aespa secured a second trophy for LEMONADE on MBC’s Music Core, topping a packed July 11 broadcast that also featured BABYMONSTER, i-dle, Yeonjun, RESCENE, Kihyun, and more.
aespa added another trophy to the LEMONADE era on the July 11 episode of MBC’s Music Core, taking first place against a competitive field of current releases. The win marked the group’s second music show victory for the single and underscored how quickly the track has become a fixture in this summer’s K-pop conversation.
The first-place nominees on the broadcast were SEVENTEEN unit V8’s singasong, aespa’s LEMONADE, and Hearts2Hearts’ Lemon Tang. aespa finished on top with 7,086 points, giving the group another televised trophy at a moment when several high-profile acts are crowding the weekly music show circuit.
For aespa, the result is notable because music show wins remain one of K-pop’s most visible measures of momentum. They combine broadcast exposure, fan participation, chart performance, and public attention into a weekly scoreboard that can shape how a comeback is perceived. A second win suggests that LEMONADE is not only drawing initial curiosity but also sustaining enough support to remain competitive beyond its first burst of promotion.
A Competitive Week for Music Shows
The July 11 Music Core lineup was especially dense. Alongside the winner announcement, the episode featured performances from BABYMONSTER, i-dle, TXT’s Yeonjun, RESCENE, MONSTA X’s Kihyun, Choi Yoojung, Hearts2Hearts, AHOF, Teen Top’s Niel, EVAN, Keyveatz, VAYONN, IDID, Jang Haneum, USPEER, Lee YeJi, ASCENDER, ANTARES, and UDTT. That kind of roster makes the broadcast more than a routine trophy reveal; it becomes a snapshot of where the industry is placing attention in a given week.
BABYMONSTER performed I LIKE IT, while i-dle brought Gimme Dat Love to the stage. Yeonjun continued solo promotions with Ice Cream, RESCENE performed Pretty Girl, and Kihyun delivered So Good. The episode also gave room to newer and rising names, including AHOF with RUN TO YOU, IDID with Attent!on, USPEER with WICKED GAME, and UDTT with VIPER.
That spread of performers matters because music shows still function as one of K-pop’s central discovery platforms. Established groups can reinforce their chart position, soloists can define their individual identity, and newer teams can reach viewers who may not have encountered them through streaming platforms alone. aespa’s win therefore landed in a setting where many acts were competing not only for points, but for attention.
What the Win Means for LEMONADE
LEMONADE has now moved from comeback single to confirmed music-show contender. The title itself has a bright, instantly recognizable feel, and the song’s ongoing presence in first-place contention points to a comeback cycle with staying power. While one trophy can signal a strong launch, a second win helps build the narrative that the release is holding its ground against other active promotions.
The result also keeps aespa prominent in a year when the girl group field remains highly active. Newer acts are building fanbases quickly, veteran groups continue to command large audiences, and music shows are increasingly crowded with overlapping release schedules. In that environment, every additional win helps a group maintain visibility across both domestic broadcast coverage and international fan discussion.
Hearts2Hearts’ nomination with Lemon Tang also reflects the competitive shape of the moment. The group has been gaining attention during its own promotions, and sharing the nominee slate with aespa and V8 placed the rookie act in a high-profile position. For viewers, the episode offered a contrast between established chart power, unit activity from a major group ecosystem, and newer-generation momentum.
As promotions continue, aespa’s next challenge will be converting the attention around LEMONADE into a longer run across charts, clips, and fan-driven conversation. The second Music Core trophy gives the campaign a strong talking point, but the coming weeks will show whether the song can keep expanding beyond its core fanbase and remain part of the broader summer soundtrack.
For now, the July 11 broadcast gave aespa a clear headline: another win, another point of proof for LEMONADE, and another reminder that the group remains a major player whenever it enters a crowded comeback window.
What Readers Are Discussing
- “LEMONADE is really sticking around longer than I expected.”
- “That nominee lineup was stacked, so this win feels pretty big.”
- “I like that Music Core had both huge names and newer groups on the same show.”
- “aespa’s summer sound is working for them again.”
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