The 2025 The Fact Music Awards (TMA) celebrated top K-pop artists on September 20, 2025, at the Macao Outdoor Performance Venue in China. The event recognized achievements in music, performance, and global influence, with groups like Stray Kids, aespa, and IVE winning major awards. BTS members Jin, j-hope, and V also earned honors for their solo music. Hosted by Jun Hyun Moo and Seohyun, the ceremony featured electrifying performances, collaborative stages, and memorable red carpet appearances.
Winners List
The awards included grand prizes (Daesang), genre-specific awards, and fan-voted categories. Stray Kids won four awards, including Honor of the Year and Record of the Year. aespa received three awards, such as Muse of the Year and Special Jury Award, while IVE claimed Sound of the Year. BTS’s Jin won Best Music (Summer) and Fan N Star Choice (Solo), j-hope won Best Music (Spring), and V won Best Music (Winter). Other winners included ENHYPEN (Icon of the Year), ZEROBASEONE (World Best Performer), and PLAVE (Fan N Star Choice Group). The full list of winners is as follows:
- Honor of the Year: Stray Kids
- Muse of the Year: aespa
- Sound of the Year: IVE
- Record of the Year: Stray Kids
- Icon of the Year: ENHYPEN
- Artist of the Year: Stray Kids, aespa, ENHYPEN, IVE, NMIXX, BOYNEXTDOOR, ZEROBASEONE, TWS, NCT WISH
- Best Music (Winter): V (BTS)
- Best Music (Spring): j-hope (BTS)
- Best Music (Summer): Jin (BTS)
- TMA Popularity Award: Stray Kids
- Special Jury Award: aespa
- Global Hot Star Award: PLAVE
- Today’s Choice: ENHYPEN
- World Best Performer: ZEROBASEONE
- World Best Wave: BOYNEXTDOOR
- Next Leader: Hearts2Hearts, KiiiKiii, ALLDAY PROJECT
- Global Hot Trend: NEXZ, MEOVV
- Hottest Award: AHOF, CLOSE YOUR EYES
- Angel N Star: Lim Young Woong
- Fan N Star Choice (Group): PLAVE
- Fan N Star Choice (Solo): Jin (BTS)
Red Carpet Moments
The red carpet, hosted by broadcaster Yoo Jae-pil, featured bold fashion statements and lively interactions. Groups like aespa, Stray Kids, and IVE showcased stylish outfits, blending luxury brands with unique designs. ENHYPEN and ZEROBASEONE also drew attention with coordinated stage looks, while soloists like Jin (BTS) and Lim Young Woong displayed elegant suits. Fans online praised the artists’ energy and fashion choices, with many highlighting Seohyun’s hosting chemistry with Jun Hyun Moo.
Performance Highlights
The ceremony included performances from nearly 50 K-pop acts, with special stages paying tribute to legendary groups. aespa, IVE, and Stray Kids delivered high-energy sets, while rookie groups like AHOF and CLOSE YOUR EYES collaborated on a joint stage. Tribute performances included AHOF covering BTS’s “Dynamite,” CLOSE YOUR EYES performing SEVENTEEN’s “HOT,” and KiiiKiii recreating BLACKPINK’s “DDU-DU DDU-DU.” Soloists Lee Seo and Kyu-jin performed Taeyeon’s “To. X,” and ZEROBASEONE’s Zhang Hao and Ricky staged a duet to “Special Person.”
Fan Reactions and Social Media Buzz
Fans globally celebrated the wins on social media, with trends like #STRAYKIDSx2025TMA and #V_WinterAheadTMAWin highlighting major moments. Many praised the tribute performances for honoring K-pop history, while others expressed pride in BTS members’ solo achievements. The awards’ focus on fan voting and data-driven results also sparked positive discussions about fairness and recognition.
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