BLACKPINK Jennie Makes History, G-Dragon Takes Triple Crown at 2025 Melon Music Awards
The 2025 Melon Music Awards delivered a night of unprecedented achievements as BLACKPINK's Jennie became the first soloist ever to win Record of the Year, while G-Dragon swept three of four daesang categories at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome on December 20.
Jennie's Historic Record of the Year Win
Jennie secured the Record of the Year daesang-the ceremony's only award determined purely by judges' artistic evaluation-marking the first time a soloist has claimed this honor in MMA history. The win caps a remarkable 2025 for the BLACKPINK member, whose debut album "Ruby" sold over one million copies worldwide after its March 7 release.
"This year has been deeply meaningful with my first album and so many things happening," Jennie said during her acceptance speech. "I miss the members so much. Being alone makes me lonely. BLINK, I love you always."
Released through her independent label Odd Atelier and Columbia Records, "Ruby" features 15 tracks with collaborations from Childish Gambino, Dua Lipa, Doechii, and Dominic Fike. The album sold 660,000 copies in its first week in South Korea and debuted at number three in the UK-the highest-charting album by a female K-pop soloist.
G-Dragon's Triumphant Triple Daesang Sweep
G-Dragon dominated the awards with three grand prizes: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for "Übermensch," and Song of the Year for "HOME SWEET HOME" featuring BIGBANG members Taeyang and Daesung.
"Übermensch means 'the transcending self,'" G-Dragon explained while accepting Album of the Year. "Personally, it was a spell I cast on myself-wanting to become that. I miss BIGBANG members. To my family, friends, colleagues, and Melon-thank you."
Released February 25, 2025, "Übermensch" is G-Dragon's first full album in 12 years since "Coup d'Etat" (2013). The eight-track album sold 639,176 copies on its first day and surpassed one million by March, breaking multiple streaming records on Melon with 4.2 million cumulative 24-hour streams.
For Song of the Year, "HOME SWEET HOME" topped the Circle Digital Chart after its November 22, 2024 release. The track marked the BIGBANG trio's first collaboration since 2022's "Still Life."
"I didn't plan this, but I ate samgyetang this morning," G-Dragon joked during his third acceptance. "It's track one from the album, and it's a warm song because the members joined. Thanks to it, I spent the year well."
Award Ceremony Highlights
The 17th Melon Music Awards featured performances from over 20 artists including aespa, IVE, RIIZE, PLAVE, NCT WISH, and EXO. Winners were determined through 60% streaming and download data, 20% judges' evaluations, and 20% fan votes, covering the eligibility period from October 31, 2024 through November 19, 2025.
The Top 10 Artists included aespa, BOYNEXTDOOR, G-Dragon, IVE, Jennie, Lim Young Woong, NCT WISH, PLAVE, RIIZE, and ROSÉ.
Both victories highlight different career milestones: Jennie's Record of the Year establishes her solo legitimacy beyond BLACKPINK, while G-Dragon's triple crown reinforces his 18-year legacy as a pioneering force in Korean music following his departure from YG Entertainment in 2023.
