Separate awards were then given for male and female artists from 1966 to 1986[4] In 1981, the South Korean government forced TBC to merge with the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS).

In 2005, Kim Jong-kook became the last singer to win the KBS Music Award.

[2] Between 2006 and 2016, the festival typically featured performances by 20 to 30 K-pop groups and singers.

However, in 2017, KBS scaled back the festival to include only eight groups, two singers, and contestants from the KBS2 reality show The Unit.

[8] Part II: Mingyu (Seventeen), Solar (Mamamoo), Kang Daniel (Wanna One), Yerin (GFriend) Part 2: Rowoon, Go Min-si, Lee Young-ji Korea: Zico, Jang Won-young (IVE), Kim Young-dae Group 2: Hong Kyung-min, Moon Myung Jin, Hwang Chi-yeul, Ali, Son Seung-yeon Group 3: Crush, Dynamic Duo, Zion.T Group 4: Kim Chang-wan Band Group 2: Davichi, Uhm Jung-hwa, Hwang Chi-yeul, Jeon In Kwon, Shinhwa Group 3: Astro, Cosmic Girls, Laboum, NCT Dream, Oh My Girl, UP10TION Part 2: Golden Girls, Park Jin-young, Shinee, MeloMance, Kang Daniel, The Boyz, Stray Kids, Ateez, Itzy, Lee Young-ji, P1Harmony, STAYC, Enhypen, NiziU, Kep1er, Nmixx, Le Sserafim, NewJeans, &Team, BoyNextDoor, Now United Korea: Yoon Soo-il, DJ Koo, Jinusean, Baby Vox, Bada, Young Tak, Jang Minho, NCT 127, NCT Dream, (G)I-dle, Oneus, Lee Young-ji, Lee Chan-won, Cravity, P1Harmony, Aespa, Enhypen, Ive, Kep1er, TripleS, BoyNextDoor, Kiss of Life, Unis