Mnet, South Korea’s top music channel, today proudly announced the celebration of its 30th anniversary. In celebration of this significant milestone, Mnet will kick off a series of anniversary celebrations that will provide an opportunity to look back at the content producer, cable channel and streaming platform’s long history of creating iconic programming and events, while also looking forward to where Mnet plans to take the K-pop music industry.
Mnet, short for Music Network, launched as a music cable channel on March 1, 1995. Since that date, Mnet has been synonymous with K-pop and consistently pioneered formats that defined the K-pop music landscape for generations at home and abroad.
Guided by a vision of “Music Makes One,” Mnet’s weekly music program “M COUNTDOWN” has served as a crucial platform for K-pop artists since 2004. Groundbreaking audition program “Superstar K” hit the highest viewership in cable network history at 21%, while “SHOW ME THE MONEY,” the first-of-its-kind hip-hop competition show, brought Korean hip-hop into mainstream culture. Global hit music game “I Can See Your Voice” has become a global sensation with adaptations in 30 countries, and the most recent hit show, “STREET WOMAN FIGHTER,” sparked nationwide dance crazes with dance challenges going viral globally. “MAMA AWARDS” has also evolved to become the world’s No.1 K-POP AWARDS from the Mnet Video Music Awards in 1999.
In celebration of 30 years, Mnet will feature special weekly programs to highlight four of Mnet’s iconic programs: “MAMA AWARDS,” “Superstar K,” “SHOW ME THE MONEY” and “STREET WOMAN FIGHTER.” These new special weekly editions will air every Thursday on Mnet starting March 6, along with its special weekly “M COUNTDOWN” throughout March.
“For 30 years, Mnet has been more than a music channel; it has served as a platform where global K-pop and K-culture fans can experience moments that resonate worldwide,” said Harry H.K. Shin, Head of Music Entertainment at CJ ENM. “As we celebrate this meaningful milestone, we’re not just looking back with pride, but looking forward with excitement for the next chapter of Mnet and our commitment to shaping the next era of K-pop generation and transitioning to digital platforms.”
In addition to special programming, Mnet is debuting a new brand slogan, “K-POP GENERATION Mnet,” in a reflection of its unwavering commitment to bring people together through music beyond ages and borders. As part of its next vision and digital strategy to make Mnet content more accessible to global audiences. The company aims to enhance Mnet’s digital platform, Mnet Plus, to allow audiences to stream Mnet’s content in real-time to access exclusive content and provide a fan community. Mnet Plus also launched a new dedicated content hub where fans can find and explore Mnet’s history.
Mnet’s global footprint has expanded significantly in recent years, driven by its digital reach around the world. Mnet’s content has generated over 9.2 billion YouTube views in just the past three years, while its innovative format exports and shows, such as KCON, the world’s No.1 K-POP Fan and Artist festival, have reached 69 regions over the past decades. Mnet Plus has facilitated more than 320 million votes from fans across 246 regions – a clear testament to how Korean music entertainment continues to transcend geographical and cultural boundaries through Mnet’s ongoing strategic initiatives.
Further 30th anniversary events and plans will be unveiled throughout 2025 to commemorate Mnet’s journey and to look ahead to the next chapter of Mnet.
