TXT Dominates KMA 2026… But Sparks Controversy
TXT had a massive night at the 2026 KM Chart Awards (KMA) on July 25, racking up multiple prestigious trophies and joining a star-studded lineup of iconic artists. Among their impressive haul was the highly coveted Daesang (Grand Prize) for ‘Artist of the Year,’ solidifying their status as industry leaders. They also clinched the ‘Best Popular Song’ award for their recent title track ‘Stick With You,’ which unexpectedly ignited a fierce online debate following its encore performance.
TXT did an encore performance of ‘Stick With You’ 🎉🥳pic.twitter.com/6MfO14cWdx
— TXT Charts (@TXTChartData) July 25, 2026
대상이란거 정말 좋은거구나(당연좋지어디문제있니) 하하더 앵콜 무대를 풀로 말아줌 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/3FbROVurGv
— 오물조물 (@txt_sarangdan2) July 25, 2026
The Encore That Divided Netizens: “Shockingly Raw” or Audio Issue?
While many fans were undoubtedly excited to hear TXT’s live vocals with no backtrack at the awards show, videos of their encore performance quickly became a viral sensation among K-netizens. A widely shared post candidly described the group’s live singing as “shockingly raw,” fueling hundreds of critical comments questioning TXT’s vocal prowess. However, not everyone agreed. Many quickly jumped to the group’s defense, asserting that the vocals sounded good and the issue likely stemmed from the venue’s subpar sound quality. This split perspective rapidly escalated, dividing netizens over TXT’s live rendition of ‘Stick With You.’
Netizens Weigh In: A Deep Dive into the Vocal Debate
The online discussion quickly spiraled, showcasing a wide range of opinions on TXT’s encore stage:
“I thought their live vocals would be bad because of how intense the choreography is, but they were just walking around interacting with the audience and THAT’S how they sang? What?? This is shocking, lol”
“Wow… are they really considered.. singers…? But they don’t even have basic vocal technique mastered”
“They seriously won a Daesang?”
“Isn’t it just an audio equipment problem? They sound good in the fancam videos”
“The sound quality just seems poor”
“‘Vocal kings’ lol… Where? Is there even a member who’s a vocalist in this group?”
“Isn’t TXT actually known for having good live vocals? I think the audio mixing was just a bit off”
“Oh no… It doesn’t really seem like a sound system issue; it actually looks like the audio director was doing them a favor by turning down their vocals and turning up the backtrack…”
“I remember them always being good at live singing… Maybe the audio setup was wrong? I mean, they were singing but their voices were getting completely drowned out”
“It seems like an audio equipment issue.. They’re in their eighth year as a group, and their live vocals have never been a problem before”
“Their performance is actually better than I thought it would be, lol. Everyone was making such a huge fuss about it that I watched it just to see how badly they did, but it’s really just a normal K-pop encore performance, haha”
“But isn’t their pitch actually spot-on?”
“The sound quality does seem bad, but even with that, it’s a relief every time it’s Hueningkai’s turn to sing, lol”
“It’s really surprising that they won a Daesang”
“Isn’t this actually pretty good, though?”
“It’s just a typical live performance by a modern idol group lol. It wasn’t a total disaster, but it certainly wasn’t good either. Fans need to be more realistic”
Beyond the Backtrack: TXT’s Full KMA 2026 Tally
Amidst the heated vocal debate, it’s important to remember TXT’s immense success at this year’s KM Chart Awards. Their impressive list of wins included Artist Of The Year (Daesang), Best Male Popular Group, Best Male Solo Artist (Yeonjun), Best Popular Song (‘Stick With You’), and Ultimate 12 (Bonsang). The discussion around their live vocals continues to unfold, leaving fans and netizens to decide where they stand on the controversial performance.
