“How obvious do you want the payola to be?”
Koreaboo
On October 12, the nominations for the 2026 MAMAs were announced.
Following the announcement of nominations, the criteria for Best Song was also released along with the predictions.
2026 MAMA awards
Song of The Year prediction (-Oct.12)Criteria: Digital 30%+Global 30%+Judges 40%
Nomination Eligibility:Oct.1.2025~Sep.30.2026
Tracking period: Oct.1.2025~
This is just prediction pic.twitter.com/FzujPZddZI
— 한국수박/Kowatermelon/멜뮤 마마 골디 써클예측 (@KoWatermelon) October 12, 2026
In particular, it sparked fury about MAMAMOO‘s Hwasa.
One of the top contenders for Song of the Year was Hwasa’s “Good Goodbye.”
Netizens believed that the awards had changed the criteria to focus on global reach to benefit other artists, specifically those from HYBE, as Hwasa’s song had a huge impact but was especially massive in Korea. In particular, some shared that initial predictions had Hwasa winning, but after the nominations and criteria, BTS was in the lead with “SWIM.”
Erm hwasa was predicted to win this by a big gap?? Why did the criteria change?? https://t.co/3vCbn8AXOM
— a ❖▿♤🝮 (@weedforjade) October 12, 2026
Also MAMA awards being a KOREAN award show and THAT song being #88 on the melon charts while hwasa still being at #15 LMAOO the payola is SO OBVIOUS 😭😭😂😂 Korean GP don’t GAF about THAT song 💀💀 https://t.co/m3iUHGsJmz
— KonixTheAlien (@KonixTheAlien) October 12, 2026
Mind you this was the prediction before they (coincidentally) changed the criteria, payola and rigging in broad daylight https://t.co/Mvx975kF4z pic.twitter.com/leAr3OM4Br
— T – 멍청이 🧡 (@hwasace) October 12, 2026
Changing the criteria to make Global counts more just one month before the award…. How convenient. https://t.co/SqUZF2FUF9
— HwaSa | 𓃬 (@CharmingHwasa) October 12, 2026
???????
wasnt hwasa predicted to win this with a huge gap what is going on? good goodbye deserves to win song of the year after the impact the song has made https://t.co/ggVm43CO3b
— via ❖ \ᵛ ⑰ (@solar_blues) October 13, 2026
FUCK YOUUUUUU
JUST FUCK YOUUUUHOW OBVIOUS DO YOU WANT THE PAYOLA TO BE?!?!?!?
NOT A SINGLE SOUL OUTSIDE THEIR FANDOM KNOWS THE SONG WHEN HWASA LITERALLY WENT TRIPLE PLATINUM IN EVERY SINGLE HOUSEHOLD IN SK AND INSPIRED GGB THEMED WEDDING PHOTOSHOOTS. SHE DESERVES THIS WIN!!! https://t.co/9NFtrgxMaq
— Hwasaja 🐼| WHC2 Era 🖊️ (@choco_saja) October 12, 2026
Bang Si-hyuk once again intervened with the MAMA Awards, just as he did in 2022. Hwasa had already secured the Song of the Year award, yet the criteria were changed with only a month left until the ceremony. https://t.co/6ZaeYAS3cY
— Zero🐇❤️🔥 (@NJZandTaylor2) October 13, 2026