Show! Music Core
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Show! Music Core
Logo used since June 1, 2019
Hangul
쇼! 음악중심
Hanja
쇼! 音樂中心
RRSyo! Eumakjungsim
MRSyo! Ŭmakchungsim
GenreMusic
Presented by
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes935
Production
Running time80 minutes
Production companyMBC Entertainment
Original release
Network
ReleaseOctober 29, 2005 (2005-10-29) –
present

Show! Music Core (Korean: 쇼! 음악중심; RR: Syo! Eumakjungsim), or simply Music Core is a South Korean music television program broadcast by MBC. It airs live every Saturday at 15:30 (KST). The show features some of the latest and most popular artists who perform live on stage. It is broadcast from MBC Dream Center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.

History

[edit]

Prior to the current Show! Music Core, numerous music programs with similar content were aired on MBC. Below is the list in chronological order.

Broadcast date Program name
October 30, 1989 – November 2, 1990 Show Network (쇼 네트워크)
November 9, 1990 – April 30, 1993 Everyone's Popular Songs (여러분의 인기가요)
May 7, 1993 – October 8, 1993 Choice Best Popular Songs (결정 최고 인기가요)
April 21, 1995 – January 17, 1998 Popular Songs Best 50 [ko]
January 24, 1998 – April 18, 1998 Live Young Times (생방송 젊은 그대)
April 25, 1998 – January 23, 1999 Music Camp (음악캠프)
February 30, 1999 – May 8, 1999 Family Camp (가족캠프)
May 15, 1999 – July 30, 2005 Live Music Camp [ko]

Live Music Camp was cancelled due to a broadcast accident of revealing genitalia.[1]

After a brief hiatus, Show! Music Core began airing on October 29, 2005, with charts similar to its predecessors. However, the charts were removed on January 7, 2006, and it continues to air without any charts or awards. Even without the weekly chart award, the show was known for its special production and stages.[citation needed]

From 2007 to 2008, a "Mobile Ranking" segment was used to rank the popularity of songs downloaded to mobile phones and from online music sites.[2]

On March 11, 2013, MBC announced that they would return their chart system after seven years without the segment. The ranking system was reinstalled on April 20, 2013, with a first-place trophy given to the top song amongst the nominees for each week.[3]

November 21, 2015, MBC announced that their chart system would be removed once again. The MBC variety department said: "Instead of the ranking system, we intend to show more diverse genres of music and continue to work hard to be a representative music program of Korea."[4]

On February 11, 2016, MBC announced a trial phase of their simultaneous live broadcast of Show! Music Core in HD and UHD (ultra-high-definition) utilizing a dedicated 4K camera, in preparation for their launch of UHD broadcasts scheduled for 2017. The trial phase had taken place February 13 through March 12, 2016.[needs update][5]

On April 5, 2017, MBC announced that they would, yet again, return to their chart ranking system since April 22, 2017.[6]

In June 2023 MBC reactivated their YouTube channel MBC World. In October 2023 it was announced that the chart show is officially available for live streaming for fans worldwide.

Hosts

[edit]
List of hosts
And2ble's Kim Gyu-vin (left), and TWS's Dohoon (right) are hosting the show as of May 9, 2026
Episodes Date Host(s) Guest Host(s)
1 - 25 October 29, 2005 – April 29, 2006 Shin Dong-wook, Hong Soo-ah -
26 - 49 May 6 – November 4, 2006 Brian[a], Jang Mi-inae [i]
50 - 68 November 11, 2006 – March 31, 2007 Brian, Kim Hyun-joong[b] [ii]
69 - 74 April 7 - May 19, 2007 Brian [iii]
75 - 80 May 26 – June 30, 2007 Brian, Ahn So-hee[c], Hyuna -
81 - 96 July 7 – November 3, 2007 Brian[d], Kang-in[e] [iv]
97 - 117 November 10, 2007 – April 26, 2008 T.O.P[f], Ahn So-hee[g], Sunye[h] [v]
118 - 159 May 10, 2008 – March 28, 2009 Seungri[i], Daesung[j], Sol Bi [vi]
160 - 219 April 4, 2009 – July 31, 2010 Tiffany[k], Yuri[l] [vii]
220 - 231 August 7 - October 23, 2010 Various Guest Hosts [viii]
232 - 266 October 30, 2010 – July 9, 2011 Onew, Minho, Suzy, Jiyeon -
267 - 279 July 16 – October 8, 2011 Suzy, Jiyeon -
280 - 292 October 15, 2011 – January 28, 2012 Tiffany, Yuri -
293 - 294 February 4 - 11, 2012 Various Guest Hosts [ix]
295 - 354 February 18, 2012 - April 13, 2013 Taeyeon,[m] Seohyun,[n] Tiffany[o] [x]
355 - 414 April 20, 2013 – July 12, 2014 Minho,[p] Kim So-hyun,[q] Noh Hong-chul[r] [xi]
415 - 453 July 19, 2014 – April 25, 2015 Minho,[s] Kim So-hyun,[t] Zico[u] [xii]
454 - 479 May 2 – November 14, 2015 Minho, N, Yeri -
480 - 523 November 21, 2015 – September 24, 2016 Kim Sae-ron, Kim Min-jae -
524 - 547 October 1, 2016 – April 15, 2017 Kim Sae-ron, Cha Eun-woo, Lee Soo-min -
548 - 577 April 22, 2017 – February 3, 2018 Cha Eun-woo,[v] Xiyeon[w] [xiii]
578 - 603 February 24 – September 22, 2018 Ong Seong-wu,[x] Mina, Mark [y] [xiv]
604 - 617 September 29, 2018 – January 12, 2019 Mina,[z] Mark Lee[aa] [xv]
618 - 620 January 19 - February 2, 2019 Mina, Cha Eun-woo [xvi]
621 - 681 February 16, 2019 – May 30, 2020 Mina,[ab] Chani,[ac] Hyunjin [ad] [xvii]
682 - 713 June 13, 2020 – February 6, 2021 Chani, Hyunjin, Kim Min-ju -
714 - 721 February 20 - April 24, 2021 Chani, Kim Min-ju [xviii]
722 - 733 May 1 – July 17, 2021 Chani, Kim Min-ju, Yeji [xix]
734 - 794 August 14, 2021 - January 28, 2023 Kim Min-ju,[ae] Jungwoo,[af] Lee Know [ag] [xx]
795 - 803 February 4, 2023 - April 8, 2023 Jungwoo[ah] and Lee Know[ai] [xxi]
804 - 831 April 15 - November 4, 2023[7] Jungwoo,[aj] Lee Know,[ak] Sullyoon[al] [xxii]
832 - 888 November 11, 2023 – February 15, 2025[8][9] Sullyoon,[am] Lee Jung-ha, Younghoon[an] [xxiii]
890 - 944 March 1, 2025 – May 2, 2026[10] A-Na, Dohoon, and Kim Gyu-vin -
955 - present May 9, 2026 - present Dohoon and Kim Gyu-vin[11] -

Guest Hosts

[edit]
  1. ^ Lee Seung-gi (ep. 27, May 13, 2006); Park Myung-soo (ep. 29, May 27, 2006), Jun Jin (ep. 48, October 21, 2006); MC Mong (ep. 49, November 4, 2006)
  2. ^ T.O.P & G-Dragon (ep. 58, January 13, 2007)
  3. ^ Bae Seul-ki (ep. 69, April 7, 2007); Yeeun (ep. 70, April 14, 2007); Ahn So-hee (ep. 70 (April 14, 2007), ep. 73 (May 12, 2007)); Sunmi (ep.70, April 14, 2007); Hyuna (ep.70 (April 14, 2007), ep. 73 (May 12, 2007)); Sunye (ep. 70, April 14, 2007); Younha (ep. 71, April 21, 2007); Ivy (ep. 72, April 28, 2007)
  4. ^ Dana (ep. 82, July 14, 2007); Sunday (ep. 82, July 14, 2007);
  5. ^ G-Dragon (ep. 103 (January 5, 2008), ep. 105 (January 19, 2008), ep. 109-111 (February 23 - March 8, 2008)); Taeyang (ep. 105, January 19, 2008); Daesung (ep. 105, January 19, 2008); Seungri (ep. 105, January 19, 2008); Yubin (ep. 114 (March 29, 2008), ep. 116 (April 12, 2008)); Yeeun (ep. 114 (March 29, 2008), ep. 116 (April 12, 2008)); Sunmi (ep. 114 (March 29, 2008), ep. 116 (April 12, 2008))
  6. ^ Andy (ep. 120, May 24, 2008); all members of SS501 (ep. 122, June 7, 2008); Lee Jaehoon (ep. 132, August 16, 2008); Kim Sungsoo (ep. 132, August 16, 2008); Yunho (ep. 140, November 1, 2008); Max Changmin (ep. 140, November 1, 2008); all members of Girls' Generation (ep. 152, January 31, 2009)
  7. ^ Leeteuk (ep. 165, May 9, 2009); Kangin (ep. 165, May 9, 2009); Jay Park (ep. 165, May 9, 2009); Nichkhun (ep. 165, May 9, 2009); Seohyun (ep. 180 (September 5, 2009), ep. 182 (September 19, 2009), ep. 213 (June 19, 2010)); Sooyoung (ep. 180 (September 5, 2009) ep. 182 (September 19, 2009)); Oh Sang-jin (ep. 181, September 12, 2009);Sunye (ep. 210 May 29, 2010); Yubin (ep. 210, May 29, 2010); Yonghwa (ep. 2010 (May 29, 2010), ep. 213 (June 19, 2010)); Eunhyuk (ep. 211, June 5, 2010); Siwon (ep. 211, June 5, 2010); Krystal (ep. 211, June 5, 2010); Seungyeon (ep. 212, June 12, 2010); Hara (ep. 212, June 12, 2010); Kim Hyun-joong (ep. 212, June 12, 2010);
  8. ^ Krystal Jung (August 7, August 14); Onew (August 7, August 14); Nichkhun (August 14); Suzy (August 14); IU (August 21); Doojoon (August 21); Gikwang (August 21); Jinwoon (August 28); Hyomin (August 28); Jiyeon (August 28); Oh Sang-jin (September 4); Hyuna (September 11, 2010); Hongki (September 11, 2010); Sunhwa (September 11, 2010); Eunhyuk (September 18, 2010); Lizzy (September 18, 2010); Krystal (September 18, 2010); Shin Hyun-joon (September 25, 2010); Jung Joon-ho (September 25, 2010); Oh Sang-jin (October 2, 2010), Son Dam-bi (October 2, 2010); Sandara Park (October 9, 2010), Minzy (October 9, 2010); Key (October 16, 2010), Taemin (October 16, 2010); Min (October 16, 2010); Junho (October 23, 2010); Chansung (October 23, 2010)
  9. ^ Hongki (ep. 293, February 4, 2012); Jaejin (ep. 293, February 4, 2012); Jonghoon (ep. 293, February 4, 2012); Chunji (ep. 294, February 11, 2012); Niel (ep. 294, February 11, 2012); L.Joe (ep. 294, February 11, 2012)
  10. ^ Hyoyeon, Yonghwa (April 7); Eunhyuk, Kyuhyun, Ji-yeon (July 28); Doo-joon, Bora (August 4, 18, 25); Dasom (August 4); Yoseob (August 18, 25); Siwan, Zinger (September 22); Kwanghee, Sunhwa (September 22, 29); Hyoseong (September 29) Hyoseong (October 20); Sunhwa (October 20); Daehyun (November 10); Min (November 10); Suzy (November 10); Sunhwa (November 24);
  11. ^ Haha (June 29); Park Hyung-sik (July 6, August 3, August 10); Yang Yo-seob (August 24);
  12. ^ Goo Hara (August 30); Lee Junho (September 13); SinB (March 21); Kangnam, Bomi, Kyunsung (April 25)
  13. ^ Wendy and Jung Yong-hwa (July 29, ep. 562); N (September 2, ep. 567); Jeong Yeon and Na Yeon (December 16, ep. 571); Seong-jong and Ji Ho a former member of Oh My Girl (January 20, ep. 575); Bobby, B.I, Yeri (February 3, ep. 577)
  14. ^ Onew and Lee Taemin (June 23, ep. 593); Choi Minho and Noh Hong-chul (August 11, ep. 600)
  15. ^ Park Sung-kwang (October 6, 13, ep.605 and 606 ); Juyeon (October 6. ep. 605); Shownu, Minhyuk, Bomin, Donghyun, Hyunjin and Bang Chan from Stray Kids (all for ep. 608, October 27); Chanyeol (November 17, ep. 610); Cha Eun-woo (December 8, ep. 612, December 15, ep. 613) and Kang Seung-yoon (December 22, ep. 614).
  16. ^ CNU (January 19, ep. 618)
  17. ^ Kang Seung-yoon (April 27, ep. 630); Q from The Boyz (May 11, ep. 631); Bae Jin-young (August 10, ep. 643); I.N (September 21, ep. 649, December 28, ep. 661); Inseong (September 28, ep. 650); Yeji from Itzy (October 19, ep. 652); Ren (November 2, ep. 654); Kim Sejeong (November 9, ep. 655) Hyojin (November 16, ep. 656); Park Ji-hoon (December 7, ep. 658); and Kim Jae-hwan (December 21, ep. 660) for 2019. For 2020, this includes Hongjoong from ATEEZ (Feb 01, ep. 665); Jangjun from Golden Child (band) (Feb 08, ep. 666); Hongseok (Feb 15, ep. 667); Chuu (Feb 29, ep. 669)
  18. ^ Kim Hyun-soo (Feb 20, ep. 714); Yeji (Feb 27, ep. 715); Choi Minho (March 6, ep. 716); Kim Se-jeong (March 13, ep. 717); Park Ji-hoon (March 20, ep. 718); Mina (March 27, ep. 719); Joohoney (April 17, ep. 720); Cha Eun-woo (April 24, ep. 721)
  19. ^ Mark Lee (May 29, ep. 726);
  20. ^ Na Jae-min (ep. 751, December 18, 2021); Chani (ep. 754, January 15, 2022); Juyeon (ep. 755, January 22, 2022); Jaejun (ep. 758-759, March 12–19, 2022); Han (ep. 760, March 26, 2022; ep. 783, October 22, 2022); Cha Eun-woo (May 21, ep. 766); Jo Yu-ri (June 4, ep. 767); Kim Jaehwan (June 11, ep. 678, September 17, ep. 779); Dahyun (June 25 - July 2, ep. 769-770, September 17, ep. 779); Kang Seung-yoon (July 9, 771); Yeji (ep. 772-773, July 16-23, 2022; ep. 788, December 3, 2022); Juyeon from The Boyz (August 20, ep. 776); Seungmin from Stray Kids (October 8, ep. 782); Doyoung (November 12, ep. 785); Lia (ep. 788, December 3, 2022) Moonbin & Sanha (ep. 792, January 7, 2023), Joohoney (ep. 793, January 14, 2023); Minhyuk (ep. 793, January 14, 2023)
  21. ^ Johnny from NCT (February 4-11, ep. 795-796; April 8, ep. 803); Park Si-eun (February 18, ep. 797); Hyunjae and Q from The Boyz (February 25, ep. 798); Younghoon and Juyeon from The Boyz (February 25 - March 4, ep. 798-799); Kang Mi-na (March 11, ep. 800); Chani (March 11, ep. 800); Sullyoon (March 25, ep. 802)
  22. ^ Karina (May 13, ep. 808); Lee Min-hyuk (May 13, ep. 808); Changbin (June 24, ep. 814), Yunho (July 01, ep. 815) Jun Hyun-moo (July 22, ep. 818); Haewon (July 22, ep. 818); Ju Haknyeon and Sunwoo of The Boyz (August 19, ep. 822; September 16, ep. 826), and Eric of The Boyz (August 19, ep. 822); Mark Lee (September 2, ep. 824); Eunseok of Riize (September 9, ep. 825; October 28, ep. 830 ), Key (September 23, ep. 827); Seunghee (September 23, ep. 827); Seunghan formerly of Riize (October 28, ep. 830); Bae & Kyujin
  23. ^ Lee Mi-joo (December 9 2023, ep. 839), Park Jin-joo (December 9, ep. 836), Eric (January 13, ep. 838), Dohoon (February 3, ep. 841)

Chart system

[edit]

Music Core brought back the show's chart on April 20, 2013. First-place winners are determined using the ranking system below. The list also shows the current and former scoring computation used. As of June 8, 2013, four nominees had decreased to three nominees. This chart is called M-chart, and tracking from Monday to Monday of the following week.

Period covered Chart system
Broadcast Digital sales Physical album Video views Voting
April 20 – 27, 2013 N/A 30% 10% 15% 45% (20% committee + 25% live-vote)
May 4, 2013 – June 1, 2013 50% 10% 30% (10% committee + 20% live-vote)
June 8, 2013 – June 14, 2014 60% 20% (10% committee + 10% live-vote)
June 21, 2014 – November 14, 2015 50% 30% (15% committee + 15% live-vote)
April 22, 2017 – August 17, 2019 5% (MBC radio) 25% (10% committee + 15% live-vote)
August 24, 2019 – March 14, 2020 60% (50% gaon + 10% Vibe*)
March 21, 2020 – July 18, 2020 35% (10% committee + 10% pre-vote* + 15% live-vote)
July 25, 2020 – September 19, 2020 50%
September 26, 2020 – February 20, 2021 60% (50% gaon + 10% FLO*)
February 27, 2021 – May 8, 2021 10% (MBC TV + Radio) 15% 25% (5% committee + 10% pre-vote + 10% live-vote)
May 8, 2021 – May 29, 2021 50%
June 5, 2021 – October 8, 2022 10% 20% (5% committee + 5% pre-vote + 10% live-vote)
October 22, 2022 – present 60%

Asterisk (*) indicates the criteria that are for first-place nominees only.

Based source and explanations for each criterion, in alphabetical order:[citation needed]

  • Broadcast: MBC radio (April 22, 2017 - now) + TV (February 27, 2021 - now).
  • Digital sales: Numbers of download, streaming based on Gaon digital chart. During the time that Vibe and FLO sponsor Music Core, this also include Vibe and FLO respectively as a separate criterion and that criterion is for first-place nominees only
  • Live-vote: Voting during the show. Currently via text message + Mubeat app (June 5, 2021 - now). Always for 1st place nominees only.
  • Physical sales: Number of copies, based on Gaon album chart
  • Pre-vote: Mubeat app. Before February 27, 2021; this criterion is only for 1st place nominees only. This is held from Tuesday to Thursday (mean 4 days prior to 2 days prior; before February 27, 2021 is Tuesday to Friday, which mean 4 days prior to a day prior).
  • Video views or SNS: YouTube views, only count from official MV.
  • Viewer committee: A survey via official Music Core website, 2000 MBC accounts will be randomly chosen to be part of viewer committee voting. This is held from Wednesday to Thursday.

The Top 50 songs of the week are featured on the show, where the Top 30–11 songs are shown via two marquee (one is for 30-21 and another is for 20-11) in the last of two different stages and the Top 10–4 songs are featured by the hosts. The hosts then showcase the Top three songs and announce who will be the winner of the week. The Number 1 song on the chart is the winner of that week's chart and receives an award. Every songs that have been released no more than two months and not got quintuple crown (i. e: 5 wins in this show) yet are eligible on chart. However, OST, songs released through audition program and deemed unsuitable (at MBC's discretion) is not eligible. For top 50 songs of the week (full chart), it will be posted on music show's official website every Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday of the following week.[citation needed]

From May 20, 2017, to February 20, 2021, the rule was every song that is not released no more than three months is eligible. Before May 20, 2017; every songs, regardless of when it release or number of time get the first place, are eligible.

List of winners

[edit]

2005

[edit]
List of first place winners
Date Artist Song
October 29 Epik High "Fly"
November 5
November 12
November 19 g.o.d. "2 Love"
November 26
December 3
December 10
December 17 Tei "Screaming I Miss You"
December 24 MC the Max "Love is Supposed to Hurt"
December 31

2013

[edit]
List of first place winners
Date Artist Song Points
April 20 Infinite "Man in Love" 7,587
April 27 Psy "Gentleman" 6,847
May 4 Cho Yong-pil "Bounce" 7,698
May 11 Roy Kim "Spring Spring Spring" 8,333
May 18 B1A4 "What's Going On?" 8,479
May 25 Shinhwa "This Love" 7,634
June 1 8,540
June 8 Beast "Will You Be Okay?" 7,348
June 15 Exo "Wolf" 6,392
June 22 Sistar "Give It To Me" 7,717
June 29 8,473
July 6 Roy Kim "Love Love Love" 8,270
July 13 Dynamic Duo "BAAAM" 7,885
July 20 2NE1 "Falling In Love" 7,691
July 27 Infinite "Destiny" 9,770
August 3 Beast "Shadow" 8,368
August 10 Music Core Summer Special – No Chart
August 17 Music Core 2013 Korea Music Festival in Sokcho – No Chart
August 24 Exo "Growl" 8,666
August 31 8,074
September 7 6,925
September 14 Music Core Pre-record Show – No Chart
September 21 Music Core K-POP Festival – No Chart
September 28 Soyou & Mad Clown "Stupid In Love" 6,364
October 5 Busker Busker "Love, at first" 8,219
October 12 7,493
October 19 IU "The Red Shoes" 9,846
October 26 Shinee "Everybody" 9,641
November 2 K.Will "You Don't Know Love" 7,647
November 9 Trouble Maker "Now" 8,450
November 16 Music Core Pre-record Show – No Chart
November 23 Davichi "The Letter" 6,614
November 30 2NE1 "Missing You" 8,454
December 7 Hyolyn "One Way Love" 7,295
December 14 Exo "Miracles in December" 7,458
December 21 9,032
December 28 Music Core Year End Chart Special – No Chart

2014

[edit]
List of first place winners[12]
Date Artist Song Points
January 4 IU "Friday" 7,802
January 11 Girl's Day "Something" 6,748
January 18 TVXQ "Something" 7,753
January 25 B1A4 "Lonely" 7,311
February 1 Music Core Pre-record Show – No Chart
February 8 B1A4 "Lonely" 7,162
February 15 B.A.P "1004 (Angel)" 8,575
February 22 Soyou & Junggigo "Some" 7,158
March 1 7,259
March 8 Music Core 400th Episode Special
TVXQ "Spellbound" 9,050
March 15 Girls' Generation "Mr.Mr." 8,303
March 22 7,537
March 29 No Chart
April 5 Park Hyo-shin "Wild Flower" 7,576
April 12 Apink "Mr. Chu" 9,447
April 19 AKMU "200%" 7,446
April 26 7,965
May 3 8,490
May 10 8,754
May 17 Exo-K "Overdose" 9,257
May 24 7,633
May 31 Fly to the Sky "You You You" 6,784
June 7 Gary & Jungin "Your Scent" 6,201
June 14 Taeyang "Eyes, Nose, Lips" 7,518
June 21 Beast "No More" 8,330
June 28 "Good Luck" 10,000
July 5 7,777
July 12 7,274
July 19 f(x) "Red Light" 9,074
July 26 Girl's Day "Darling" 7,344
August 2 Infinite "Back" 7,154
August 9 Sistar "Touch My Body" 9,151
August 16 8,360
August 23 Block B "H.E.R" 8,239
August 30 Taemin "Danger" 7,368
September 6 Sistar "I Swear" 6,532
September 13 Super Junior "Mamacita" 6,993
September 20 6,035
September 27 No Chart
October 4
October 11 Girls' Generation-TTS "Holler" 8,220
October 18 Roy Kim "Home" 8,527
October 25 No Chart
November 1 Beast "12:30" 9,197
November 8 8,555
November 15 MC Mong "Miss Me Or Diss Me" 7,353
November 22 Kyuhyun "At Gwanghwamun" 7,455
November 29 Toy "Three of Us" 6,832
December 6 Apink "Luv" 9,237
December 13 7,822
December 20 7,185
December 27 No Chart

2015 – present

[edit]

Achievements by artists

[edit]
List of most No. 1 winners
Rank Artist Count
1st BTS 43
2nd IU 24
3rd Exo 22
4th Wanna One 12
(G)I-dle
Red Velvet
Ive
8th Twice 11
Beast/Highlight
Blackpink
11th Apink 10
Taeyeon
13th Lim Young-woong 9
NewJeans
15th BigBang 8
NCT 127
List of longest consecutive No. 1 songs
Rank Artist Song Count Year
1st BTS "Dynamite" 10 times 2020
2nd "Boy With Luv" 9 times 2019
3rd "Life Goes On" 6 times 2020 – 2021
4th Apink "Luv" 5 times 2014 – 2015
BTS "On" 2020
"Butter" 2021
IU "Strawberry Moon"
(G)I-dle "Queencard" 2023
9th g.o.d "2 Love" 4 times 2005
AKMU "200%" 2014
Exo "Call Me Baby" 2015
Wanna One "Beautiful" 2017
Blackpink "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" 2018
Zico "Any Song" 2020
Ive "Eleven" 2021 – 2022
Taeyeon "INVU" 2022
Ive "After Like"
NewJeans "Ditto" 2023
Jungkook "Seven"
20th Epik High "Fly" 3 times 2005
Exo "Growl" 2013
Beast "Good Luck" 2014
Exo "Love Me Right" 2015
CNCO "Reggaetón Lento (Bailemos)" 2016
Elenco de Soy Luna (Karol Sevilla, Ruggero Pasquarelli, Michael Ronda, Valentina Zenere, Carolina Kopelioff, Agustín Bernasconi, Gastón Vietto, Katja Martínez, Malena Ratner, Jorge López, Ana Jara, Lionel Ferro & Chiara Parravicini) "Alas (Radio Disney Vivo)"
Wanna One "Energetic" 2017
iKon "Love Scenario" 2018
BTS "Fake Love"
Twice "Dance the Night Away"
IU "Bbibbi"
Itzy "Icy" 2019
Red Velvet "Psycho" 2020
Blackpink "How You Like That"
Red Velvet "Queendom" 2021
BigBang "Still Life" 2022
Le Sserafim "Antifragile"
(G)I-dle "Queencard" 2023
Taeyeon "To. X" 2024
IU "Love Wins All"
Illit "Magnetic"
NewJeans "How Sweet"
Lee Young-ji "Small Girl"
Day6 "Melt Down"
Rosé and Bruno Mars "APT."
G-Dragon "Home Sweet Home" 2024-2025
Ive "Rebel Heart" 2025
G-Dragon "Too Bad"
Blackpink "Jump"
Aespa "Rich Man"
Nmixx "Blue Valentine"
BTS "Swim" 2026
Top 10 Highest Scores (1st – 3rd system)
Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st IU "The Red Shoes" 9,846 October 19, 2013
2nd Infinite "Destiny" 9,770 July 23, 2013
3rd Shinee "Everybody" 9,641 October 26, 2013
4th Apink "Mr. Chu" 9,447 April 12, 2014
5th Exo-K "Overdose" 9,257 May 17, 2014
6th Exo "Miracles in December" 9,032 December 21, 2013
7th "Growl" 8,666 August 24, 2013
8th Shinhwa "This Love" 8,540 June 1, 2013
9th B1A4 "What's Going On?" 8,479 May 18, 2013
10th Sistar "Give It To Me" 8,473 June 29, 2013
Top 10 Highest Scores (4th system)
Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st Beast "Good Luck" 10,000 June 28, 2014
2nd Girls' Generation "Lion Heart" 9,699 September 19, 2015
3rd Exo "Love Me Right" 9,666 June 13, 2015
4th Girls' Generation "Party" 9,660 July 18, 2015
5th Exo "Love Me Right" 9,562 June 20, 2015
6th BigBang "Let's Not Fall in Love" 9,472 August 22, 2015
7th Shinee "View" 9,251 June 6, 2015
8th Apink "Luv" 9,237 December 6, 2014
9th Beast "12:30" 9,197 November 1, 2014
10th VIXX "Love Equation" 9,094 March 7, 2015
Top 10 Highest Scores (5th system)
Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st BTS "Fake Love" 10,000 June 2, 2018
"Boy with Luv" April 27, 2019
2nd Twice "Heart Shaker" 9,929 December 23, 2017
3rd "Dance the Night Away" 9,792 July 21, 2018
4th Wanna One "Energetic" 9,703 August 19, 2017
5th Red Velvet "Red Flavor" 9,427 July 22, 2017
6th "Power Up" 9,387 August 18, 2018
7th Exo "Ko Ko Bop" 9,316 August 5, 2017
8th Wanna One "Boomerang" 9,289 March 31, 2018
9th Exo "Ko Ko Bop" 9,266 August 12, 2017
10th Winner "Everyday" 9,112 April 14, 2018
Top 10 Highest Scores (6th system)
Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st Red Velvet "Psycho" 10,895 January 4, 2020
2nd BTS "On" 10,518 March 7, 2020
3rd Taeyeon "Spark" 9,740 November 9, 2019
4th Red Velvet "Psycho" 9,398 January 11, 2020
5th IU "Love Poem" 8,830 November 16, 2019
6th AKMU "How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love" 8,390 October 26, 2019
7th BTS "On" 8,288 February 29, 2020
8th Zico "Any Song" 8,267 February 1, 2020
9th Exo "Obsession" 8,194 December 7, 2019
10th Red Velvet "Psycho" 8,047 January 18, 2020
Top 10 Highest Scores (7th – 9th system)
Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st BTS "Life Goes On" 11,881 December 5, 2020
2nd 10,981 December 12, 2020
3rd Twice "More & More" 10,871 June 13, 2020
4th Apink "Dumhdurum" 10,780 April 25, 2020
5th BTS "Life Goes On" 10,656 November 28, 2020
6th "Dynamite" 10,602 September 26, 2020
7th Blackpink "How You Like That" 10,464 July 11, 2020
8th BTS "Dynamite" 10,319 October 10, 2020
9th IU "Celebrity" 10,204 February 6, 2021
10th Apink "Dumhdurum" 10,147 May 2, 2020
Top 10 Highest Scores (10th – 11th system)
Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st Kang Daniel "Antidote" 10,702 April 24, 2021
2nd "Paranoia" 10,323 February 27, 2021
3rd NCT Dream "Hot Sauce" 10,000 May 22, 2021
4th Shinee "Don't Call Me" 9,546 March 6, 2021
5th NU'EST "Inside Out" 8,800 May 1, 2021
6th Rosé "On the Ground" 8,394 March 27, 2021
7th BTS "Butter" 8,344 May 29, 2021
8th Lim Young-woong "My Starry Love" 8,292 March 20, 2021
9th Highlight "Not The End" 7,504 May 15, 2021
10th IU "Lilac" 6,949 May 8, 2021
Top 10 Highest Scores (12th system)
Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st NCT Dream "Beatbox" 9,800 June 11, 2022
2nd Ive "I Am" 9,668 April 22, 2023
3rd Plave "Dash" 9,571 February 15, 2025
4th NCT Dream "ISTJ" 9,420 July 29, 2023
5th The Boyz "Roar" 9,401 March 4, 2023
6th NCT Dream "Glitch Mode" 9,300 April 9, 2022
7th Seventeen "Maestro" 9,278 May 11, 2024
8th Shinee "Hard" 9,196 July 8, 2023
9th Ive "After Like" 9,191 September 3, 2022
10th Aespa "Savage" 9,099 October 16, 2021
Top 10 Highest Scores (all time)
Rank Artist Song Score Date
1st BTS "Life Goes On" 11,881 December 5, 2020
2nd 10,981 December 12, 2020
3rd Red Velvet "Psycho" 10,895 January 4, 2020
4th Twice "More & More" 10,871 June 13, 2020
5th Apink "Dumhdurum" 10,780 April 25, 2020
6th Kang Daniel "Antidote" 10,702 April 24, 2021
7th BTS "Life Goes On" 10,656 November 28, 2020
8th "Dynamite" 10,602 September 26, 2020
9th "On" 10,518 March 7, 2020
10th Blackpink "How You Like That" 10,464 July 11, 2020

Quintuple Crown

[edit]

Starting from February 27, 2021, Show! Music Core implemented the Quintuple Crown, which is a song that has received first place five times. After that, the song is removed from the chart and ineligible to win again.[13]

List of Quintuple Crowns
Artist Song Wins
2021
BTS "Butter" May 29, June 5, June 12, June 19, June 26
IU "Strawberry Moon" October 30, November 20, November 27, December 4, December 11
2023
(G)I-dle "Queencard" May 27, June 3, June 10, June 24, July 1

Triple Crown

[edit]

Starting from April 13, 2024, Show! Music Core implemented the Triple Crown, which is a song that has received first place three times. After that, the song is removed from the chart and ineligible to win again.[14]

List of Triple Crowns
Artist Song Wins Ref.
2024
Illit "Magnetic" April 13, April 20, April 27 [15]
NewJeans "How Sweet" June 8, June 15, June 22 [16]
Lee Young-ji "Small Girl" July 6, July 13, July 20 [17]
Day6 "Melt Down" September 14, September 21, September 28 [18]
Rosé & Bruno Mars "Apt." November 2, November 9, November 16 [19][20]
2025
G-Dragon "Home Sweet Home" December 21, January 11, January 18 [21][22]
Ive "Rebel Heart" January 25, February 8, February 22 [23][24]
G-Dragon "Too Bad" March 8, March 15, March 29 [25]
Blackpink "Jump" August 2, August 16, August 23 [26]
Aespa "Rich Man" September 20, September 27, October 4 [27]
Nmixx "Blue Valentine" October 25, November 15, November 22 [28]
2026
BTS "Swim" April 4, April 11, April 18 [29]
Cortis "RedRed" May 16, May 23, May 30 [30]
I.O.I "Suddenly" June 13, June 27, July 4 [31]

Controversy

[edit]

On 20 April 2013, MBC introduced a brand new ranking system for Show! Music Core, and as such had nominated INFINITE, K.Will, Davichi, and Lee Hi for the first place award. Singer K.Will was mistakenly announced as the winner. He looked confused, and was about to say thanks when the Show! Music Core staff quickly informed everyone on stage that there had been a mistake and that INFINITE was the actual winner. K.Will laughed it off and said: "It's okay, I'm okay." He shouted, "I love INFINITE!" The INFINITE members looked unsure about accepting the trophy.[citation needed]

Afterwards, the staff of the show was highly criticized by viewers. The staff made a statement on their official board and said,

This is the 'Show! Music Core' staff. There was a mistake in announcing the 1st-place winner on the 20 April broadcast. This was a mistake because the text votes were mixed up for the two 1st place nominees. The two team's scores are 100% fair results. The text votes accumulation company has promised to work harder to keep this from happening again. Please excuse us for not running a smooth live broadcast. Thank you.[32]

Notes

[edit]

Similar programs

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Show! Music Core

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from Grokipedia
Show! Music Core is a South Korean music television program produced and broadcast by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), featuring live performances by prominent K-pop artists and culminating in a weekly chart competition to determine the top song.[1] The show airs live every Saturday at 3:15 p.m. KST from the MBC Dream Center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, providing a key platform for music releases, comebacks, and fan engagement within the K-pop industry.[2][3] Premiering on October 29, 2005, as MBC's flagship music program, Show! Music Core replaced the earlier Live Music Camp and has since become one of South Korea's major weekly music shows, alongside programs like Music Bank and Inkigayo.[4] Its format emphasizes high-energy live stages, artist interviews, and special segments, with winners selected based on a scoring system that includes 50% digital sales (via Circle Chart), 10% album sales, 10% social media metrics (YouTube views), 10% broadcast scores from MBC, and 20% viewer votes, including pre-voting and live voting via the Mubeat app and a viewer committee.[5] Over the years, the program has evolved, incorporating outdoor special stages at unique venues such as helipads and waterparks to create memorable performances by acts like BTS, Girls' Generation, and SHINee.[6] Since March 1, 2025, the show is hosted by ZEROBASEONE's Kim Gyu-vin, TWS's Dohoon, and Hearts2Hearts' A-Na, continuing a tradition of rotating idol MCs to appeal to younger audiences and reflect current K-pop trends.[7] Show! Music Core plays a pivotal role in the K-pop ecosystem by influencing chart rankings, boosting promotions, and fostering global fandoms through its broadcasts and international events, such as the 2025 Japan edition at Belluna Dome and the upcoming 2026 edition in Macau on February 7 and 8, featuring artists including Alpha Drive One, ENHYPEN, KickFlip, LE SSERAFIM, WayV, BOYNEXTDOOR, Hearts2Hearts, izna, MARK, TEN, and ZEROBASEONE, with MCs TWS Dohoon, Hearts2Hearts A_na, ZEROBASEONE Kim Gyuvin, and Zhang Hao.[8][9]

History

Launch and Early Development

Show! Music Core emerged as the successor to MBC's long-running music program Live Music Camp, which had aired since April 25, 1998, and served as a key platform for live K-pop performances and artist interactions. The predecessor was abruptly cancelled on July 30, 2005, following a live broadcast accident during an indie rock band's performance segment, where two male audience members exposed their genitalia on camera for approximately five seconds, sparking widespread controversy and prompting an emergency MBC committee meeting that led to the show's termination.[10] This incident, involving charges of public indecency against the individuals, highlighted vulnerabilities in live broadcasting protocols and necessitated a revamped format to restore public trust in MBC's music programming.[10] To revitalize its music show lineup, MBC premiered Show! Music Core on October 29, 2005, positioning it as a fresh Saturday afternoon staple focused on showcasing contemporary K-pop talent.[11] The initial episodes featured a 80-minute live broadcast originating from MBC's Yeouido headquarters in Seoul, emphasizing high-energy stage performances by emerging artists, with a competitive chart system that was discontinued by early 2006 to prioritize entertainment value.[12] This shift aimed to differentiate it from prior formats while maintaining the live excitement that defined MBC's music heritage. In its foundational years through the late 2000s, the program contributed significantly to the visibility of second-generation K-pop idols, providing a national stage for groups like Super Junior and Girls' Generation amid the genre's expansion from the early 2000s.[13] By offering consistent exposure on terrestrial television, Show! Music Core helped solidify K-pop's domestic momentum during a period when idol acts were transitioning toward more synchronized choreography and global aspirations, though specific early viewership figures remain undocumented in public records.[14]

Format Changes and Chart Evolutions

Upon its launch in late 2005, Show! Music Core initially featured a competitive chart system similar to other Korean music programs of the era. However, on January 7, 2006, the chart was removed, shifting the format to a non-competitive showcase that emphasized live performances across various genres without weekly winners or rankings. This change aimed to reduce pressure on artists and focus on musical diversity, and the program continued in this manner for over seven years.[12] In response to ongoing viewer interest in competitive elements, the chart system was reinstated on April 20, 2013, marking the return of a ranking segment with the first winner announced that day. The revival was part of broader efforts to align the show with evolving audience expectations for music programs. However, criticisms of the system's fairness, including allegations of chart manipulation (sajaegi) involving artists like iKON, led to its removal once again. On November 21, 2015, MBC announced the abolition of the ranking system effective with episode 480, citing the widespread availability of real-time digital charts and a desire to prioritize performance variety over competition.[15][16][12] The non-competitive format persisted until April 22, 2017, when the chart returned with revised criteria designed for greater objectivity. The updated system incorporated combined digital and album scores (60%), video views (10%), viewer pre-votes (10%), and broadcast scores (20%).[17] This iteration has remained in place, with periodic refinements to adapt to changes in music consumption trends. In April 2024, the rules were updated to limit songs to a maximum of 3 wins within their first 2 months of release (previously 5) and adjust the eligibility period to 2 months.[17] In October 2023, MBC expanded the program's accessibility by introducing official global live streaming, enabling international audiences to view episodes in real time via platforms like YouTube and streaming services. Regarding structural adjustments, the show's runtime has been streamlined to approximately 80 minutes in recent years to accommodate broadcasting schedules, while maintaining consistency at the MBC Dream Center in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, as its primary venue since 2007. This venue has supported stable live productions without major relocations.[18]

Program Format

Weekly Structure and Segments

Show! Music Core episodes typically run for 90 minutes and are broadcast live every Saturday at 3:15 PM KST from the MBC Dream Center in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, blending pre-recorded video elements with live performances to showcase a variety of K-pop artists.[19][20] The program begins with an opening VCR, a short video montage introducing the week's theme or highlighted performers, setting an energetic tone for the episode.[21] Following the opening, the hosts provide artist introductions before transitioning into the core live stages, where scheduled performers deliver their latest tracks, often featuring special collaborations between artists to create unique musical moments.[22] These performances are the centerpiece of the show, emphasizing high-energy choreography and live vocals in a studio setting optimized for visual spectacle. Encore stages are reserved for the previous week's winner, allowing them a celebratory repeat performance without backing tracks to highlight their live abilities.[23] The episode concludes with closing ments, where hosts and artists share brief messages or thanks to fans, fostering a sense of community before the credits roll.[24] Production incorporates advanced stage setups at the MBC Dream Center, including dynamic lighting and occasional augmented reality effects in recent performances to enhance visual immersion.[20] Dedicated segments for rookie showcases introduce emerging talents, while theme weeks focus on specific genres or concepts to diversify the content.[21] Since 2023, the show has expanded global accessibility through live streaming on platforms like YouTube, enabling international fans to participate in real-time chats and interactions during broadcasts.[25] This evolution builds on earlier format adjustments, such as streamlined performance lineups, to better engage a worldwide audience while maintaining the program's live energy.[26]

Chart System and Ranking Criteria

The M Chart, the core ranking system of Show! Music Core, evaluates new songs released within the past two months to determine weekly performers and the ultimate winner, emphasizing a balanced mix of objective metrics and fan engagement.[5] Since its reinstatement on April 22, 2017, the criteria have prioritized digital performance while incorporating physical sales and audience input, evolving from earlier iterations that heavily favored album sales before 2015.[27] The current formula, stable since major adjustments in 2021, allocates 50% to digital scores from platforms like Melon and Genie via Circle Chart data, 10% to physical album sales also from Circle Chart, 10% to YouTube video views, 10% to MBC broadcast airplay (TV and radio), 10% to pre-voting (viewer committee and global app votes via Mubeat), and 10% to live voting (app and SMS during the show).[5][28] The ranking process begins with a tracking period from Monday noon of the prior week to Monday 11:59 a.m. of the broadcast week, during which eligible songs accumulate preliminary scores from the first 80% of components (digital, album, video, broadcast, and pre-voting).[27] The top 50 songs overall qualify for consideration, with the top 20 selected to perform live on the Saturday broadcast; from these, the top three candidates advance based on their preliminary totals.[5] The final winner is decided by adding the live voting score (10% weight) to each candidate's preliminary score, with the result announced at the episode's close during the encore stage.[5] This structure ensures the outcome reflects both pre-show momentum and real-time fan support, with only songs yet to reach three consecutive wins eligible to prevent dominance. As of April 13, 2024, the limit is three consecutive wins (triple crown).[27] Historically, the 2017 revival integrated post-2013 digital elements more fully, shifting from the pre-2015 era's album-centric approach (up to 60% weight) and the chartless period from late 2015 to early 2017, when performances were selected via producer discretion. In April 2024, the wins limit was further adjusted to three consecutive wins to balance competition.[27] Key tweaks included increasing broadcast weight to 10% in 2021 and splitting voting into app-based global options, reflecting growing international fandom.[27] To maintain fairness, MBC discloses detailed score breakdowns post-episode on its program site, combining categories like "music + album" and "video + broadcast" for clarity, while sourcing data from audited providers such as Circle Chart (formerly Gaon Chart) to verify sales and streams.[5] Viewer committee pre-votes involve recruited panels of about 2,000 fans renewed every five weeks, with results published to enhance trust.[27]

Hosts

Current and Recent Hosts

As of November 2025, the current hosts of Show! Music Core are A-Na from Hearts2Hearts, Kim Gyu-vin (Gyuvin) from ZEROBASEONE, and Dohoon from TWS, who began their tenure on March 1, 2025.[7][29] This lineup replaced the previous hosts—NMIXX's Sullyoon, THE BOYZ's Younghoon, and actor Lee Jung-ha—whose final episode aired on February 15, 2025, after approximately 15 months in the role.[30][31] The 2025 transition followed a significant change in late 2023, when NCT's Jungwoo and Stray Kids' Lee Know stepped down on November 4, 2023, after over two years as co-hosts since August 2021.[29] They were succeeded by Younghoon and Lee Jung-ha starting November 11, 2023, joining Sullyoon who had debuted as a solo female host earlier that year on April 15.[30][32] These updates reflect MBC's strategy of rotating idol and actor hosts to maintain fresh dynamics on the live broadcast. The MCs of Show! Music Core primarily manage the program's flow by introducing performing artists, facilitating short backstage interviews, interacting with on-site fans through segments like cheers and games, and revealing the weekly chart winner.[33] The selection of rising idols like A-Na, Gyuvin, and Dohoon underscores the emphasis on relatable, youthful personalities to connect with the show's core audience of K-pop enthusiasts, enhancing the program's energetic and fan-focused atmosphere.[34] The 2023 and 2025 host changes generated notable social media buzz, with announcements trending on platforms like X and Instagram, though reactions were mixed—praise for the fresh idol energy contrasted with criticism over A-Na's pre-debut selection in 2025.[35][36] Specific viewership data post-changes remains limited, but the rotations have sustained the show's relevance amid evolving K-pop promotions.[7]

Past Hosts and Hosting Milestones

Show! Music Core's hosting began with actor Shin Dong-wook and actress Hong Soo-ah as the inaugural MCs, leading the program from its debut on October 29, 2005, until April 29, 2006, establishing a professional actor duo format for the early episodes.[37] In 2006, the show transitioned to idol personalities, with singer Brian and SS501's Kim Hyun-joong co-hosting from November 11, 2006, to March 31, 2007, marking one of the first male idol duos and setting a precedent for celebrity rotations drawn from the K-pop industry.[37] The program continued to feature notable long-term hosts and frequent changes, reflecting the evolving landscape of K-pop idols. SHINee's Minho served as an MC from April 2013 to November 2015, one of the longest individual tenures during this period, often praised for embodying the show's vibrant energy alongside co-hosts like Noh Hong-chul and actress Kim So-hyun.[38] Various idol rotations became a hallmark, including Girls' Generation members Tiffany and Yuri, who hosted as the first all-female idol duo from April 2009 to July 2010 and again from October 2011 to January 2012, bringing fresh appeal through their group's popularity.[39] Boy group representatives also played key roles, such as Big Bang's Daesung and Seungri paired with Wonder Girls' Solbi from May 2008 to March 2009, and later SF9's Chani from February 2019 to July 2021, contributing to the show's dynamic presentation.[39] Key milestones in hosting included the introduction of the first all-female idol duo in 2009 with Tiffany and Yuri, which highlighted the growing influence of girl groups in media roles.[39] By 2015, the show achieved another shift with the first all-actor duo of Kim Saeron and Kim Min-jung from November 2015 to September 2016, blending youthful acting talent with music show duties.[39] A notable evolution occurred in 2016 with the move toward group MC lineups, starting with trios like ASTRO's Cha Eun-woo, PRISTIN's Siyeon, and others from April 2017 to January 2018, followed by three-member teams such as gugudan’s Kang Mina, NCT's Mark, and Wanna One's Ong Seong-wu from February to September 2018, allowing for more interactive segments.[39] Most hosting stints followed patterns of 1-2 year tenures, enabling regular refreshes while maintaining continuity through familiar idol faces. Guest host traditions emerged prominently during the 2010s to cover absences or special episodes, often featuring rising idols for added excitement and cross-promotion. For instance, Girls' Generation's Seohyun and CNBLUE's Jung Yong-hwa served as guest MCs on June 19, 2010, injecting fresh chemistry into the broadcast.[40] Other examples include collaboration stages where regular hosts performed with guests, such as SHINee's Minho and Kim So-hyun covering a 1990s hit in a retro style, or ASTRO's Cha Eun-woo welcoming PRISTIN's Siyeon with a duet on "Girlfriend" in 2017, enhancing viewer engagement through these temporary pairings.[41] These practices underscored the show's adaptability, bridging regular rotations with special appearances up to 2022.

Winners and Achievements

Overview of Winners by Era

The chart system for Show! Music Core operated briefly from the program's launch in October 2005 until its suspension on January 7, 2006, emphasizing album sales and broadcast metrics in determining winners. During this short initial era, second-generation acts like TVXQ achieved notable victories, including a win for "Rising Sun" on October 29, 2005. The suspension shifted the show toward performance-focused content without weekly rankings for over seven years. The chart was reinstated on April 20, 2013, marking a return to competitive awards with a balanced formula incorporating digital downloads, album sales, and viewer votes, and INFINITE claimed the first victory with "Man in Love" amid an on-air announcement mix-up with K.Will.[42] From 2013 to 2015, rising boy groups dominated the rankings, exemplified by INFINITE's multiple wins and EXO's successes with "Growl," which secured its third trophy on September 7, 2013.[43] This period highlighted the growing influence of digital performance data before the chart was discontinued again on November 21, 2015, to prioritize diverse music presentations.[44] The current chart era began with its reintroduction on April 22, 2017, starting with WINNER's win for "Really Really."[45] Since then, global sensations like BTS and BLACKPINK have frequently topped the charts, reflecting an evolution toward digital-heavy criteria that now allocate roughly 60% of scoring to streaming, downloads, and social metrics.[26] Recent highlights include BLACKPINK's Rosé and Bruno Mars earning their eighth music show win for "APT." on November 16, 2024, and as of November 2025, NMIXX's "Blue Valentine" securing a win on November 15.[46][47] This ongoing period has seen over 400 wins awarded, underscoring the show's adaptation to streaming-dominated K-pop landscapes.

Notable Artist Achievements

IVE has emerged as one of the leading girl groups in terms of wins on Show! Music Core, accumulating over 15 trophies by late 2025, highlighted by their pre-release single "REBEL HEART" which secured its 11th music show win—and a triple crown—on the February 22, 2025 episode with 5,937 points.[48] Earlier that year, the same song earned additional victories on the show, including a third win on January 25 with 8,341 points and an eighth overall music show trophy on February 8 with 7,347 points.[49][50] IVE amassed over 20 music show trophies in 2025 alone.[51] BTS holds the record for multiple songs achieving 10 or more wins on the program, such as "Dynamite" which garnered 10 victories in 2020, contributing to the group's dominance in longevity and total accolades.[52] Among the highest scores recorded on Show! Music Core, NewJeans' "Ditto" achieved a high score during its January 14, 2023 win, reflecting strong fan support and digital performance.[53] Other standout scores include IVE's "I Am" with 9,668 points on April 22, 2023, and NCT Dream's "Beatbox" at 9,800 points on June 11, 2022, both exemplifying peak chart performance under the program's scoring system. These high marks underscore the competitive nature of the chart, where digital metrics, viewer votes, and broadcast factors combine to determine outcomes. Unique feats on Show! Music Core include the introduction of the quintuple crown in 2021, first awarded to BTS for "Butter" and IU for "Strawberry Moon," each earning five wins on the show that year, marking a milestone for sustained dominance. Aespa later achieved a quintuple crown with "Savage" in 2021, securing eight total music show wins including multiple on Music Core, while "Next Level" followed with five wins in 2022. Most consecutive wins records are held by BTS' "Boy With Luv," which claimed seven straight victories on the program in 2019, totaling 17 music show trophies overall.[54] Apink's "LUV" set an earlier benchmark with five consecutive wins in 2015.[55] Rookie breakthroughs have been prominent, with 2025 newcomers like KiiiKiii earning their first win on the show for "I DO ME" on April 5, defeating established acts like Jennie and LE SSERAFIM, signaling rapid impact in a competitive field.[56] ZEROBASEONE also claimed their first Show! Music Core victory with "ICONIK" on September 14, 2025, achieving a grand slam with six consecutive music show wins overall from their debut album.[57][58] TWS marked a rookie milestone by securing an early win on the May 3, 2025 episode for "Countdown!," becoming the first fifth-generation group to achieve a grand slam that week.[59] In comparing group and solo achievements up to 2025, boy groups like BTS lead with over 160 total music show trophies across programs, including 40 on Music Core, while solo artists like IU follow with a significant number of wins on the show, such as three consecutive weeks for "Love wins all" in 2024. Girl groups such as TWICE (122 total wins) and IVE (74 by October 2025) demonstrate group strength in longevity, contrasting solos' focused promotional runs, though outliers like G-Dragon's "TOO BAD" notched 10 wins in 2025 alone.[60][61]

Crown Systems

The Crown Systems on Show! Music Core celebrate songs that achieve multiple wins on the program, serving as prestigious milestones for artists during their promotional cycles. The Quintuple Crown is awarded to tracks that secure five wins for the same song, typically requiring consecutive victories to demonstrate sustained dominance on the chart. Upon earning this honor, artists receive special recognition, including an encore performance at the end of the broadcast to highlight their accomplishment.[62] Early recipients of the Quintuple Crown include aespa's "Savage," which claimed its fifth win on the October 23, 2021 episode after consecutive chart-topping performances.[62] Similarly, (G)I-DLE's "Queencard" reached the milestone on July 1, 2023, marking its fourth win on Music Core and underscoring the song's viral appeal. These achievements not only cap a successful run but also extend eligibility limits, as songs attaining the Quintuple Crown become ineligible for further wins on the show. In 2024, Show! Music Core introduced the Triple Crown for songs achieving three wins, starting April 13, further incentivizing consistent performance while allowing continued competition beyond this threshold. NewJeans' "How Sweet" earned its third win on June 8, 2024, qualifying under the new framework and later surpassing it with a fifth victory on June 22.[63][64] LE SSERAFIM's "CRAZY" also attained the Triple Crown in September 2024, reflecting the system's role in acknowledging mid-promotion breakthroughs. These crown systems hold substantial cultural weight in K-pop fandoms, where they spark widespread celebrations, fan campaigns, and social media trends that amplify an artist's visibility and solidify a song's legacy as a hit.[64] By 2025, over a dozen Quintuple Crowns have been awarded, emphasizing the program's emphasis on longevity amid intense weekly competition.

Controversies and Criticisms

Major Incidents

One of the foundational incidents influencing the program's cautious launch occurred on July 30, 2005, during its predecessor, MBC's Live Music Camp. In the segment "Is this song good?", performers from indie bands Couch and Spiky Bratz exposed genitalia on stage for 6-7 seconds, resulting in immediate chaos as MCs Mong and Shin Ji apologized on air while police intervened and detained the involved members.[65] The scandal led to the cancellation of Live Music Camp, bans on the bands from major broadcasters, and penalties for the production team, including short prison terms for the offenders.[65] This event prompted MBC to adopt enhanced safety measures for Show! Music Core, which debuted on October 29, 2005, including mandatory 5-10 second broadcast delays and additional safety screens to mitigate live mishaps.[65] The incident severely damaged the reputation of Hongdae indie bands, stalling their mainstream integration for over a decade.[65] A prominent execution error took place on April 20, 2013, the first episode featuring the revived chart system after a seven-year absence, when K.Will was mistakenly declared the winner for "Love Blossom" instead of INFINITE for "Man in Love," due to a technical glitch in the on-screen graphics and announcement.[42] K.Will appeared visibly confused during the ceremony, and the blunder, the first winner announcement mistake in seven years, sparked widespread viewer complaints.[66] On the April 27, 2013, episode, hosts issued an on-air apology, detailed the cause as a display error, and conducted a re-announcement, retracting the trophy from K.Will—who had graciously accepted the initial mistake—and presenting it to INFINITE.[67] This correction underscored vulnerabilities in the newly implemented chart system, particularly regarding real-time score verification and graphic synchronization.[67]

Debates on Fairness and Influence

Accusations of favoritism toward major entertainment agencies have been a recurring criticism of Show! Music Core's charting and promotional processes. Fans and observers have argued that vote weighting in the program's scoring system disproportionately benefits artists from large agencies, allowing them greater access to prime stage slots and higher visibility, which in turn boosts their win chances. These claims often highlight how smaller or independent agencies face barriers, with examples including delayed promotions or reduced airtime for non-major label acts despite comparable digital performance. A notable example is the discord between MBC and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) from 2019 to 2023, which restricted appearances by HYBE artists on Show! Music Core. The conflict began with disputes over the 2018 MBC Gayo Daejejeon, leading to cancellations such as TXT's October 2019 comeback episode and GFRIEND's November 2020 appearance. In June 2020, SEVENTEEN, following their merger with HYBE's Pledis Entertainment, also opted out of promoting on the show amid the tensions. The issue was resolved in October 2023 when MBC's CEO apologized to HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk, allowing ENHYPEN to return on November 18, 2023, and HYBE artists to participate in the 2023 MBC Song Festival.[68][69][70] Fan debates on the fairness of digital versus physical sales criteria intensified following updates to the program's scoring system post-2017, when digital metrics gained heavier emphasis amid the rise of streaming platforms. Critics contend that the 50% weight given to digital sales—primarily drawn from platforms like Melon and Genie—favors artists with strong online mobilization capabilities, often from well-resourced agencies, while the mere 10% allocated to physical album sales disadvantages groups relying on international fanbases who purchase overseas. This imbalance, fans argue, undermines merit-based wins and perpetuates inequality, as physical sales reflect dedicated support but hold minimal sway in outcomes.[71][72] The program's influence extends to broader K-pop charting landscapes, with wins on Show! Music Core showing strong correlation to rankings on Gaon (now Circle Chart) and Melon, as digital scores directly incorporate data from these sources. A first-place win often signals momentum for year-end awards, serving as a predictor for nominations at events like the Melon Music Awards, where similar digital-heavy criteria apply; for instance, songs securing multiple Music Core crowns in 2024 frequently topped weekly Gaon digital charts, amplifying artists' visibility and sales trajectories.[71][72] In response to these debates, MBC has made adjustments to enhance transparency and fan involvement, notably increasing the viewer voting component to 20% in 2024—combining pre-voting via the Mubeat app (5%) and live voting (15%)—to better reflect global audience input and counter perceptions of agency bias. These changes aim to balance objective metrics like digital sales with subjective fan engagement, though critics note that core digital weighting remains dominant.[71][73]

Reception and Cultural Impact

Viewership and Audience Engagement

Show! Music Core has experienced varying levels of viewership since its inception, with notable peaks during the 2010s driven by the global rise of K-pop. Episodes in this era often achieved ratings between 9% and 15%, exemplified by the 200th anniversary special in February 2010, which recorded a nationwide rating of 9.7% according to AGB Nielsen Media Research.[74] This surge was fueled by the expanding popularity of K-pop idols and high-profile performances, contributing to broader cultural momentum in South Korea's music industry.[75] By the late 2010s and into the 2020s, viewership began to decline amid shifts toward digital streaming platforms, though occasional revivals occurred tied to major chart-topping releases and special events. For instance, the July 2020 episode featuring the debut of the supergroup SSAK3 marked a high point with a 2.1% rating, the highest for any music program that year per Nielsen Korea.[76] In contrast, typical episodes hovered around 0.8% in 2020.[77] As of 2025, ratings have stabilized at low single digits, with the September episode reaching 0.9%—the year's peak—reflecting sustained but modest domestic interest amid evolving consumption habits.[78] The program's core audience in South Korea consists primarily of individuals aged 10 to 30, with a significant female skew, aligning with broader K-pop fandom demographics where younger viewers dominate engagement.[79] This group represents the bulk of active participants in fan activities, drawn by the show's live performances and artist interactions. Audience engagement extends beyond television through robust fan participation in voting systems and social media. The viewer committee, comprising up to 2,000 members recruited periodically, influences chart outcomes via online votes, fostering direct involvement. Social media trends amplify this, with hashtags like #MusicCore and artist-specific tags generating widespread discussion on platforms such as Twitter and Instagram during broadcasts. Live attendance at the MBC Dream Center in Goyang accommodates hundreds of fans per taping, creating an intimate atmosphere that enhances community bonds despite some pre-recorded segments. These elements have helped maintain loyalty even as traditional ratings fluctuate, tying engagement to the enduring appeal of K-pop chart dynamics.

International Reach and Similar Programs

Show! Music Core has been available via official live streaming on MBC's YouTube channels since the early 2010s, enabling global audiences in over 100 countries to watch performances in real time without geographical restrictions, with expanded access through the MBC World channel and platforms like KOCOWA+ as of 2023.[80][81] This initiative, supported by multilingual subtitles and partnerships, has significantly broadened the program's reach beyond South Korea, allowing international fans to engage with live broadcasts and voting systems via apps such as Mubeat. The program's international presence has contributed to the global proliferation of Hallyu by showcasing K-pop acts to diverse audiences, fostering fan communities across Asia and Europe through organized viewing events and pop-up experiences tied to major episodes. In 2025, the program held its Japan edition at Belluna Dome, drawing large crowds and further boosting global engagement.[8] In 2026, MBC announced the second lineup for the "Show! Music Core in Macau" event, scheduled for February 7 and 8 in Macau. The February 7 lineup features Alpha Drive One, ENHYPEN, KickFlip, LE SSERAFIM, and WayV, while the February 8 lineup includes BOYNEXTDOOR, Hearts2Hearts, izna, MARK, TEN, and ZEROBASEONE. The event will be hosted by TWS's Dohoon, Hearts2Hearts' A_na, ZEROBASEONE's Kim Gyuvin, and Zhang Hao. This special overseas edition highlights the program's expanding international presence and commitment to engaging global K-pop audiences.[82] A notable example is the 2024 collaboration stage featuring BLACKPINK's Rosé and Bruno Mars performing their hit "Apt.," which not only secured multiple wins on the show but also highlighted cross-cultural appeal, drawing millions of views from non-Korean fans and amplifying K-pop's fusion with Western pop.[83][84] Show! Music Core operates alongside other prominent South Korean music programs, including Mnet's M Countdown, SBS's Inkigayo, and KBS's Music Bank, each with distinct charting methodologies that influence artist strategies. While Show! Music Core places a strong emphasis on digital performance metrics (50% weight from sources like Circle Chart streaming and downloads), viewer voting (20%), physical sales (10%), music video views (10%), and broadcast factors (10%), Music Bank allocates 60% to digital charts, 20% to broadcast scores based on airplay across KBS platforms, 15% to viewer votes (including global fan votes), and 5% to album sales, creating varied competitive dynamics.[28][71][85] M Countdown and Inkigayo similarly blend digital sales (around 40-55%) with fan votes and social metrics, but Show! Music Core's balanced digital focus often favors streaming-heavy releases. Crossovers between these programs enhance their interconnected ecosystem, with artists frequently sharing winners across shows in a single week or participating in joint special stages during year-end specials, such as collaborative performances that unite multiple networks for holiday broadcasts. These shared moments, like multi-group medleys, underscore the collaborative spirit of South Korea's music TV landscape while boosting collective visibility for K-pop globally.[86]

References

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  5. Guide to Korean Music Show Wins: How the Scores are Calculated
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