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M Countdown
M Countdown
from Wikipedia

M Countdown
Logo used since 2024
GenreMusic
Presented bySung Han-bin
Myung Jae-hyun
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of seasons14
No. of episodes913
Production
Running time120 minutes
Production companyCJ E&M
Original release
NetworkMnet
ReleaseJuly 29, 2004 (2004-07-29) –
present

M Countdown (Korean엠카운트다운) is a South Korean music program broadcast by Mnet from the CJ E&M Center Studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo District, Seoul.[1] It features appearances by popular music artists who also perform live on stage. First hosted by Leeteuk, Shindong, and Kangin of Super Junior, the show has had various celebrity emcees through the years. As of March 2025, M Countdown is hosted by Sung Han-bin of Zerobaseone and Myung Jae-hyun of BoyNextDoor.

Broadcast

[edit]

M Countdown airs live on domestic television at 6PM KST every Thursday.[2] Live streaming is available internationally via the M Countdown On Air page on Mwave's website.

In the Philippines, online multi-view live broadcast of the show is available via gigafest.smart.[3] It began airing on the free-to-air TV5 network from January 31, 2021, however due to low ratings on the network, it was concluded on March 6, 2022. Full episodes with English subtitles are shown every Sunday night, along with another K-Chart show Music Bank on GMA Hallypop. Meanwhile, some episodes of M Countdown like Hot Debut and Comeback Stages are already available on YouTube Philippines since January 2022.[4]

Segments

[edit]

Current segments on the show include Cha-Cha-Cha, MCD Dance Challenge, MCD Vocal Challenge, Storage M, and M Studio. Discontinued segments formerly aired include: B'SHOP (songwriter Bang Si-hyuk introduced a selection of hit songs), MCD Drama (show-hosts acted out various scenarios), MCD News (reported music industry news), and MCD Ranking (ranked celebrities based on certain topics).

Official hosts

[edit]
Zerobaseone's Sung Han-bin (left) and BoyNextDoor's Myung Jae-hyun (right) host the show as of March 6, 2025

In February 2010, Mnet announced a new group of eight emcees, comprising select members from 2PM, 2AM, CNBLUE, and MBLAQ. Nicknamed "MCD GUYZ", they hosted the show in subgroups of three or four at a time. This marked the first time M Countdown deviated from its tradition of having 1–2 fixed presenters.[8]

Following Key's departure as host on April 13, 2017, M Countdown announced the implementation of a "special MC system" of guest presenters since a permanent replacement had not yet been decided.[18] The first "new" hosts selected were girl group singers Hani from EXID, and Kyulkyung and Nayoung from Pristin—they appeared on the April 20 broadcast.[31]

Between April 2018 and March 2019, the show was hosted by a "Global MC Crew" of idols who spoke various foreign languages.[32]

M Countdown chart

[edit]

Chart rankings are calculated by combining the following for a total of 12,000 points:[33]

  • Digital music sales from Circle (60%)
  • Social media points from YouTube and short form content from various platforms. (10%)
  • Album sales data from Circle (15%)
  • Global fan votes via Mnet Plus (15%)
  • Mnet broadcast points (10%)
  • Live-vote (10%; first-place nominees only)

Data is collected from Monday to Sunday.

Songs can win a maximum of three times before being removed from the chart.[33]

Girls' Generation was the only act to achieve the perfect score of 10,000 points under the fourth and fifth scoring systems. Since then, only Exo, BTS, Shinee, Twice, and NU'EST have achieved the perfect score of 11,000 points.

Winners

[edit]

While previous revisions of this article included winners from 2004 to 2007, that information was not supported by any secondary sources since its initial addition in 2011. A lack of media coverage of the show on Naver for those particular years makes sourcing the information difficult. As such, those sections have been removed from the page and only winners from 2008 to present are cited.

Triple crowns

[edit]

The term triple crown refers to when a song achieves three wins on the show.[33] After that, it becomes ineligible for first place and is removed from the chart.[33] The following is a list of all songs that have achieved a triple crown on M Countdown from 2008 to present.

List of Triple Crown winners
Artist Song Wins
2008
MC Mong "Circus" May 8, May 22, June 12
Taeyang "Look Only At Me" June 19, June 26, July 3
Wonder Girls "So Hot" July 10, July 17, July 24
Lee Hyori "U-Go-Girl" July 31, August 14, August 21
BigBang "Haru Haru" August 28, September 4, September 11
TVXQ "Mirotic" October 9, October 23, October 30
2009
Seungri "Strong Baby" January 22, February 5, February 19
Kara "Honey" March 5, March 12, March 26
2PM "Again & Again" May 7, May 14, May 21
"I Hate You" July 2, July 9, July 16
2NE1 "I Don't Care" July 23, August 6, August 13
G-Dragon "Heartbreaker" September 10, September 17, September 24
2010
2PM "Without U" April 29, May 6, May 13
2NE1 "Can't Nobody" September 23, September 30, October 7
Girls' Generation "Hoot" November 18, November 25, December 2
2011
Seungri "What Can I Do" January 27, February 3, February 10
BigBang "Tonight" March 3, March 10, March 17
CNBLUE "Intuition" March 31, April 7, April 14
f(x) "Pinocchio (Danger)" May 5, May 12, May 19
Beast "Fiction" May 26, June 2, June 9
Super Junior "Mr. Simple" August 11, August 18, August 25
Girls' Generation "The Boys" October 27, November 3, November 10
Trouble Maker "Trouble Maker" December 15, December 22, December 29
2012
Girls' Generation-TTS "Twinkle" May 10, May 17, May 24
Infinite "The Chaser" May 31, June 7, June 14
f(x) "Electric Shock" June 21, June 28, July 5
Super Junior "Sexy, Free & Single" July 12, July 19, July 26
Beast "Beautiful Night" August 2, August 9, August 16
Psy "Gangnam Style" August 23, August 30, September 6
G-Dragon "Crayon" September 27, October 4, October 11
Lee Hi "1,2,3,4" November 8, November 15, November 22
Lee Seung-gi "Return" November 29, December 6, December 13
2013
Yang Yo-seob "Caffeine" December 20, December 27, January 3
Girls' Generation "I Got a Boy" January 10, January 17, January 24
Sistar19 "Gone Not Around Any Longer" February 7, February 14, February 21
Shinee "Dream Girl" February 28, March 7, March 14
Psy "Gentleman" April 18, April 25, May 2
Shinhwa "This Love" May 23, May 30, June 6
Sistar "Give It To Me" June 20, June 27, July 4
Exo "Growl" August 22, August 29, September 5
2014
Exo "Miracles in December" December 19, December 26, January 2
TVXQ "Something" January 16, January 23, January 30
Akdong Musician "200%" April 17, April 24, May 1
Taeyang "Eyes, Nose, Lips" June 12, June 19, July 3
Winner "Empty" August 21, August 28, September 18
Epik High "Happen Ending" October 30, November 6, November 13
2015
Shinhwa "Sniper" March 12, March 19, March 26
Exo "Call Me Baby" April 9, April 16, April 30
Girls' Generation "Lion Heart" August 27, September 3, September 10
Taeyeon "I" October 15, October 22, October 29
2016
Psy "Daddy" December 17, December 24, January 7
iKon "Dumb & Dumber" January 14, January 21, January 28
GFriend "Rough" February 4, February 11, February 18
Twice "Cheer Up" May 5, May 19, May 26
Exo "Monster" June 16, June 23, June 30
GFriend "Navillera" July 21, July 28, August 4
2017
BigBang "Fxxk It" December 22, January 5, January 12
Mamamoo "Yes I Am" June 29, July 6, July 13
Exo "Ko Ko Bop" July 27, August 3, August 10
Wanna One "Energetic" August 17, August 24, August 31
2018
iKon "Love Scenario" February 1, March 1, March 8
Blackpink "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" June 28, July 5, July 12
2019
Seventeen "Home" January 31, February 7, February 14
X1 "Flash" September 5, September 12, September 19
2020
Itzy "Wannabe" March 19, March 26, April 2
"Not Shy" September 3, September 10, September 17
2021
(G)I-dle "Hwaa" January 21, January 28, February 4
NCT Dream "Hot Sauce" May 20, May 27, June 3
NCT 127 "Sticker" September 23, September 30, October 7
2022
BigBang "Still Life" April 14, April 21, April 28
BTS "Yet to Come" June 16, June 23, June 30
Blackpink "Pink Venom" August 25, September 1, September 8
"Shut Down" September 22, September 29, October 6
2023
BSS (feat. Lee Young-ji) "Fighting" February 16, February 23, March 2
BTS "Take Two" June 22, June 29, July 6
Jungkook (feat. Latto) "Seven" July 20, July 27, August 3
V "Love Me Again" August 24, August 31, September 7
"Slow Dancing" September 14, September 21, September 28
Jungkook (feat. Jack Harlow) "3D" October 5, October 12, October 19
2024
(G)I-dle "Super Lady" February 8, February 15, February 22
Le Sserafim "Easy" February 29, March 7, March 14
Aespa "Armageddon" June 6, June 13, June 20
Le Sserafim "Crazy" September 12, September 19, September 26
2025
Ive "Rebel Heart" January 23, January 30, February 6
Jennie "Like Jennie" March 20, March 27, April 3
Blackpink "Jump" July 17, July 24, July 31

Achievements by artists

[edit]
Most No. 1 winners

Most No. 1 winners

Rank Artist Count
1st Twice 25
2nd Big Bang 24
3rd Exo 20
4th Girls' Generation 18
5th Red Velvet 17
6th BTS 16
Seventeen
Blackpink
7th 2NE1 15
(G)I-dle
8th 2PM 14
Beast/Highlight
Itzy
Most Triple Crowns

Most Triple Crowns

Rank Artist Count
1st Exo 5 songs
2nd Big Bang 4 songs
Blackpink
3rd 2PM 3 songs
Girls' Generation
Psy
4th 2NE1 2 songs
G-Dragon
f(x)
Super Junior
Beast/Highlight
TVXQ
Taeyang
Shinhwa
GFriend
iKon
Itzy
BTS
V
Jungkook
(G)I-dle
Le Sserafim
Top 10 Highest Scores (1st–6th System)

Top 10 Highest Scores (1st–6th System) July 29, 2004 – March 3, 2011

Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st 2NE1 "I Don't Care" 981.3 August 13, 2009
2nd 979.8 August 6, 2009
3rd 977.9 July 23, 2009
4th 2AM "Can't Let You Go Even If I Die" 976 February 25, 2010
5th G-Dragon "Heartbreaker" 975.7 September 24, 2009
6th 2PM "Again & Again" 975 May 21, 2009
7th G-Dragon "Heartbreaker" 974.5 September 17, 2009
8th 2PM "Again & Again" 973.4 May 14, 2009
9th G-Dragon "Heartbreaker" 973.2 September 10, 2009
10th Shinee "Ring Ding Dong" 972.6 November 5, 2009
Top 10 Highest Scores (7th–8th System)

Top 10 Highest Scores (7th–8th System) March 10, 2011 – August 23, 2012

Scoring 7th System: Digital Single Sales (40%), Album Sales (10%), Asia/Global Fan Vote (15%), Preferences of Music Experts (10%), Real-Time Charts (15%), SMS Vote (10%)

Scoring 8th System: Digital Single Sales (45%), Album Sales (10%), Global Fan Vote (15%), Mnet Broadcasting (5%), Preferences of Music Experts (10%), Real-Time Charts (5%), SMS Vote (10%)

Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st CNBLUE "Intuition" 9,654 April 7, 2011
2nd Girls' Generation-TTS "Twinkle" 9,357 May 17, 2012
3rd 9,355 May 10, 2012
4th Kara "Step" 9,314 September 22, 2011
5th f(x) "Electric Shock" 9,296 June 21, 2012
6th Wonder Girls "Be My Baby" 9,290 November 17, 2011
7th CNBLUE "Intuition" 9,255 March 31, 2011
8th Beast "Fiction" 9,253 June 2, 2011
9th Big Bang "Fantastic Baby" 9,204 March 22, 2012
10th Beast "Fiction" 9,191 June 9, 2011
Top 10 Highest Scores (9th–10th System)

Top 10 Highest Scores (9th–10th System) August 30, 2012 – February 20, 2014

Scoring System: Digital Single Sales (50%), Album Sales (10%), Age Preference (20%), Global Fan Vote (5%), Live Show Preferences (10%), SMS Vote (5%)

Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st Girls' Generation "I Got a Boy" 10,000 January 10, 2013
2nd 9,988 January 17, 2013
3rd Yang Yo-seob "Caffeine" 9,795 January 3, 2013
4th Sistar19 "Gone Not Around Any Longer" 9,642 February 14, 2013
5th Shinee "Dream Girl" 9,459 March 7, 2013
6th Busker Busker "Love, at first" 9,419 October 3, 2013
7th 9,415 October 10, 2013
8th Yang Yo-seob "Caffeine" 9,267 December 20, 2012
9th TVXQ "Something" 9,244 January 16, 2014
10th Shinee "Dream Girl" 9,168 February 28, 2013
Top 10 Highest Scores (11th–12th System)

Top 10 Highest Scores (11th–12th System) February 27, 2014 – June 4, 2015[34]

Scoring System: Digital Single Sales (50%), Album Sales (10%), Social Media Points (10%: YouTube official music video views + SNS buzz), Preference Points (10%: global fan votes + age range preference), Mnet Broadcast Points (10%), SMS Votes (10%)[34]

Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st Girls' Generation "Mr.Mr." 10,000 March 13, 2014
2nd f(x) "Red Light" 9,772 July 17, 2014
3rd Shinee "View" 9,762 June 4, 2015
4th Exo "Overdose" 9,706 May 15, 2014
5th Big Bang "Loser" 9,669 May 14, 2015
6th Apink "Mr. Chu (On Stage)" 9,577 May 8, 2014
7th Girls' Generation "Mr.Mr." 9,363 March 6, 2014
8th Taeyang "Eyes, Nose, Lips" 9,255 June 19, 2014
9th Shinee "View" 9,037 May 28, 2015
10th 2NE1 "Come Back Home" 8,869 March 20, 2014
Top 10 Highest Scores (13th–15th System)

Top 10 Highest Scores (13th–15th System) June 11, 2015 – April 12, 2018

Scoring System: Digital Music Sales (50%), Album Sales (15%), Social Media Score (15%: YouTube official music video views + SNS buzz), Popularity Score (10%: global fan votes + age range preference), Mnet Broadcast Score (10%) + SMS Voting Score (10%)

Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st Exo "Power" 11,000 September 14, 2017
BTS "DNA" September 28, 2017
2nd Girls' Generation "Lion Heart" 10,988 September 3, 2015
3rd 10,961 September 10, 2015
4th Taeyeon "I" 10,929 October 15, 2015
5th Red Velvet "Rookie" 10,903 February 16, 2017
6th "Red Flavor" 10,877 July 20, 2017
7th Exo "Monster" 10,849 June 23, 2016
8th Wanna One "Energetic" 10,844 August 24, 2017
9th "Boomerang" 10,805 March 29, 2018
10th Twice "Heart Shaker" 10,776 December 21, 2017
Top 10 Highest Scores (16th–18th System)

Top 10 Highest Scores (16th–18th System) April 26, 2018 – May 21, 2020

Scoring System: Digital Music Sales (45%), Album Sales (15%), Social Media Score (20%: YouTube official music video views + SNS buzz), Global Fan Votes (10%), Mnet Broadcast Score (10%), SMS Live Vote (10%)

Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st BTS "Fake Love" 11,000 May 31, 2018
Shinee "I Want You" June 21, 2018
BTS "Boy with Luv" April 25, 2019
Twice "Fancy" May 2, 2019
NU'EST "Bet Bet" May 9, 2019
BTS "On" March 5, 2020
NU'EST "I'm in Trouble" May 21, 2020
2nd X1 "Flash" 10,945 September 19, 2019
3rd Twice "Dance the Night Away" 10,933 July 19, 2018
4th Iz*One "Fiesta" 10,914 February 27, 2020
Top 10 Highest Scores (19th–20th System)

Top 10 Highest Scores (19th–20th System) May 28, 2020 – April 7, 2022

Scoring System: Digital Sales (45%: Melon, Genie, FLO), Album Sales (15%), Social Media (15%: YouTube MV views), Global Fan Vote (15%), Mnet Broadcast (10%: Mnet TV, MCD Stage, M2 Contents), Live Vote (10%: first-place nominees only)

Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st Shinee "Don't Call Me" 10,990 March 4, 2021
2nd NCT Dream "Hot Sauce" 10,800 May 20, 2021
3rd Seventeen "Left & Right" 10,705 July 2, 2020
4th Twice "Alcohol-Free" 10,123 June 17, 2021
5th NCT 127 "Punch" 9,778 May 28, 2020
6th Taeyeon "INVU" 9,676 February 24, 2022
7th (G)I-dle "Hwaa" 9,594 January 21, 2021
8th Stray Kids "Thunderous" 9,421 September 9, 2021
9th Iz*One "Panorama" 9,364 December 17, 2020
10th Twice "More & More" 9,356 June 11, 2020
Top 10 Highest Scores (21st–22nd System)

Top 10 Highest Scores (21st–22nd System) April 14, 2022 – January 4, 2024

Scoring System: Digital Sales (50%), Album Sales (15%), Social Media (10%), Global Fan Vote (15%), Mnet Broadcast (10%), Live Vote (10%)

Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st BTS "Yet to Come" 11,000 June 23, 2022
2nd Stray Kids "Case 143" 10,756 October 20, 2022
3rd BSS "Fighting" 10,669 February 16, 2023
4th Seventeen "_World" 10,633 July 28, 2022
5th BTS "Yet to Come" 10,333 June 16, 2022
6th Jimin "Like Crazy" 9,855 March 30, 2023
7th Jungkook "Standing Next to You" 9,622 November 9, 2023
8th Seventeen "Super" 9,603 May 4, 2023
9th V "Slow Dancing" 9,557 September 14, 2023
10th Tomorrow X Together "Sugar Rush Ride" 9,489 February 9, 2023
Top 10 Highest Scores (Current System)

Top 10 Highest Scores (Current System) January 11, 2024–present

Scoring System: Digital Sales (60%), Album Sales (15%), Global Social Media Buzz (15%), Global Fan Vote (10%), Mnet Broadcast (10%), Live Vote (10%)

Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st Seventeen "Thunder" 10,567 June 5, 2025
2nd Nmixx "See That?" 10,293 August 29, 2024
3rd Fromis 9 "Supersonic" 9,953 August 22, 2024
4th BoyNextDoor "If I Say, I Love You" 9,500 January 16, 2025
5th TWS "Countdown" 9,461 May 1, 2025
6th Le Sserafim "Easy" 9,428 February 29, 2024
7th Nmixx "Dash" 9,338 January 25, 2024
8th Jisoo "Earthquake" 9,266 February 27, 2025
9th NCT Wish "Poppop" 9,208 April 24, 2025
10th Jimin "Who" 8,907 August 8, 2024
Top 10 Highest Scores (All Time)

Top 10 Highest Scores (All Time)

Artist Song Score Date
Exo "Power" 11,000 September 14, 2017
BTS "DNA" September 28, 2017
"Fake Love" May 31, 2018
Shinee "I Want You" June 21, 2018
BTS "Boy with Luv" April 25, 2019
Twice "Fancy" May 2, 2019
NU'EST "Bet Bet" May 9, 2019
BTS "On" March 5, 2020
NU'EST "I'm in Trouble" May 21, 2020
BTS "Yet to Come" June 23, 2022

International versions

[edit]
Country Local Name Network Year Aired
Thailand[35] Thailand Music Countdown Channel 3 May 12, 2024 – present
Vietnam Vietnam Music Countdown FPT Play Mid 2026 (planned)

Similar programs

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
M Countdown (Korean: 엠카운트다운, Em Kauntudaun) is a South Korean weekly music television program broadcast by , featuring live performances by prominent artists and culminating in a chart winner determined by a points system incorporating digital sales, physical album sales, fan pre-voting, social media engagement, and broadcast scores. The show premiered on July 29, 2004, and has since become one of the nation's flagship music programs, airing live every Thursday at 6:00 p.m. KST from the Center studios in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, . As a of promotion, M Countdown provides a key platform for both established and emerging artists to showcase new releases, often influencing domestic and international performance through its high-viewership broadcasts and global streaming availability. The program has evolved over two decades, incorporating updates to its charting criteria to reflect changing music consumption trends, such as increased emphasis on global fan votes and short-form video metrics since 2024. Notable for its elaborate stage productions and special episodes—like the 20th anniversary broadcast in July 2024 featuring collaborative performances—it continues to play a pivotal role in the K-pop industry's visibility and fan engagement worldwide.

Overview and History

Program Overview

M Countdown is a prominent weekly music chart television program broadcast by the South Korean network since 2004. It serves as a key platform for artists, featuring live performances of their latest tracks and a competitive that determines the top songs based on various metrics including digital sales, album sales, and fan votes. Airing every Thursday at 6:00 PM KST from the Center in Sangam-dong, , the show highlights both established idols and rising talents, making it an essential venue for music promotion in the industry. The program plays a pivotal role in the ecosystem by facilitating artist comebacks and new releases, often serving as the debut stage for songs that go on to dominate charts worldwide. Its influence extends to shaping music trends, as winning the top spot can boost an artist's visibility, streaming numbers, and fanbase growth, fostering intense competition and global engagement among viewers. Recognized as the "World No.1 Chart Show," M Countdown amplifies K-pop's international reach through its emphasis on high-energy performances and interactive elements that resonate with diverse audiences. Episodes typically follow a structured format beginning with opening remarks from hosts, followed by a series of live stages interspersed with commentary and glimpses. The core segment builds anticipation with a of the top 20 songs, culminating in the announcement of the weekly winner, who receives a and performs an encore to celebrate the victory. This blend of entertainment and competition keeps the show dynamic and appealing to fans. As of 2025, M Countdown maintains its status as a cornerstone of broadcasting, aired in 13 countries wide and boasting audience demand 16.9 times the average for South Korean TV shows, underscoring its enduring popularity amid the rise of digital platforms.

Development and Launch

M Countdown was launched by the South Korean broadcaster on July 29, 2004, as a weekly music chart program featuring live performances by popular artists. The show quickly established itself as a key platform for promoting new releases and ranking songs based on various metrics, airing every evening. The inaugural episode was hosted by of the boy group , marking his early role in the program's presentation before it transitioned to other hosting lineups. Initial episodes emphasized a vibrant stage setup and artist interactions to engage viewers, setting the tone for its focus on trends. Following a hiatus in late 2009, M Countdown resumed in early with significant updates to its chart calculation system, shifting emphasis toward digital music sales alongside traditional metrics to reflect evolving consumption patterns. This adaptation helped the program remain relevant amid the growing dominance of online streaming in the , incorporating global data points for a more comprehensive ranking.

Broadcast and Production

Airing Details

M Countdown typically airs live every at 6:00 PM Korea Standard Time (KST) on the television channel, with occasional breaks such as the year-end hiatus beginning October 30, 2025, serving as a key weekly platform for performances and chart announcements. Episodes typically run for 90 to 120 minutes, featuring a mix of live stages, interviews, and the weekly winner reveal tied to the show's chart system. The program has maintained this evening slot since its launch in 2004, allowing it to compete effectively within South Korea's music show landscape. Accessibility for global audiences has expanded significantly through digital platforms, with live streams available on the Mnet Plus app and the official Mnet YouTube channel, enabling real-time viewing from around the world without geographic restrictions. Full episodes are also uploaded to these platforms shortly after broadcast, supporting on-demand access for fans in different time zones. This digital shift has been crucial as traditional cable viewership declines amid the rise of online streaming. Viewership trends reflect broader changes in , with peak interest in the driven by K-pop's global surge, though domestic TV ratings have stabilized at lower levels by 2025 due to increased preference for streaming services. The show's audience demand remains notably high, exceeding 16 times the average for South Korean TV programs, underscoring its enduring international appeal.

Production Aspects

M Countdown is primarily produced at the CJ ENM Center in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, , where the show's studio facilities support live broadcasts and performances. The venue, located at 66 Sangamsan-ro, accommodates a range of technical setups for the weekly episodes. Occasionally, special stages are held at alternative locations, such as overseas events including the 2012 "M Countdown Hello Japan" tour in . The production team is led by directors Lee Jin-ah and Jeon Dae-kyung, with chief producer Yoon Shin-hye overseeing operations. This structure ensures coordinated execution of live segments, artist integrations, and broadcast elements under Mnet's music programming division. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, M Countdown shifted to no-audience formats starting in March 2020, eliminating live studio crowds to comply with health guidelines. Performances were pre-recorded or conducted remotely for some episodes to accommodate restrictions, particularly when artists were in quarantine or traveling internationally. The show resumed full live audiences in May 2022 and maintained them through 2023 as restrictions eased, continuing into 2024 and 2025 with enhancements such as expanded audience seating in 2024.

Program Format and Segments

Core Segments

A typical episode of M Countdown follows a structured format designed to showcase new music releases, ongoing promotions, and chart rankings, lasting approximately 90 minutes. The show emphasizes live performances and audience engagement through its studio setup at Center in , blending high-energy visuals with interactions to highlight K-pop's dynamic appeal. This ensures consistency across weekly broadcasts, allowing viewers to anticipate key moments while focusing on musical content. The episode opens with an energetic sequence featuring the MCs' introductions, where they welcome the live audience and global viewers, often accompanied by teaser clips of upcoming performances to build excitement. This segment sets the tone and may include brief announcements about the week's lineup or special guests, drawing viewers into the show's vibrant atmosphere. Following the opening, the core of the episode centers on artist comeback stages, where several groups or soloists debut new songs with elaborate choreography, custom outfits, and synchronized dance routines that exemplify production values. These performances are filmed in advance or live, prioritizing visual spectacle and artistic expression, and serve as the primary platform for artists to promote recent releases. Additional general stages from promoting acts fill the lineup, maintaining a balance of fresh debuts and established hits. The chart countdown forms a pivotal segment, revealing the top 20 songs through pre-recorded video packages that include song snippets, artist interviews, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into production or preparation processes. Revealed progressively from lower ranks to the top, this portion builds suspense and educates viewers on chart climbers. (See Chart System section for ranking methodology.) The winner's stage caps the competitive element, where the #1 artist receives a presentation from the MCs amid and cheers, followed by an encore performance of their chart-topping song to celebrate the achievement. This moment underscores the show's award-like prestige, often evoking emotional responses from performers and fans alike. The episode closes with the MCs delivering thank-yous to performers, staff, and viewers, alongside previews of next week's episodes or upcoming , ensuring a seamless transition to future broadcasts while reinforcing community connection.

Special and Interactive Segments

M Countdown features periodic year-end specials in December, which highlight top-performing artists through collaborations and extended performances, as seen in the 2019 edition divided into two parts with lineups including and . These specials, held annually since the program's early years, provide a retrospective of the year's trends and often extend broadcast time to accommodate special stages. The program incorporates theme weeks to add variety, including holiday editions such as specials that feature festive performances and covers of holiday songs by groups like and in 2020. showcases also occur as dedicated episodes, emphasizing emerging artists; for instance, a 2025 special highlighted new groups with hosting by recent debuts like ALLDAY PROJECT members. Interactive elements enhance viewer participation, with live text voting introduced as part of the , allowing fans to influence winner selection during broadcasts—initially for top candidates. This voting, now integrated via the Plus app with a 10% weight in rankings, opens minutes before the show and permits up to five votes per account, fostering real-time engagement. Fan-chosen encores follow winner announcements, where audiences select additional performances, while integrations like challenges encourage global submissions of fan content tied to episodes. Global fan segments promote international involvement through mini fanmeetings, short interactive Q&A sessions with artists like in 2018 and in 2024, where performers respond to pre-submitted questions from worldwide viewers. These segments, often broadcast live, include shoutouts to overseas fans, reflecting the show's emphasis on global fandom since its expansion to international streaming.

Hosts and Presenters

Hosting History

M Countdown's hosting history reflects the evolving landscape of , with frequent transitions to incorporate rising idols and adapt to scheduling demands, resulting in over 20 official MCs since its launch. The program debuted with TVXQ's as its initial host in . By the mid-2000s, the show shifted toward featuring members of popular idol groups, exemplified by members such as , , and serving as MCs from 2005 to 2008, bringing a youthful energy that aligned with the rising second-generation wave. Entering the 2010s, hosting pairings became more stable and long-term, often pairing established idols with newcomers to balance experience and freshness. A notable example is SHINee's Key, who co-hosted from 2015 to 2017 alongside CNBLUE's , contributing to a period of consistent idol-led presentations until the introduction of a special MC system in 2017. This system continued into 2018 with the "Global MC Crew," a rotating group of multilingual idols like TWICE's Sana, Wanna One's , and Chungha, aimed at enhancing international appeal. In the 2020s, pairings emphasized generational crossovers, such as SHINee's Key returning briefly in special capacities and IVE's joining as a co-host starting in 2022, injecting fresh dynamics into the show's tone. Recent changes as of 2025 include the duo of ZEROBASEONE's (the 21st MC, serving from September 2023 to September 4, 2025), RIIZE's Sohee (January 2024 to February 27, 2025), and BOYNEXTDOOR's Myung Jae-hyun (2024 to September 4, 2025), who stepped down amid the show's shift to a rotating special MC system for ongoing episodes. This approach allows flexibility while maintaining the tradition of idol-hosted vibrancy. For example, Park Gunwook from ZEROBASEONE and Kang Daniel are confirmed to serve as special MCs for the episode airing on January 15, 2026, at 6 PM KST.

Notable Hosts

Key, a member of the boy group , served as a main host on M Countdown from March 2015 to April 2017, co-hosting with CNBLUE's during much of his tenure. His charismatic presence and engaging interactions with performing idols were highlighted as key strengths, contributing to the show's lively atmosphere and appeal to global audiences through SHINee's international fanbase. Key returned as a special MC in episodes as recent as March 2025, demonstrating his enduring popularity in the role. Jang Won-young of IVE joined M Countdown as a host in 2022 at the age of 17, becoming one of the youngest MCs in the program's history at the time. Her youthful energy and poised delivery were credited with attracting younger viewers, helping to boost the show's youth-oriented viewership during her involvement.

Chart System

Ranking Methodology

The ranking methodology of M Countdown utilizes a composite scoring system to compile its weekly chart, integrating multiple data sources to reflect a song's overall popularity in the ecosystem. As of 2025, the system totals 12,000 points, with data aggregated from the preceding Monday to Sunday. It assigns 60% (7,200 points) to digital music sales from the Circle Digital Chart, capturing streams and downloads. Album sales contribute 15% (1,800 points), based on the Circle Album Chart. Global fan votes account for 15% (1,800 points), collected via the Mnet Plus platform. Social media engagement makes up 10% (1,200 points), measuring views and interactions on and short-form video platforms. Mnet broadcast scores add 10% (1,200 points), while live votes for the top nominees contribute another 10% (1,200 points) through the Mnet Plus app. The chart operates on a weekly reset cycle, ensuring timeliness and fairness in rankings. Results are revealed and celebrated during the program's broadcast, allowing artists to perform based on the most recent performance metrics. Since 2018, the methodology has evolved to include views and global metrics, and as of 2024, it incorporates short-form video trends, equal weighting for domestic and overseas charts, and enhanced global fan voting to better reflect international engagement. Eligibility criteria are strictly defined to maintain and focus on active promotions. Only songs released within the past month qualify, limited to one per artist, and a song becomes ineligible after achieving three wins. Additionally, viewer voting systems prohibit self-votes from artists, their agencies, or affiliated personnel, relying on through verified channels like the Plus app to avoid manipulation. Historically, the ranking methodology has undergone significant evolution to adapt to changing music consumption patterns in . Before 2010, the heavily emphasized radio and physical data, reflecting the dominance of broadcast media and CD/vinyl purchases in the pre-digital . Post-2012, with the rapid growth of streaming services, the system shifted toward digital metrics, reducing reliance on traditional and prioritizing downloads and streams as core indicators of popularity.

Winner Selection Process

The winner of M Countdown is determined by the highest score in the weekly chart system, with the top songs announced on air as "MCD's Top Chart" through the composite scoring of digital and album sales, fan votes, , and broadcast metrics. The rankings are revealed during the episode's dedicated segment, where hosts progressively tease the positions to build anticipation before disclosing the number one song and its score. Upon announcement, the winning artist or group is called to for the victory , during which the MCs hand over the distinctive M Countdown plaque amid from the live . The features a brief acceptance speech by the winners, followed immediately by their mandatory encore performance of the winning track, often enhanced with confetti cannons and enthusiastic crowd reactions to celebrate the achievement. In the rare event of tied scores for first place, the tie is resolved via a live fan vote conducted on-site or through the show's app to select the final winner. Post-win, the victorious act receives prominent features in Mnet's promotional content, including highlights on official channels and upcoming program teasers to amplify their success.

Achievements and Records

Individual Artist Achievements

IU holds the record for the most wins by a solo artist on M Countdown, achieving 18 victories as of 2025, with her debut win for "Good Day" in 2011 marking an early highlight in her career. This accomplishment underscores her consistent dominance on the chart, spanning multiple eras and releases that resonated strongly with fans and the ranking system. Taeyeon of Girls' Generation demonstrated exceptional comeback success with multiple wins for her 2017 single "Fine," showcasing her vocal prowess and the track's broad appeal within the program's scoring methodology. Her streak highlighted a rare level of sustained performance for a soloist. BoA secured the first-ever win for a solo artist—and notably the inaugural victory on M Countdown itself—in 2004 with "My Name," establishing her as a pioneering figure in K-pop's music show landscape. This achievement came during the program's debut episode, reflecting her international training and rapid rise as a leading solo performer. Rain exemplifies longevity with the longest gap between wins, spanning from 2005 to 2020, a 15-year interval that speaks to his enduring popularity despite periods of hiatus from music promotions. His return highlighted the program's role in celebrating veteran soloists' comebacks.

Group and Milestone Records

In the history of M Countdown, idol groups have set numerous benchmarks for chart dominance, with holding the record for the most wins by a group, surpassing . These figures highlight the sustained popularity of these acts on the program, where group performances often drive high viewer engagement and voting participation. Other notable groups like TWICE have also contributed significantly, accumulating multiple wins across their comebacks that underscore the competitive landscape for ensemble acts. A key milestone for groups is achieving a triple crown, defined as securing the top spot for three consecutive weeks on M Countdown. TWICE has achieved several triple crowns since their 2016 debut, including their first with "Cheer Up" in May 2016, which marked a breakthrough for the group in establishing their chart prowess. Other groups such as with "Monster" in 2016 and with "Rich Man" in 2025 have also earned triple crowns, demonstrating how sustained scoring in digital, physical, and fan-voted categories can lead to these rare accomplishments. The program itself marked a significant milestone with its 1,000th episode in 2023, featuring a special reunion of all-time top artists to celebrate two decades of evolution on the show. This event not only honored group legacies but also highlighted the platform's role in launching careers. Rookie groups have also shattered records for rapid success, exemplified by securing their first #1 in their debut week on M Countdown in 2022 with "," just 18 days after release—one of the fastest ascents for newcomers. This achievement set a for fourth-generation acts, emphasizing how innovative sound and swift fan mobilization can propel rookies to the top early in their trajectory. In 2025, notable achievements include aespa's triple crown for "Rich Man" and multiple wins by artists like and Jennie, reflecting ongoing evolution in the program's competitive landscape.

International Versions

Adaptations in

Thailand Music Countdown represents the principal licensed adaptation of the M Countdown format in , produced by True CJ Creations, a joint venture between Thailand's and South Korea's . It premiered on May 12, 2024, with Season 1 airing until January 19, 2025, and Season 2 beginning May 18, 2025. The program airs weekly on Sundays at 4:45 PM on Channel 3 HD, providing a platform for Thai pop (T-pop) artists to perform live stages and compete for chart positions. It customizes the original format by integrating local music rankings from The Official Thailand Chart by TECA, alongside fan votes and popularity surveys conducted through the show's own system, to determine weekly winners. The show retains core elements of M Countdown, such as pre-recorded and live performances, artist interviews, and a reveal segment, but adapts them for the Thai market by conducting segments in the and prioritizing domestic idols and emerging T-pop acts. This localization fosters greater accessibility for local audiences while enhancing cross-cultural appeal without altering the fundamental stage and ranking structure. Broadcast from a dedicated studio at since August 2025, it emphasizes vibrant production values tailored to Thai entertainment preferences, including dance challenges and special themed episodes. Unlike broader international broadcasts of the original program, Thailand Music Countdown focuses on regional customization to align with local broadcasting regulations and audience tastes, marking it as a dedicated spin-off rather than a mere extension. This adaptation underscores M Countdown's influence in promoting structured music shows across , with rankings reflecting a blend of streaming data, sales, and viewer engagement specific to the Thai industry.

Global Expansions

M Countdown has expanded its reach globally through digital streaming platforms, making full episodes and performances accessible to international audiences. Since 2011, the official Mnet K-POP YouTube channel has uploaded complete episodes and live stages, with many featuring English subtitles to cater to non-Korean viewers. By 2024, these streams are also available on the Mnet Plus app, a dedicated global K-pop platform that broadcasts the show in real-time for fans worldwide, enhancing its status as a key exporter of K-pop content. The program's overseas tours, often integrated with major events like KCON, have brought live M Countdown stages to audiences in the United States and . A notable example is the 2019 KCON LA × M Countdown concert at the Staples Center in , where performances by artists such as SEVENTEEN, , and drew thousands of attendees, underscoring the show's growing international appeal. Similar events, including the 2023 M COUNTDOWN IN in , have highlighted K-pop's cultural influence in new markets by featuring chart-topping acts on European soil. M Countdown's global impact extends to shaping 's presence on international platforms, inspiring metrics like Billboard's K-pop charts through its emphasis on streaming and fan engagement data. Collaborations with services like have amplified this by incorporating live session elements tied to the show's rankings, further integrating M Countdown into global music ecosystems. In , the program introduced enhanced virtual global voting via the Mnet Plus app, allowing non-Korean fans to contribute to the chart scores through pre-voting and live polls, marking a shift toward greater international participation.

Similar South Korean Shows

M Countdown operates within a competitive landscape dominated by three other major South Korean music programs: KBS's Music Bank, MBC's Show! Music Core, and SBS's Inkigayo. These four shows, collectively known as the "big four," air weekly on consecutive days from Thursday to Sunday, providing artists with multiple opportunities for promotion and wins during comeback periods. Achieving victories on all four is termed a "grand slam," a rare feat that underscores an artist's broad appeal across diverse broadcasting networks and scoring criteria. Music Bank, broadcast on Fridays at 5:00 p.m. KST, emphasizes digital streaming scores at 60% of its total (as of 2023), supplemented by 5% for album sales, 20% for broadcast exposure on KBS platforms, 10% for viewer votes via the Mubeat app, and 5% for charts, favoring tracks with strong online performance and media presence. This structure highlights broadcasting metrics more prominently than some peers, though digital dominance remains key, and the show features a formal K-Chart announcement without extensive encore celebrations compared to others. Show! Music Core airs live on Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. KST, focusing on polished live performances with occasional live band accompaniment to enhance musical authenticity, broadcast from MBC's facilities as a public network program that prioritizes uninterrupted stage time. Its scoring (as of October 2022) allocates 60% to digital sales (Gaon Digital Chart), 10% to physical albums (Gaon Album Chart), 10% to broadcast (MBC TV and radio), and 20% to voting (5% expert committee, 5% pre-voting via Mubeat app, and 10% live voting via text message and Mubeat app), appealing to audiences valuing live execution over viral metrics. Inkigayo, airing Sundays at 3:40 p.m. KST, incorporates 50% digital scores (including global platforms such as and , as revised in October 2024), 10% physical sales, 10% broadcast, 5% pre-voting, 20% SNS metrics, and 5% views, often featuring a broader array of special collaboration stages and variety elements alongside standard promotions. The signature "Take 7" segment spotlights the week's top seven tracks, allowing multiple artists recognition and occasional tied wins, differentiating it by blending chart competition with diverse performance formats.

Mnet's Music Programming

, a prominent South Korean channel under , maintains a robust lineup of music programming centered on promotion, talent discovery, and competitive formats. As the network's cornerstone weekly since 2004, M Countdown integrates seamlessly with other programs, providing a platform for artists to showcase releases while feeding into broader ecosystem strategies for artist development and fan engagement. Special episodes of M Countdown, often branded as M! Countdown, frequently tie into Mnet's flagship year-end event, the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA), by recapping standout performances and highlighting chart-topping achievements from the awards. Launched in 1999 as the Mnet Video Music Awards and evolving into MAMA, this annual ceremony celebrates regional music excellence and uses M Countdown's weekly visibility to amplify winner announcements and promotional tie-ins. Mnet's competitive formats, such as Queendom (premiered 2019), a survival-style show pitting established girl groups against each other in concept battles, and (2020), its male counterpart featuring under-the-radar boy groups, leverage M Countdown stages for key promotions. Participants and winners from these series, including Queendom's focus on innovative comebacks and 's path to sequels like Kingdom: Legendary War, perform special stages on M Countdown to boost post-show releases and fan interaction. Within Mnet's programming strategy, M Countdown functions as an accessible entry point for debuting and rising artists, funneling talent toward high-stakes survival shows like (2020), a global audition program that formed the boy group through public voting and mentorship. This interconnected approach enhances Mnet's talent pipeline, where weekly chart exposure on M Countdown builds momentum for participants entering survival formats. Cross-promotions extend to Mnet's influential Produce series, including Produce 101 (2016 onward), which debuts temporary idol groups via viewer votes; alumni like IOI and Wanna One frequently appeared on M Countdown for unveilings and performances, creating a cycle of visibility from survival debuts to chart dominance. Trainees from later seasons, such as Produce X 101, also utilized the show's stage for pre-debut showcases, reinforcing Mnet's role in nurturing K-pop careers.

References

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