Past to Present: Revisiting MAMA’s Most Iconic Performances

The Mnet Asian Music Awards (now shortened as MAMA) has come a long way since its inception in 1999 as the Mnet Music Video Festival. Initially launched to honor outstanding achievements in Korean music, it has grown into one of the most prominent and anticipated music award shows in Asia. Rebranded as MAMA in 2009. We’ll take a closer look at some of the most iconic and breathtaking performances in MAMA history. While these selections are based on personal opinion and since we can’t cover every year or performances, these performances highlight the creativity, energy, and sheer talent that make MAMA one of the most anticipated nights in music.

Kya Brogdon 10/24/24 Kya Brogdon 10/24/24

From the Desert to Mawazine — A Reflection on ATEEZ's Six-Year Rise

Headlining an international festival with 2.5 million viewers after starting out at a company that had only 20 employees sounds like a heartwarming movie plot — but for ATEEZ, an eight-member group from KQ Entertainment, it’s reality.

While the group has amassed many accolades and praise in the recent past, they started out not knowing if they were even going to make it to releasing their second album. In 2017, the K-Pop scene was starting to gain immense traction in the West due to its online presence, and groups from small companies were just on the cusp of being able to create a footing for themselves. ATEEZ was one of the groups vying for a chance to show their talents to a global audience.