K-Pop superstars (G)I-DLE and NCT’s Chenle secured major wins at the Tencent Music Entertainment awards weekend in Macau, underscoring their significant influence in the Chinese music market. The star-studded events took place at the Galaxy Arena, with (G)I-DLE honored at the 2025 TME Live International Music Awards (TIMA) on Saturday, August 23rd, and member Yuqi and NCT’s Chenle receiving solo accolades at the 2025 Tencent Music Entertainment Awards (TMEA) on Sunday, August 24th.
(G)I-DLE Takes Home “Best Overseas Artist of the Year”
At the TIMA ceremony on Saturday, the five-member group (G)I-DLE—composed of Miyeon, Minnie, Soyeon, Yuqi, and Shuhua—was awarded the prestigious “Best Overseas Artist of the Year.” During their acceptance speech, the members addressed the audience entirely in fluent Chinese. “Thank you so much,” the group stated. “We released a new album this year and are working hard to bring you great music and performances, so please continue to support us. We are so grateful for our fans.”
Following their win, (G)I-DLE delivered a powerhouse performance, opening with their latest hit “Good Thing” from their 8th mini-album released in May. The group then launched into a medley of their chart-topping singles, including “Wife,” “LATATA,” “TOMBOY,” “Queencard,” and “Fate.” Their ability to communicate seamlessly in Chinese throughout the performance captivated the local audience and solidified their connection with their international fanbase.
Yuqi and Chenle Shine with Solo Awards at TMEA
The momentum continued into the following night at the TMEA ceremony. (G)I-DLE’s Yuqi was recognized as a formidable solo artist, winning two significant awards: “Influential Dance Singer of the Year” and “Digital EP of the Year (China)” for her debut mini-album, ‘YUQ1’. In her speech, Yuqi shared, “This award is a tremendous encouragement for me, as I’ve been chasing this dream since I was a child. I am incredibly proud to be a singer.” She later took the stage to perform her track “Radio (Dum-Dum),” delivering an electrifying performance.
Meanwhile, Chenle of the superstar group NCT was honored with the “Breakthrough Trending Artist of the Year” award, acknowledging his remarkable growth and successful new ventures this year. “Every moment promoting ‘Lucid’ has been a time of joy and growth, so it’s an honor to receive such a meaningful award,” Chenle expressed. “I believe I’m only able to stand here thanks to our NCTzens (the group’s fandom name) who have consistently supported me. I will continue to deliver moving music and performances to become an artist who is remembered for a long time.”
Chart-Topping Success and Regional Impact
Chenle also performed his title track “Lucid,” impressing the crowd with his exceptional vocal talent and emotive delivery. The song is the lead single from his special Chinese album of the same name, a joint project between SM Entertainment and Tencent Entertainment. Upon its release in May, the album soared to the top of China’s QQ Music digital album sales chart and the Chinese music video chart, proving his immense popularity.
The awards highlight the continued dominance of these artists in the region. Earlier this year, TME named (G)I-DLE the top-performing Korean group on its charts for the first half of 2025. Furthermore, members Yuqi and Minnie were also individually recognized as the top-performing female solo artists, cementing their status as influential global acts. The TMEA is one of the largest music award ceremonies in the Chinese-speaking world, organized by the Tencent Music Entertainment Group to recognize influential artists based on popularity and a comprehensive range of industry metrics.