The nominees for the 16th 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 2017 and November 30th 20178 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 26th.
Album of the Year
- Mid-Air Thief – 무너지기 (Crumbling)
- Life And Time – Age
- BTS – Love Yourself 結: Answer
- Say Sue Me – Where We Were Together
- Jang Pil-Soon – soony eight: 소길花
- Huckleberry Finn – 오로라피플 (Aurora People)
Song of the Year
- Mommy Son – “소년점프 (Sonny Jump)” (feat. Bae Gi Seong)
- BTS – “Fake Love”
- BTS – “Idol”
- Say Sue Me – “Old Town”
- Kiha & The Faces – “그건 니 생각이고 (That’s Just What You Think)”
- Hyukoh – “Love Ya!”
Artist of the Year
- Kim Sawol
- BTS
- Say Sue Me
- Sunji Lee
- Jang Pil-Soon
Rookie of the Year
- Haon
- Jclef
- Mothervibes
- Motte
- Airy
- Wussami
Best Rock Album
- Life And Time – Age
- Superstring – Architecture
- Asian Chairshot – Ignite
- H a lot – H a lot
- Plugged Classic – Sabai
Best Rock Song
- Life and Time – “잠수교 (Jamsugyo)”
- Asian Chairshot – “빙글뱅글 (Round and Round)”
- H a lot – “If You Ask Me”
- H a lot – “Prom”
- Hangsuk & Boogiemonster – “난 뚱뚱해 (I’m Fat)”
Best Modern Rock Album
- ADOY – Love
- Decadent – 데카당 (Decadent)
- Say Sue Me – Where We Were Together
- Jaurim – 자우림 (Jaurim)
- Huckleberry Finn – 오로라피플 (Aurora People)
Best Modern Rock Song
- Night Off – “리뷰 (Review)”
- Say Sue Me – “Old Town”
- Kiha & The Faces – “그건 니 생각이고 (That’s Just What You Think)”
- Huckleberry Finn – “누구인가 (Who Is It)”
- Hyukoh – “Love Ya!”
Best Metal & Hardcore Album
- Dark Mirror Ov Tragedy – The Lord Ov Shadows
- Day Of Mourning – This Too Will Pass
- Noeazy – Triangle
- Memnoch – Command Hallucination
Best Pop Album
- BoA – Woman
- BTS – Love Yourself 結: Answer
- Uhm Jung Hwa – The Cloud Dream of the Nine
- Lee Moon Sae – Between Us
- Lee Jin-Ah – 진아식당 Full Course (Jinah Restaurant Full Course)
- Jang Pil-Soon – soony eight : 소길花
Best Pop Song
- ADOY – “Wonder”
- Red Velvet – “Bad Boy”
- BTS – “Fake Love”
- BTS – “Idol”
- Heize – “Jenga” feat. Gaeko
Best Dance & Electronic Album
- Two Tone Shape – Shapes
- Mid-Air Thief – 무너지기 (Crumbling)
- Lofibaby – N
- Byul.org – 주인 없는 금 (Nobody’s Gold)
- Yeseo – Damn Rules
- Kirara – Sarah
Best Dance & Electronic Song
- Pure 100% – “Apollo” (feat. Cenji & Juu)
- Two Tone Shape – “Color Penetration”
- Aseul – “Seoul Girl”
- Yeseo – “Honey, Don’t Kill My Vibe”
- Kirara – “걱정 (Worries)”
Best Rap & Hip-Hop Album
- Justhis & Paolalto – 4 the Youth
- XXX – Language
- Bassagong – 탕아 (Tang-A)
- Illinit – Cosmos
- JaeDal – Period
Best Rap & Hip-Hop Song
- HAON – “붕붕 (Boong-Boong)” (feat. Sik-K, GroovyRoom)
- Justhis & Paloalto – “Switch”
- XXX – “간주곡 (Ganju Gok)”
- Mommy Son – “소년점프 (Sonny Jump)” (feat. Bae Gi Seong)
- Hwaji – “나 빼 (Nappe)”
Best R&B & Soul Album
- Horim – Metro City
- Jclef – Flaw, Flaw
- Naul – Sounds Doctrine
- Sumin – Your Home
- Hippy was Gipsy – 언어 (Language)
Best R&B & Soul
- Jclef – “지구 멸망 한 시간 전”
- Sumin – “너네 집 (Your Home)” (feat. Xin Seha)
- George – “하려고해고백 (gohaegoback)”
- Hoody – “Sunshine” (feat. Crush)
- Hippy was Gipsy – “침대 (Bed)”
Best Folk Album
- Kang Asol – 사랑의 시절 (The Day of Love)
- Kim Dong San – 서울 수원 이야기 (Seoul Suwon Story)
- Kim Sawol – 로맨스 (Romance)
- Kim Haewon – 바다와 나의 변화 (Sea And Myself)
- Yuha – 젊은이
- Hwang Puha – 자화상 (Self-portrait)
Best Folk Song
- Kang Asol – “섬 (Island)”
- Kim Sawol – “누군가에게 (Someone)”
- Yuha – “인부1”
- Jang Pil-Soon – “저녁 바다”
- Hwang Puha – “자화상 (Self-portrait)”
Best Jazz Album
- Nam Yoosun – Strange, But Beautiful You
- Youngjoo Song – Late Fall
- Bongwool Lee – My Singing Fingers
- Sunji Lee – Song of April
- Sumin Jung – Neo-liberalism
Best Crossover Album
- Near East Quartet – Near East Quartet
- Kimsora – 비가 올 징조 (A Sign of Rain)
- Ju Won Park – The Last Rumba
- Park Jiha – Philos
- Hyunphil Shin X Heean Ko – Dear Chopin
Best Jazz & Crossover Performance
- Near East Quartet – Near East Quartet
- Ko Heean Trio – Dancing Without Moving
- Soojin Suh – Strange Liberation
- Youngjoo Song – Late Fall
- Jungsu Choi Tiny Orkester – Tschüss Jazz Era
All nominated songs currently available on Spotify can be found in Indieful ROK’s KMA2019 Song Nominees playlist. All nominated albums currently available on Spotify can be found in Indieful ROK’s KMA2019 Album Nominees playlist