Taemin has officially kicked off his comeback era with a trophy in hand. The SHINee member secured his first music show win for title track “FLOAT” on the September 12 episode of MBC’s Music Core, edging out two other major contenders in a tightly contested race for first place.
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How the Win Went Down
The competition for first place came down to three heavyweight contenders: MONSTA X’s “MAGIC,” BIGBANG’s “BiiiG,” and Taemin’s “FLOAT.” In the end, Taemin claimed the top spot with a total of 8,098 points, marking his first trophy for the title track since its release.
Key Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Winning Artist | Taemin (SHINee) |
| Winning Track | “FLOAT” |
| Show | MBC’s Music Core |
| Episode Date | September 12, 2026 |
| Winning Score | 8,098 points |
| Other Nominees | MONSTA X (“MAGIC”), BIGBANG (“BiiiG”) |
A Stacked Lineup of Performances
Taemin’s win came on an episode packed with comebacks and standout stages. MONSTA X performed “MAGIC,” while (G)I-DLE’s Soyeon brought her solo track “I’m gonna TOESA” to the stage. Rookie and mid-tier acts also had strong showings, including &TEAM with “Mark on Me” and VERIVERY performing “Don’t Panic!”
SHINee’s own Minho pulled double duty on the episode, delivering back-to-back performances of “Out Of My Hands” and “Make it hot,” giving fans an extra reason to tune in beyond Taemin’s win. Other acts on the lineup included EVAN, UNIS, 82MAJOR, Kwon Eun Bi, Lovelyz’s Ryu Sujeong, TUIDE, ALL(H)OURS, hrtz.wav, TUNEXX, TNX, ASC2NT, H//PE Princess, Kim Hee Jae, DUETTO, and Ettone.
Why This Win Matters
For an artist as established as Taemin, first wins are still meaningful milestones, especially for reinforcing momentum early in a comeback cycle. Taking the top spot over both MONSTA X and BIGBANG — two heavyweight names in their own right — signals strong initial reception for “FLOAT” and could set the tone for further chart and music show performances as the promotional cycle continues.
Music shows like Music Core remain a central part of how K-pop comebacks are measured and celebrated, combining digital sales, physical album sales, broadcast points, and viewer votes into a single ranking system, a format explained in more detail on Wikipedia’s Music Core page.
For more K-pop comeback coverage and music show recaps, check out the entertainment updates on technosports.co.in.
Conclusion
With “FLOAT” now officially notching its first music show win, Taemin’s comeback is off to a strong start. Whether he can extend this into a multi-win run over the coming weeks remains to be seen, but this initial victory puts him in a solid position heading into the rest of the promotional cycle.
FAQs
Q1. What song did Taemin win for on Music Core?
He won for his title track “FLOAT,” beating out MONSTA X’s “MAGIC” and BIGBANG’s “BiiiG.”
Q2. How many points did Taemin score for his win?
Taemin secured the win with a total of 8,098 points.
