The nominees for the 14th annual Korean Music Awards were announced today at 11am, KST. The nominated albums and songs have been selected from albums and songs released between December 1st 2015 and November 30th 2016. The Korean Music Awards do not take sales into consideration and the winners are determined by a panel of music critics and industry experts, making it a Korean version of the Grammy’s. This year the ceremony will take place on Tuesday, February 28th at the Guro Arts Valley Theatre.
Album of the Year
- ABTB – Attraction Between Two Bodies
- Danpyunsun and the Sailors – 뿔 (Shofar)
- bahngbeck – 너의 손 (Your Hands)
- Wings of the ISANG – 의식의흐름 (Stream of Consciousness)
- Jo Dong Jin – 나무가 되어 (As A Tree)
Song of the Year
- 9 and the Numbers – “엘리스의 섬 (Song for Tuvalu)”
- Twice – “Cheer Up”
- Bolbbalgan4 – “우주를 줄게 (Red Planet)”
- Wonder Girls – “Why So Lonely”
- Jun Bum Sun And The Yangbans – “아래로부터의 혁명 (Revolution)”
Artist of the Year
- Danpyunsun and the Sailors
- 2nd Moon
- Jay Park
- Im In Gun
- Jambinai
Rookie of the Year
- Twice
- Bolbbalgan4
- BewhY
- Silica Gel
- Julia Dream
Best Metal & Hardcore Album
- 13 Steps – Venom
- Remnants of the Fallen – Shadow Walk
- Mahatma – New Justice
- Pariah – One
- Pure – The Light of Tornado
Best Rock Album
- ABTB – Attraction Between Two Bodies
- Danpyunsun and the Sailors – 뿔 (Shofar)
- Jambinai – A Hermitage (은서;隱棲)
- Jun Bum Sun And The Yangbans – 혁명가 (Revolution Songs)
- Julia Dream – 불안의세계
Best Rock Song
- ABTB – “Artificial”
- Billy Carter – “The Dog”
- Jun Bum Sun And The Yangbans – “아래로부터의 혁명 (Revolution)”
- Julia Dream – “만선”
- Songs of Tiger – “마음의 바닥 (Bottom of the Heart)”
Best Modern Rock Album
- 9 and the Numbers – 수렴과 발산 (Solitude and Solidarity)
- bbdTrio – We Were Trying Not To Disturb You
- Secret Asian Men – Secrets Beyond The Room
- Silica Gel – 실리카겔 (Silica Gel)
- Wings of the ISANG – Stream of Consciousness
Best Modern Rock Song
- 3rd Line Butterfly – “나를 깨우네 (Awaken)”
- 9 and the Numbers – “엘리스의 섬(Song for Tuvalu)”
- The Black Skirts – “Everything“
- Raw By Peppers – “3”
- bbdTrio – “A Line in the Sky”
- Secret Asian Men – “I Want You Back”
Best Folk Album
- Various Artists – 젠트리피케이션 (Gentrification)
- Kwak Pureunhaneul – 어제의 소설 (Yesterday’s Novel)
- Lang Lee – 신의 놀이 (Playing God)
- Lee Minhwee – 빌린 입 (Borrowed Tongue)
- Ehosuk – 이인자의 철학 (Philosophy of Secondees)
- Honggap – 꿈의 편집
Best Folk Song
- Kwon Tree – “사랑은 높은 곳에서 흐르지 (Love is Flowing from High Places)”
- Kim Haewon – “불 길 (The Flames)”
- Lang Lee – “신의 놀이 (Playing God)”
- Lee Minhwee – “빌린 입 (Borrowed Tongue)”
- Jeongmilla – “꽃”
- Chong Saenansul – “오르막길”
Best Pop Album
- Echae Kang – Radical Paradise
- Park Hyo Shin – I am A Dreamer
- bahngbeck – 너의 손 (Your Hands)
- Savina & Drones – 우리의 시간은 여기에 흐른다 (Our Time Lies Within)
- Jo Dong Jin – 나무가 되어 (As A Tree)
Best Pop Song
- Twice – “Cheer Up”
- Red Velvet – “러시안 룰렛 (Russian Roulette)”
- Ladies’ Code – “Galaxy”
- Bolbbalgan4 – “우주를 줄게 (Red Planet)”
- Savina & Drones – “Don’t Break Your Heart”
- Wonder Girls – “Why So Lonely”
Best Dance & Electronic Album
- Love X Stereo – We Love We Leave, Part 2
- Room 306 – at Doors
- Aseul – New Pop
- Neon Bunny – Stay Gold
- Kirara – Moves
Best Dance & Electronic Song
- 75A – “Man Ray System”
- CIFIKA – “OOZOO”
- Idiotape – “가지마오 (Don’t Go)”
- Imlay – “Zanzan”
- Kirara – “Blizzard”
- Hitchhiker – “텐달라 ($10)”
Best Rap & Hip-Hop Album
- Nucksal – 작은 것들의 신 (The God of Small Things)
- Beenzino – 12
- JUSTHIS – 2 Many Homes 4 1 Kid
- Tribeast (Don Malik & Kima) – Tribeast
- Huckleberry P – 점 (Dot)
- Hwaji – Zissou
Best Rap & Hip-Hop Song
- Nafla – “Mercy” (feat. AP)
- Nucksal – “팔지 않아 (NFS)”
- BewhY – “Forever” (produced by Gray)
- Beenzino – “Time Travel”
- Jerry.K – “콜센터 (Call Center)” (feat. Oohyo)
Best R&B & Soul Album
- Dean – 130 Mood : TRBL
- Jeebanoff – So Fed Up
- Jay Park – Everything You Wanted
- Samuel Seo – Ego Expand (100%)
Best R&B & Soul Song
- Dean – “21”
- Jeebanoff – “삼선동 사거리 (Sungbuk-gu Kids)”
- Jay Park – “All I Wanna Do” (feat. Hoody, Loco)
- Jay Park, Kirin – “City Breeze”
- Samuel Seo – “B L U E”
Best Jazz Album
- Yoon Seokcheol Trio – 자유리듬
- Lee Myoung Gun Trio – 피고지고
- Im In Gun – 야누스, 그 기억의 현재 (Janus, The Reminiscence)
- Jae Geun Jeon – Vignette
- Choi Sung Ho Singularity – 바람 불면 (When The Wind Blows)
- Trio Closer – more Human
Best Crossover Album
- 2nd Moon – 판소리 춘향가
- Kim Sungbae – Ritual
- Park Jiha – Communion
- Black String – Mask Dance
- Seo Jungmin – Cosmos 25
Best Jazz & Crossover Performance
- Park Jiha – Communion
- Black String – Mask Dance
- Second Session – Intervals
- Lee Hyun Suk – Forest Of The Fireflies
- Choi Sung Ho Singularity – 바람 불면 (When The Wind Blows)
- Trio Closer – more Human
Due to the issue with fraudulent votes for the Netizens’ Choice awards in 2016, the Netizens’ awards have been abolished. As a consequence there will be no official online fan vote for the Korean Music Awards this year.
For each song category above, click the heading to be directed to a YouTube playlist with all available nominated songs.
All nominated songs currently available on Spotify can be found in Indieful ROK’s KMA2017 Song Nominees playlist. All nominated albums currently available on Spotify can be found in Indieful ROK’s KMA2017 Album Nominees playlist