“2025 MAMA Awards” Trigger Severe Accusations With Unexpected Criteria Change

The 2025 MAMA Awards nominations have been revealed, featuring an impressive lineup of K-Pop heavyweights including BTS, BLACKPINK, aespa, and more.

While the announcement has generated excitement, a recent change in the judging criteria has sparked strong criticism from fans and netizens.

This year, Mnet has significantly altered how winners will be determined. The weight of the judges’ panel has increased from 20% to 40% in several major categories, including Best Artist (Daesang) and Best New Artist.

ILLIT was awarded “Best New Artist (Female)” last year. | Mnet

Meanwhile, album sales — which previously accounted for 40% of the score — have been reduced to 30%. The global fan vote also remains a relatively small portion of the calculation at just 10%.

ILLIT were awarded “Best New Artist (Male)” last year. | Mnet

Many fans have raised concerns that these adjustments could reduce transparency and make the results appear less fair. With nearly half of the score now decided by judges, some argue that the changes favor certain artists over others and could overshadow fan influence, which has traditionally played a more significant role in shaping winners.

not mama increasing the judge's score from 25% to 40% and decreasing album sale from 40% to 30%, yeah somethings not adding up, it's def getting rigged.

— ۟ (@fa5hionz) October 16, 2025

Judges score being 40% is actually insane 😂🤣 and 10% global??? fck mnet fck mama! pic.twitter.com/Jyak9uWwLP

— ꪖꪑ𝘪ꪀꪖ𝘵ꪖ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ (@bts_txt_cortis) October 16, 2025

While Mnet has not provided detailed reasoning for the adjustments, the move has already prompted intense debate online, with discussions focusing on whether the new system accurately reflects the merit of the artists competing.

40% for judges score for roty… mama you cant be more obvious than this pic.twitter.com/ti9CK3Eixf

— ★ (@cortisnation) October 16, 2025

Judges 40% like they’r on grammy or something 😂😂

— mei (@dearcortis) October 16, 2025

Mama increased judges panel score from 20% to 40% we are about to see some next level robbery

— Cherry ☯︎ (@love3stay) October 16, 2025

The “Best New Artist” award criteria change has specifically sparked a lot of controversy. Some fans have suggested that both the category and judge score changes have happened to favor rookie co-ed group ALLDAY PROJECT.

look at the suddenly changed criteria😭😭 went from k-digis 25 + physical 40 + global 15 + judges 20 to

JUDGES 40 + ALBUM 30 + DIGIS 30(20K+10G) 😹😹😹

basically saying if you can go against chaebol money and flip the judges FOURTY FCKIN PERCENT don't even try sksjdjdkd https://t.co/Xb7Cz7UlFc pic.twitter.com/1HFroa6M4c

— tems (@cortannies) October 16, 2025

As the 2025 MAMA Awards approach, the combination of high-profile nominations and the revised scoring system ensures that this year’s ceremony will be closely watched — not just for performances and wins, but also for how these controversial changes affect the results.