NewJeans has solidified their status as one of the leading acts in the music industry by winning their first Grand Prize this year at the 2024 Korea Grand Music Awards (KGMA), held on November 16 at Inspire Arena in Incheon.
The group claimed the night’s top honor, the Grand Artist award, and received the Best Artist award, making them double winners at the prestigious event.
In their acceptance speech, NewJeans expressed their gratitude: “We’ve made it this far thanks to all the people who support us. We’re so thankful for all the amazing moments we’ve experienced. We were also thrilled to share such an enjoyable stage with our Bunnies (official fan club). Please look forward to more great music from us.”
NewJeans captivated the audience with a dynamic setlist that featured all four of their 2024 releases: ‘Right Now,’ ‘Bubble Gum,’ ‘How Sweet,’ and ‘Supernatural.’ The group brought fresh energy to ‘Bubble Gum’ with a live band arrangement, while their performance of ‘Supernatural’ included a new dance break that had the crowd on their feet. The outro of the track was presented in an acoustic remix, leaving a lasting impression. The performance showcased NewJeans' signature lyrical charm, free-spirited and hip energy, as well as their heartfelt and energetic presence.
This year, NewJeans has made significant strides with their double single ‘How Sweet’ and their Japanese debut single ‘Supernatural,’ achieving remarkable success in both Korea and Japan. Not only have these releases topped charts, but their previous works and B-sides have also maintained strong positions on major domestic and international streaming platforms. Album sales have been outstanding as well, with ‘How Sweet’ selling over 1.2 million copies and ‘Supernatural’ surpassing 1.26 million copies as of October, according to Circle Chart.
Notably, NewJeans became the fastest foreign artist to headline Tokyo Dome within just 1 year and 11 months of their debut, drawing over 91,200 fans across two days. To date, their cumulative album sales have exceeded 8.03 million copies, further solidifying their place as a global powerhouse in the music industry.