Whether you’re just getting into K-pop or long-time stan- one of the first things you’ll discover is the weekly music shows that are central to the Korean music scene. Whenever an artist begins a promotion or ‘comeback’ cycle, they will perform their latest release on weekly music broadcasts as they compete for the top spot on that show’s popularity chart. It is both an opportunity for artists to appeal to new fans and secure their continued success with wins. Winning this slot across each of the major broadcast network music shows in one week for the same track is often referred to as an ‘all-kill’.
In this guide, we’ll give a broad overview of the weekly K-pop music shows, as well as each show’s unique points and even ways to secure your spot in the live audience. Click the titles below to jump directly to a specific topic, or the up arrow in the right-hand corner to return to the top at any time.
- The Basics
- Weekly K-pop Music Shows Breakdown
1. The Basics
a. Weekly Popularity Chart Scoring
If you’ve ever heard a fan preach about the importance of streaming – the chart systems used in weekly K-pop music shows are probably why. Although the charts are all trying to determine the most popular K-pop songs for the week, each show implements a slightly different scoring system. While this can be a bit confusing to keep track of, it keeps each show fresh and allows for greater opportunity for smaller groups to compete.
The criteria to win typically includes physical or digital album sales, music video streams, and an element of live or pre-voting by the show’s audience. This is further broken down by show in the chart below:
| Music Program | Chart Scoring | Applicable Conditions to Win |
| Inkigayo |
| Songs that have already got triple crown are not eligible. |
| The Show |
| Attend on broadcast date |
| Show Champion |
| Songs that have already got triple crown are not eligible |
| M Countdown |
| Must promote for at least one music show in either that week or the weeks before. Songs that have already got triple crown are not eligible |
| Music Bank |
| Top 200 of at least one of five charts that Music Bank. |
BTS currently holds the record for most awarded song for “Dynamite“, which won first place a total of 32 times. They also hold the record for the most first-place wins in a year with a total of 50 times, and won on Show! Music Core for a record 16 consecutive weeks (10 with Dynamite and 6 with Life Goes On) in 2020.
b. Pre-recordings vs. Live Broadcast
Pre-recordings
Live Broadcasts
2. Weekly K-pop Music Shows Breakdown
a. Inkigayo
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Broadcast Stations: SBS
Weekly K-pop Music Show Date & Time: Every Sunday at 3:30pm
Location: SBS Dongchon-dong, Broadcasting Hall
Current Hosts: &Teams’s EJ, TWS’s Shinyu, & Baby DONT Cry’s Lee Hyun
SBS Inkigayo is infamous not only for its popular special stages featuring its weekly hosts, but also for its backstage stairs! The stairwell at Inkigayo is a well-loved spot for idols to take backstage selfies and collab on viral dance challenges. Inkigayo is also notorious for being one of the most difficult weekly K-pop music shows to get into as the studio has fairly limited standing-room audience space.
b. The Show
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Broadcast Stations: SBS LIFE
Weekly K-pop Music Show Date & Time: Tuesdays at 6pm
Location: SBS Prism Tower, Sangam-dong
Current Hosts: To be announced
SBS LIFE’s The Show offers a more intimate experience than some other weekly K-pop music shows, and thanks to their charting system is the best place to see new & upcoming artists. After a brief time off the air starting in November 2025, The Show returns to SBS LIFE on June 2nd, 2026.
c. Show Champion
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Broadcast Stations: MBC Plus
Weekly K-pop Music Show Date & Time: Every Wednesday at 6pm
Location: Ilsan MBC Dream Center
Current Hosts: 82Major’s Nam Seongmo, Close Your Eyes, Jeon Minwook & Jang Yeojun
Show Champion was one of the first weekly music shows to implement the ‘Triple Crown’ system which prevents artists from winning with the same track more than 3-weeks in a row. This combined with the other unique aspects of their charting system, make them one of the easiest charts to follow.
d. M Countdown
Broadcast Stations: MNET
Weekly K-pop Music Show Date & Time: Every Thursday at 6pm
Location: CJ E & M Center, Sangam-dong
Current Hosts: Kickflip’s Kyehoon, So Junghwan of TREASURE, and Park Gunwook of Zerobaseone
Widely known for their popularization of Relay Dance & fancams, M Countdown has some of the best camera work among the weekly K-pop shows. M Countdown’s charting system is also one of the most global as its various platforms allow international fans as well as domestic to cast their vote digitally.
e. Music Bank
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Broadcast Stations: KBS
Weekly K-pop Music Show Date & Time: Every Friday at 5:15pm
Location: KBS Broadcasting Hall
Current Hosts: izna’s Bang Jeemin and actor Kim Jae-won
Music Bank is well-known for hosting impressive crossover special stages and funny backstage interviews.
f. Simply K-pop
DAEHWI🦦’s Very Own Ending Fairy🧚 (나만의 엔딩요정) | Simply’s Mission Cam🎥#SimplyCONTOUR #심플리케이팝#이대휘 #DAEHWI#AB6IX #에이비식스@AB6IX pic.twitter.com/wDau4uLilK
— SIMPLY K-POP (@_Simplykpop) March 30, 2024
Broadcast Stations: Arirang TV
Weekly K-pop Music Show Date & Time: Every Friday at 1pm
Location: Arirang Tower Seocheo-dong
Current Hosts: Lee Dae-hwi from AB6IX
Broadcast on Korea’s representative English network, Simply K-pop is the most globally accessible of the weekly K-pop music shows.
g. Show! Music Core
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Broadcast Stations: MBC
Weekly K-pop Music Show Date & Time: Every Saturday at 3:45pm
Location: MBC, Sangam Broadcasting Station
Current Hosts: TWS Kim Dohoon, and Gyuvin of Zerobaseone
Show, show show! In 2014, Show! Music Core was widely recognized by both domestic and international fans for formally prohibiting lip-syncing in their broadcast. They also host mini fanmeeting events open to the public on Saturdays before and after the broadcast for artists’ first week of promotions.
BONUS:
MBC Studio 1-Day Tour (+ Drama Rehearsal Visit)
Take a behind-the-scenes look at where your favorite K-dramas and K-pop shows are filmed with this studio tour of MBC! The MBC Dream Center in Goyang City is the largest indoor studio in Korea and is responsible for producing K-content that is loved by people all over the world. On this tour, you will explore production studios and on Mondays and Wednesdays, you can even watch MBC drama rehearsals in person!
MBC Studio 1 Day Tour (+ Drama Rehearsal Visit option)
Read Trazy blogs for even more K-pop!
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Check out these other K-pop experiences on Trazy:
- 2026 Seoul Music Awards & Seoul Transfer Package (Jun 20)
- 2026 MyK Festa: MyK LIVE Ticket & Seoul Tour Package (Jun 26 & 27)
- KM Chart Awards (KMA) (Jul 25)
- K-Pop Recording Experience at KING STUDIO in Gangnam
Find all the best K-pop experiences and trendiest things to do in Korea at Korea’s #1 Travel Shop, Trazy.com!
[Photo Credits]
MBC Plus Official Site
KBS Official Site
Arirang Official Site
SBS Official Site
MNET Official Site
JTBC Official Site