The 2025 Fact Music Awards is shaping up to be a spectacular celebration of K-pop’s past, present, and future! Set for September 20 at Macao’s Outdoor Performance Venue, this year’s ceremony will feature an extraordinary lineup of tribute stages where rookie groups pay homage to legendary acts like BTS, BLACKPINK, SEVENTEEN, and Red Velvet. Here’s everything you need to know about this historic event bridging K-pop generations.
Table of Contents
Rookie TMA 2025: Event Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event Date | September 20, 2025 |
| Venue | Macao Outdoor Performance Venue |
| Expected Attendance | Nearly 50,000 fans |
| Organizer | THE FACT |
| Hosts | Fan N Star & The Square ENM |
| Special Feature | Rookie tribute performances |
| Generations Featured | 4th & 5th generation K-pop groups |
Rookie Tribute Stage Lineup: Honoring K-Pop Icons
The most exciting aspect of TMA 2025 is undoubtedly the tribute performances where fifth-generation rookie groups will reinterpret iconic songs from their senior artists. This concept creates a beautiful bridge between K-pop’s established legends and its promising future stars.
Complete Tribute Lineup:
- AHOF → Paying tribute to BTS
- Close Your Eyes → Honoring SEVENTEEN
- KiiiKiii → Celebrating BLACKPINK
- Hearts2Hearts → Tributing Red Velvet
These performances promise to showcase how legendary groups have influenced the new generation while allowing rookies to demonstrate their artistic interpretation skills on one of K-pop’s biggest stages.
Meet the Rising Stars Taking Center Stage
AHOF: The Nine-Member Powerhouse
Formed through SBS’s Universe League survival show, AHOF debuted on July 1, 2025, under F&F Entertainment. Their name means “nine” in Korean and stands for “All-time Hall of Famer,” reflecting their ambitious goals. The nine-member group includes Steven, Jeongwoo, Woongki, Shuaibo, Han, JL, Juwon, Chih En, and Daisuke.
Close Your Eyes: Project 7 Winners
This seven-member boy group emerged from JTBC’s Project 7 and debuted on April 2, 2025, under Uncore Entertainment. Members Jeon Min-wook, Ma Jingxiang, Jang Yeo-jun, Kim Sung-min, Song Seung-ho, Kenshin, and Seo Kyoung-bae have quickly gained recognition for their polished performances.
KiiiKiii: Starship’s New Girl Group
Starship Entertainment’s newest girl group debuted on March 24, 2025, with members Leesol, Sui, Jiyu, Haum, and Kya. Their name cleverly plays on the Korean sound “키키” (giggling) while “key” represents unlocking life’s answers with optimism.
Hearts2Hearts: SM’s Emotional Storytellers
SM Entertainment’s eight-member girl group debuted on February 24, 2025, featuring Carmen, Jiwoo, Yuha, Stella, Juun, A-na, Ian, and Ye-on. They aim to build genuine connections through emotionally-driven music and storytelling.
Historic First Collaboration: AHOF x Close Your Eyes
Adding extra excitement to TMA 2025, AHOF and Close Your Eyes will perform their first-ever collaboration stage. These groups, often viewed as rivals due to their competitive debut circumstances through different survival shows, will showcase unprecedented synergy. This performance represents a significant moment for both groups as leading representatives of 2025’s rookie class.
Star-Studded Main Lineup
Beyond the tribute performances, TMA 2025 boasts an impressive roster of established K-pop acts including Stray Kids, IVE, aespa, NMIXX, NCT Wish, ENHYPEN, Zerobaseone, and many more from the fourth and fifth generations.
Why This Matters for K-Pop’s Future
The Fact Music Awards 2025 tribute concept represents more than entertainment—it’s a symbolic passing of the torch. By having rookie groups perform legendary songs, the ceremony acknowledges how BTS, BLACKPINK, SEVENTEEN, and Red Velvet have shaped the foundation upon which today’s artists build their careers.
This approach also provides invaluable exposure for rookie groups, allowing them to reach massive audiences while demonstrating their respect for K-pop’s established hierarchy and traditions.
Awards Selection Process
TMA maintains credibility through its comprehensive selection criteria, combining Circle Chart data, professional judging panels, and international fan participation. This multi-faceted approach ensures winners represent both commercial success and artistic merit across global markets.
The ceremony continues to grow in international significance, particularly with its Macao venue attracting fans from across Asia and beyond.
Stay updated on the latest K-pop news and award show coverage at TechnoSports.co.in. For more entertainment insights, explore our K-pop News section and Music Industry Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What makes the TMA 2025 tribute stages special, and how will rookie groups honor their senior artists while maintaining their own identity?
The TMA 2025 tribute stages are groundbreaking because they create a unique dialogue between K-pop generations. Unlike typical cover performances, these tributes allow rookie groups to reinterpret legendary songs through their own artistic lens while showing deep respect for the original artists’ contributions to K-pop’s global expansion.
AHOF’s tribute to BTS is particularly significant, as BTS pioneered many performance and production standards that current rookie groups follow. Similarly, KiiiKiii honoring BLACKPINK represents how girl groups have evolved in terms of concept, choreography, and global appeal. These performances will likely feature original arrangements, contemporary choreography, and the rookies’ unique vocal colors while maintaining the essence that made the original songs iconic.
Q2: How significant is TMA for rookie groups’ careers, and what impact might these performances have on their future success?
Performing at The Fact Music Awards represents a massive career milestone for rookie groups, potentially more impactful than many realize. TMA attracts nearly 50,000 live attendees and millions of online viewers globally, providing exposure that typically takes years to achieve through regular promotional activities.
For groups like AHOF, Close Your Eyes, KiiiKiii, and Hearts2Hearts, who all debuted in 2025, this platform offers unprecedented visibility during their crucial first year. The tribute performances, in particular, will be scrutinized by both industry professionals and fans of the original artists, making it a high-stakes opportunity to prove their artistic capabilities.
The AHOF x Close Your Eyes collaboration is especially strategic, as it transforms their perceived rivalry into a demonstration of the fifth generation’s unity and collaborative spirit. This performance could redefine how fans and industry stakeholders view both groups, potentially opening doors for future collaborations and joint promotional opportunities.
Success at TMA 2025 could significantly accelerate these groups’ trajectory toward mainstream recognition, similar to how memorable award show performances have historically launched careers for groups like ITZY, ATEEZ, and (G)I-DLE. The international setting in Macao also positions them for Asian market expansion beyond South Korea.
