2016 Mnet Asian Music Awards Live Stream: How Can American Fans Watch 2016 MAMA, The Biggest Awards Show For K-Pop?
Every year around this season, the Mnet Asian Music Awards (better known as MAMA) are held. It is one of the major music awarding ceremonies for the K-pop industry. Held annually by CJ E&M through its music channel Mnet, many well-known K-pop artists either participate or make appearances at their shows along with many well-known actors and celebrities not just in South Korea, but in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, and the United States too. This year’s showing, 2016 MAMA, will take place at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong this coming Friday, December 2, 2016. Given the fact that K-pop is far more popular now than ever before, many of its fans not just in East Asia would like to see if their favorite artists and groups have won. Unfortunately, Mnet or Mnet Japan (the two channels airing the awards show) are not readily available to everyone outside of East Asia.
With the aforementioned situation, many American K-pop fans have a problem. It should be an easy fix given the fact that we have Mnet America. However, the website only shows snippets of their shows as it is technically a hub for those who want to get Mnet through cable or satellite services. Thankfully, KCON USA will live stream the entire event, just like they did for 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards last year.
[#2016MAMA] D-DAY! Are you ready for the heat? Expect the greatest music festival, coming up today! pic.twitter.com/wlWm3b0dju
— MAMA AWARDS (@MnetMAMA) December 2, 2016
KCON USA, the organization responsible for the two biggest Hallyu Wave conventions in the United States in both Los Angeles and New York, announced that they will be live streaming 2016 MAMA on KCON.TV. This will surely be a worthwhile experience for American K-pop fans who in the past could only watch such a prestigious K-pop awards show through poorly edited or cut videos on YouTube after it happened. Now, they’ll be able to watch which K-pop acts win what awards in which categories along with the rest of East Asia as it happens. It should, however, be noted that because of the difference in time zones, 2016 MAMA will air on KCON.TV at 2 a.m. PST and will last six hours.
The time was a hindrance for many who wanted to watch the awards ceremony last year because December 2 fell on a weekday, and it might possibly be the same this year. Take note that the December 2 air time is in Hong Kong. Below are three details about 2016 MAMA K-pop fans should know about.
- K-Pop Odyssey Is Incomplete: According to KCON USA, MAMA is known as this because there are usually numerous appearances from K-pop artists from SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and many other labels. However, YG Entertainment has made it known they will not have any of their K-pop acts at this year’s show. They claim they are too busy with upcoming K-pop comebacks, specifically Sechs Kies and Big Bang.
- Plenty Of Surprises: Back in 2015 MAMA, this biggest surprise was 2NE1’s stage comeback. K-pop fans knew CL was going to perform, but they did not expect 2NE1.
- BTS And EXO Are Featured Performers: This is huge news! The two most popular K-pop boy bands in the K-pop industry performing at 2016 MAMA will surely entice competition between EXO-L and A.R.M.Y. Maybe they’ll even have a face-off at the event too. Take note, the competition between the two is friendly.
Right now, K-pop fans can still vote for their favorite K-pop acts for specific categories for 2016 MAMA on the show’s official website. It should be noted that people can vote once a day per identification until it closes on December 1, 2015, KST, up to the last minute. Once again, 2016 MAMA will be available for viewing on KCON.TV on Friday, December 2, 2015, at 2 a.m. PST.
[Featured Image by Kin Cheung/AP Images]
