While many Kpop fans celebrated the results of the recently concluded Melon Music Awards, some netizens were suspicious of the outcome in light of reported chart manipulation in Korean music sites.
It can be recalled that Bloc B's Park Kyung spoke up about the existence of sajaegi, the illegal practice of record labels to buy their artists' albums in bulk to boost their performance on record charts. The rapper even went so far as to name several artists he accused of chart manipulation.
According to a report by All Kpop, Melon Music was among the sites suspected of facilitating sajaegi, leading the public to question the results of the Melon Music Awards (MMA), one of the biggest music awards shows in Korea.
On different threads, fans sounded off over the non-attendance of Kpop superstars who were nominated for the awards. The artists who were named in the controversy also did not attend the ceremony. Some fans also questioned the results of specific awards like the Hot Trend Award and demanded the release of the scores.
Meanwhile, record label Kakao M spoke on behalf of MMA and attested that no chart manipulation took place at the Melon Music Awards.
While netizens questioned the results for the other categories, there was no doubt that BTS deserved its sweep of the major prizes this year. Among the recognition that RM, Jin, Suga, Jimin, V, J-Hope and Jungkook received this year included Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (Map of the Soul: Persona), Record of the Year, Song of the Year (Boy with Luv), Best Male Dance Netizen Popularity Award, and the Kakao Hot Star Award. Apart from the major prizes, BTS also entered the list of Top 10 artists.
BTS' awards placed them in first place in terms of the number of Melon Awards received. With 23 MMA awards, they overtook the record of EXO, who previously had 16 awards. EXO also won as one of the Top 10 Artists, which increased the group's total to 17 after the ceremony, Forbes reported.
In addition to local awards, BTS also performed well in international award shows. The group most recently swept the three categories it was nominated for at the American Music Awards.
RM, Jin, Suga, Jimin, V, J-Hope, and Jungkook took home the prize for Best Duo/Group for Pop Rock, Best Social Artist, and Best Tour at the AMAs. BTS also dominated the categories it was nominated for at the Billboard Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, Teen Choice Awards, People's Choice Awards, and even the Brazilian BreakTudo Awards.
