K-Pop fans have expressed disappointment in how the 2023 The Fact Music Awards handled its attending artists.
On October 10, 2023, the 2023 The Fact Music Awards took place, the first of many end-of-year award shows. Fans were excited from the start, watching their favorite artists arrive on the red carpet.
NewJeans ATEEZ Kwon Eunbi
There were many highlights, including Lim Young Woong‘s fandom stealing the show…
guys i was kidding about the ahjumma army BUT ITS TRUE??? pic.twitter.com/TsputwxxSY
— SHAY (@roundbuttocks) October 10, 2023
…and BTS breaking one of their records. But while many artists won, some feel fans lost out on something significant due to a difference in how the awards were presented.
In the past, K-Pop idols would usually be sat out in the crowd at award shows, allowing for interactions with fans and other artists. For fans of many idols, this would be the only chance to see some of their favorites interact with each other.
IVE’s Jang Wonyoung posing for a fan at the 2022 Melon Music Awards.
これはセブチパイセンと絡みになる
よね！！！？#TREASURE#SEVENTEEN pic.twitter.com/eRhgx5FY0K
— 🤎mao*haru*🤎 (@maokorin87) January 7, 2023
This also allowed the artist’s reactions to winning awards to be shown. Wins in K-Pop, especially the first of major awards, are emotional moments usually shared with fans.
haechan’s reaction when they announced the winner for daesang pic.twitter.com/VFdTD0o1X9
— 41 (@haelovs) February 7, 2022
With this year’s TMA, as artists were announced as winners, they came from backstage to accept their rewards, meaning their reactions to winning were not shown.
세븐틴 대상 추카해요🩷🩵🩷🩵🩷🩵 pic.twitter.com/Oxq1IXilfF
— 부슬비 (@1998_01_16) October 10, 2023
Congratulations @Stray_Kids for winning the ‘Four STAR Award’ at the 2023 The Fact Music Awards!
ROCK-STAR SKZ AT 2023TFMA#StrayKids_FourStar4thGenLeaders#스키즈_TMA2023포스타상_축하해#StrayKids @Stray_Kids pic.twitter.com/KMUkqrsklC
— Stay TikTok ★ (@staytiktok) October 10, 2023
Some netizens expressed disappointment with this change, sharing that missing out on the reactions made a huge difference.
the thing i don’t like about TMA is that they already have the winners backstage ready to receive the award. in most award shows all the artists sit in the middle and you get their reaction when they get announced and i think i like that better.
— wonyoung | gunwook ZB1 IVE OFF THE RECORD OUT NOW (@jangwonyia) October 10, 2023
I really wish award shows go back to announcing the winners with all the artists in the audience, bringing them back from backstage with no reaction to them winning feels so empty
— HANtaro (@hyunichn) October 10, 2023
And while there were some interactions during the group photos at the end of the show, it’s easy to see why fans felt something was missing.
What do you think?
Do you agree?