The nominees for the 14th 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 2015 and November 30th 2016. 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 28th at the Guro Arts Valley Theatre.

Album of the Year

ABTB – Attraction Between Two Bodies

– Attraction Between Two Bodies Danpyunsun and the Sailors – 뿔 (Shofar)

– 뿔 (Shofar) bahngbeck – 너의 손 (Your Hands)

– 너의 손 (Your Hands) Wings of the ISANG – 의식의흐름 (Stream of Consciousness)

– 의식의흐름 (Stream of Consciousness) Jo Dong Jin – 나무가 되어 (As A Tree)

Artist of the Year

Danpyunsun and the Sailors

2nd Moon

Jay Park

Im In Gun

Jambinai

Rookie of the Year

Twice

Bolbbalgan4

BewhY

Silica Gel

Julia Dream

Best Metal & Hardcore Album

13 Steps – Venom

– Venom Remnants of the Fallen – Shadow Walk

– Shadow Walk Mahatma – New Justice

– New Justice Pariah – One

– One Pure – The Light of Tornado

Best Rock Album

ABTB – Attraction Between Two Bodies

Danpyunsun and the Sailors – 뿔 (Shofar)

Jambinai – A Hermitage (은서;隱棲)

Jun Bum Sun And The Yangbans – 혁명가 (Revolution Songs)

Julia Dream – 불안의세계

Best Modern Rock Album

9 and the Numbers – 수렴과 발산 (Solitude and Solidarity)

bbdTrio – We Were Trying Not To Disturb You

– We Were Trying Not To Disturb You Secret Asian Men – Secrets Beyond The Room

– Secrets Beyond The Room Silica Gel – 실리카겔 (Silica Gel)

Wings of the ISANG – Stream of Consciousness

Best Folk Album

Various Artists – 젠트리피케이션 (Gentrification)

Kwak Pureunhaneul – 어제의 소설 (Yesterday’s Novel)

– 어제의 소설 (Yesterday’s Novel) Lang Lee – 신의 놀이 (Playing God)

– 신의 놀이 (Playing God) Lee Minhwee – 빌린 입 (Borrowed Tongue)

– 빌린 입 (Borrowed Tongue) Ehosuk – 이인자의 철학 (Philosophy of Secondees)

– 이인자의 철학 (Philosophy of Secondees) Honggap – 꿈의 편집

Best Pop Album

Echae Kang – Radical Paradise

– Radical Paradise Park Hyo Shin – I am A Dreamer

– I am A Dreamer bahngbeck – 너의 손 (Your Hands)

Savina & Drones – 우리의 시간은 여기에 흐른다 (Our Time Lies Within)

– 우리의 시간은 여기에 흐른다 (Our Time Lies Within) Jo Dong Jin – 나무가 되어 (As A Tree)

Best Dance & Electronic Album

Love X Stereo – We Love We Leave, Part 2

– We Love We Leave, Part 2 Room 306 – at Doors

– at Doors Aseul – New Pop

– New Pop Neon Bunny – Stay Gold

– Stay Gold Kirara – Moves

Best Rap & Hip-Hop Album

Nucksal – 작은 것들의 신 (The God of Small Things)

– 작은 것들의 신 (The God of Small Things) Beenzino – 12

– 12 JUSTHIS – 2 Many Homes 4 1 Kid

– 2 Many Homes 4 1 Kid Tribeast (Don Malik & Kima) – Tribeast

– Tribeast Huckleberry P – 점 (Dot)

– 점 (Dot) Hwaji – Zissou

Best R&B & Soul Album

Dean – 130 Mood : TRBL

– 130 Mood : TRBL Jeebanoff – So Fed Up

– So Fed Up Jay Park – Everything You Wanted

Samuel Seo – Ego Expand (100%)

Best Jazz Album

Yoon Seokcheol Trio – 자유리듬

– 자유리듬 Lee Myoung Gun Trio – 피고지고

– 피고지고 Im In Gun – 야누스, 그 기억의 현재 (Janus, The Reminiscence)

Jae Geun Jeon – Vignette

– Vignette Choi Sung Ho Singularity – 바람 불면 (When The Wind Blows)

– 바람 불면 (When The Wind Blows) Trio Closer – more Human

Best Crossover Album

2nd Moon – 판소리 춘향가

Kim Sungbae – Ritual

– Ritual Park Jiha – Communion

– Communion Black String – Mask Dance

– Mask Dance Seo Jungmin – Cosmos 25

Best Jazz & Crossover Performance

Park Jiha – Communion

Black String – Mask Dance

Second Session – Intervals

– Intervals Lee Hyun Suk – Forest Of The Fireflies

– Forest Of The Fireflies Choi Sung Ho Singularity – 바람 불면 (When The Wind Blows)

Trio Closer – more Human



Due to the issue with fraudulent votes for the Netizens’ Choice awards in 2016, the Netizens’ awards have been abolished. As a consequence there will be no official online fan vote for the Korean Music Awards this year.

For each song category above, click the heading to be directed to a YouTube playlist with all available nominated songs.

All nominated songs currently available on Spotify can be found in Indieful ROK’s KMA2017 Song Nominees playlist. All nominated albums currently available on Spotify can be found in Indieful ROK’s KMA2017 Album Nominees playlist

