Monster Rookies ALLDAY PROJECT Snag First Trophy at 2025 TMA
K-Pop's hottest co-ed group, ALLDAY PROJECT, just won the 'Next Leader' award at The Fact Music Awards, cementing their status as monster rookies to watch.
Just months after their explosive debut, the co-ed group ALLDAY PROJECT has already captured their first major award, taking home the “Next Leader” trophy at the 2025 The Fact Music Awards (TMA) held in Macao on September 20.
A “Once-in-a-Lifetime” Honor for K-Pop’s Newest Stars
For international fans who might not be familiar, the “Next Leader” award is a huge deal in the K-pop world. It’s a prestigious honor given only to rookie artists who have made a significant impact with their debut album. Think of it as a “Rookie of the Year” award, but with a focus on groups showing the potential to lead the next generation of K-pop. Winning this award is often seen as a sign of a group’s bright future.
In their acceptance speech, the members of ALLDAY PROJECT—Annie, Tarzan, Bailey, Woochan, and Youngseo—were visibly moved. “It is an honor to receive the ‘Next Leader’ award, which you can only get once for your debut album as an artist,” they shared. “Thank you so much to our fans for giving us this incredible love and support.”
From “Monster Rookies” to Award Winners
The win didn’t come as a total surprise to Korean fans who have been following the group’s meteoric rise. ALLDAY PROJECT made waves even before their official debut in June as one of the few active co-ed groups in the industry.
They burst onto the scene with two powerful title tracks, “FAMOUS” and “WICKED,” which quickly dominated domestic music charts in what is known as an “all-kill.” This rare feat earned them the nickname “괴물 신인” (goemul sin-in), or “monster rookies,” a term reserved for the most dominant new acts.
A Promise to the Fans
Never ones to rest on their laurels, the group made a heartfelt promise during their speech. “Next year, we will be on the TMA stage ourselves to show our fans an amazing performance,” they declared. “We will continue to grow into great leaders worthy of the ‘Next Leader’ award we received today.”
This statement highlights a unique aspect of Korean award shows. Often, rookie awards are presented off-stage or during the red carpet event. ALLDAY PROJECT’s goal is to graduate from “Next Leader” winners to main stage performers at next year’s ceremony, a common and ambitious goal for rising stars.
With their first trophy in hand and a promise to deliver even bigger things, ALLDAY PROJECT has officially put the K-pop world on notice.