-minute presentation.
Stateside Pleasure Over KickFlip
As a part of his efficiency to have fun his 30 years within the enterprise, J.Y. Park’s finale efficiency kicked off with an introductory video the place the music legend acted as if he misplaced his reminiscence of the previous 30 years. Two minutes into the mini movie, a computerized voice tells Park, “Simply earlier than shedding your reminiscence, you had been finalizing preparations for the debut of KickFlip set to launch subsequent 12 months,” with a photograph of seven younger males on the display confirming JYP Leisure’s plans for a brand new boy band in 2025.
Inside the Dolby Theatre, there was extra pleasure about KickFlip, with a number of the JYP USA Leisure executives attending excited for his or her work to be quickly shared with the world and asking native press to have excessive expectations.
An official reveal of the group throughout JYP Leisure’s social accounts, saying what seems to be to be their debut on Jan. 1, 2025:
The Afterparty at Andy’s
Earlier within the media day, J.Y. Park talked about he would hit Anderson .Paak’s LA bar after the MAMAs wrapped turned out to be the go-to spot after the present.
Together with .Paak and Park on the former’s West Hollywood sizzling spot Andy’s, Eric Nam was additionally noticed after he accomplished his duties because the MAMA Awards US purple carpet MC and visitor host for the night time. Ok-pop diva Sunmi, rapper-actor Dumbfoundead, Japanese DJ-singer Intercourse Pet, 88rising co-founder and EST Media Holdings chairman Jaeson Ma, plus a number of creatives from Anderson’s upcoming Ok-Pops movie together with author Khaila Amazan and actress Emi Kim, had been all noticed having fun with the night time.
