Every week, the show awards the best-performing single on the chart in the country during its live broadcast.
In 2021, 26 singles ranked number one on the chart and 23 music acts received first-place trophies.
"Hwaa" by (G)I-dle, "Hot Sauce" by NCT Dream and "Sticker" by NCT 127 are the only songs to achieve a triple crown.
No release earned a perfect score, but "Don't Call Me" by Shinee acquired the highest point total of the year on the March 4 broadcast with a score of 10,990.
Songs are judged based on a combination of Digital Sales (45%; Melon, Genie, FLO), Album Sales (15%), Social Media (15%; YouTube MV views), Global Fan Vote (15%), Mnet Broadcast (10%; Mnet TV, MCD Stage, M2 Contents), Live Vote (10%; for first place nominees only).