K-pop Royalty Takes Center Stage
Mark your calendars, K-pop fans—the 2025 The Fact Music Awards (TMA) just dropped three massive names to its performance lineup: Stray Kids, IVE, and aespa. The awards show, one of the premier events on the K-pop calendar, will light up the Macao Outdoor Performance Venue on September 20, 2025.
Stray Kids: Billboard Kings & World Tour Legends
Stray Kids are no strangers to breaking records. Their album SKZHOP HIPTAPE: 合(HOP), released last December, not only topped the Billboard 200 but also secured a Top 10 spot in U.S. CD and album sales for the first half of 2025. Currently touring in Europe, they’ve made history as the first K-pop act to sell out London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Expect another showstopping performance from the group who define 4th gen K-pop dominance.
IVE: The ‘It Girls’ With Global Appeal
IVE continues to live up to their title as the ultimate MZ generation icons. Their third EP, IVE EMPATHY, scored them 15 wins on Korean music shows. Pre-release track REBEL HEART even made it onto Billboard’s “25 Best K-pop Songs of 2025 (So Far)” list. The group’s recent crowd-hyping sets at Lollapalooza Berlin and Paris prove their explosive popularity abroad. Fun fact: IVE is the only K-pop girl group invited to Lollapalooza for three shows across two years. Queens only.
aespa: Million Sellers on a Roll
After snapping up the Grand Prize at the 2024 TMA, aespa isn’t slowing down. Their fifth mini-album Whiplash caused a splash, and their latest single Dirty Work earned them their sixth consecutive million-seller. With a concert tour kicking off this August in Seoul, 2025 is shaping up to be another banner year.
What to Expect from the 2025 TMA
This year’s event promises the ultimate K-pop showcase, with a diverse lineup already confirmed. Alongside Stray Kids, IVE, and aespa, fans can also expect to see NEXZ, MEOVV, BOYNEXTDOOR, AHOF, NMIXX, NCT WISH, ENHYPEN, ZEROBASEONE, CLOSE YOUR EYES, KiiiKiii, TWS, and Hearts2Hearts. The who’s who of K-pop is basically performing under one Macau sky.
More details about the event, including ticketing and streaming options, will roll out soon on TMA’s official site. So whether you’re prepping your lightstick or planning a flight to Macau—stay tuned!
