17th Korean Music Awards Announces Nominees

The nominees of the 17th Korean Music Awards have been announced!

The Korean Music Awards focuses on the albums and songs more than the artists, and musical achievement is considered rather than sales. The awards show aims to go beyond the barrier between mainstream and non-mainstream music.

See this year’s nominees for each category below:

Album of the Year

C Jamm – “Keung”
Lim Kim – “GENERASIAN”
The Black Skirts – “THIRSTY”
Baek Yerin – “Our Love Is Great”
Jannabi – “Legend”

Song of the Year

AKMU – “How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You’re the One I Love”
Lim Kim – “SAL-KI”
BTS – “Boy With Luv”
Baek Yerin –  “Maybe It’s Not Our Fault”
Jannabi – “For Lovers Who Hesitate”

Artist of the Year

Lim Kim
Kim Oki
Kim Hyun Chul
BTS
Baek Yerin
Jannabi

Rookie of the Year

ITZY
NET GALA
sogumm
Lee Joo Young
Chun Yongsung

Best Pop Album

AKMU – “SAILING”
Kim Hyun Chul – “Sail”
Baek Yerin – “Our Love Is Great”
Oohyo – “Far from the Madding City”
Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon – “Purpose”
Cacophony – “Dream”

Best Pop Song

AKMU – “How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You’re the One I Love”
ITZY – “DALLA DALLA”
(G)I-DLE – “LION”
BTS – “Boy With Luv”
Baek Yerin –  “Maybe It’s Not Our Fault”

Best Rock Album

The Bowls – “If We Live Without Romance”
Goonam – “Moraenae Fantasy”
Black Hole – “EVOLUTION”
Oh Chill – “Oh, Two Animals”
Jambinai – “ONDA”
National Pigeon Unity – “999”

Best Rock Song

Jambinai – “ONDA”
National Pigeon Unity – “Same Same”
SONIC STONES – “Chocolate Milk”
SE SO NEON – “Go Back”
Oh Chill – “Oh, Two Animals”

Best Modern Rock Album

9 And The Numbers – “Many Minutes in Seoul”
The Black Skirts – “THIRSTY”
Rock’N Roll Radio – “You’ve Never Had It So Good”
THORNAPPLE – “Enlightenment”
Jannabi – “Legend”

Best Modern Rock Song

The Black Skirts – “Queen of Diamonds”
DECADENT – “Lingu”
Rock’N Roll Radio – “TAKE ME HOME”
THORNAPPLE – “February”
Jannabi – “For Lovers Who Hesitate”

Best Metal and Hardcore Album

Eighteen April – “Voices”
Various Artists – “Black Hole Tribute – Re-encounter The Miracle”
Madmans Esprit – “Glorifying Suicide”
Method – “Definition Of Method”
CHAIN REACTION – “FEATURES/CREATURES”

Best Dance and Electronic Album

Lim Kim – “GENERASIAN”
NET GALA – “re:FLEX*ion”
Various Artists – “Gookbo 3ho”
Jang Myungsun – “A Premature and Meaningless Confession”

Best Dance and Electronic Song

Lim Kim – “SAL-KI”
NET GALA – “Quarrel”
Peggy Gou – “Starry Night”
Pierre Blanche – “Combat”
Two Tone Shape – “Constant”

Best Rap and Hip Hop Album

C Jamm – “Keung”
E SENS – “The Stranger”
FUTURISTIC SWAVER – “BFOTY”
XXX – “SECOND LANGUAGE”
CHOILB – “Orientation”

Best Rap and Hip Hop Song

E SENS – “Son of a”
MUSHVENOM – “Why Are You So Noisy?”
BewhY – “GOTTASADAE”
BILL STAX – “Idungivaㅗ”
YUMDDA – “Don’t Call Me (Prod. BRLLNT)”

Best R&B and Soul Album

Colde – “Love part 1”
dress, sogumm – “Not My Fault”
sogumm – “Sobrightttttttt”
Samuel Seo – “The Misfit”
SUMIN – “OO DA DA”

Best R&B and Soul Song

Colde – “WA-R-R”
Jclef – “Mama, See”
Brown Eyed Soul – “Night and Day”
Sunwoo Jung-A – “CLASSIC”
SUMIN – “STARDUST”

Best Folk Album

Emon – “The World Without You”
Yeoyu and Seolbin – “Song from Far Away”
Lazy Blood – “Sad Dreamy Funny”
Lee Joo Young – “Lee Joo Young”
Chun Yongsung – “Year of Kim Il-sung’s Death”

Best Folk Song

KwonTree – “New Day”
Lazy Blood – “Go Yoonsik Go”
Lee Joo Young – “Heart”
Jeongmilla – “Nameless”
Chun Yongsung – “Heavy Snow Watch”

Best Jazz Album

Trio Works – “Gunsan Gaka”
Kim Oki – “Spirit Advance Unit”
Youn Sun Nah – “Immersion”
Jangeun Bae and Liberation Amalgamation – “JB Liberation Amalgamation”
Youngjoo Song, Sunny Kim – “Tribute”

Best Crossover Album

NST & The Soul Sauce meets Kim Yulhee – “Version”
Black String – “Karma”
Jungmin Seo – “HOME”
SB Circle – “Topology”
Ji Park – “DMZ”

Best Jazz and Crossover Performance

Pureum Jin – “The Real Blue”
Trio Works – “Gunsan Gaka”
Jangeun Bae and Liberation Amalgamation – “JB Liberation Amalgamation”
Black String – “Karma”
Lee Myoung Gun Trio – “Something Good Is Good”
Minki – “Invisible”

The ceremony for the 17th Korean Music Awards will be held at the Guro Arts Valley Theater on February 27 at 7 p.m. KST.