TXT, PLAVE and KISS OF LIFE All Confirmed for M Countdown EP.924

M Countdown is delivering a stacked evening of performances this week. Episode 924, airing Thursday, April 16 at 6PM KST on Mnet and streaming on Tving, brings together some of K-pop's most exciting acts right now — from global heavyweights making premier stage appearances to buzzing newcomers commanding the spotlight for the very first time.

The full lineup was unveiled through an official teaser on Mnet K-POP's YouTube channel, with JYP Entertainment's KickFlip front and center as the evening's Cupid presenters. Framed around the springtime theme of winning someone's heart, the playful clip walked fans through each act as a different "Cupid's Tip" — a charming concept that doubled as one of the more creative lineup reveals the show has produced this season.

Premiere Performances and Special Stages

The evening's most anticipated moments belong to the acts making their first appearances. TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT) and MODYSSEY are both listed as first-reveal stages, meaning audiences will witness these performances for the very first time during the broadcast. TXT, the four-member group under Big Hit Music (HYBE), have become one of K-pop's most consistent global forces, with a dedicated MOA fandom that spans every continent. Their music, known for its layered emotional storytelling and bold sonic experimentation, consistently dominates international charts and streaming platforms alike.

A special stage from HAON (Kim Ha-on) is also confirmed as a first reveal. The acclaimed rapper and artist has earned recognition for his precise delivery, sharp lyricism, and the emotional range he brings to every performance. For many fans, HAON's inclusion adds a compelling hip-hop element that broadens the episode's sonic scope significantly beyond typical idol fare.

Virtual idol group PLAVE will also take the stage. One of the most remarkable success stories in recent K-pop history, PLAVE debuted as fully animated characters yet quickly built a passionate global fanbase — their FLAVIA fandom — that rivals those of traditionally performing groups. Their music show appearances are consistently among the most-discussed moments on social media, and their M Countdown stages have become beloved events in their own right.

From KickFlip to KISS OF LIFE: A Night of K-Pop Variety

Beyond the premiere performances, Episode 924 features an impressive cross-section of K-pop's current landscape. SANTOS BRAVOS, introduced in the teaser as a "global Latin boy group," bring an international flavor to the evening — part of M Countdown's ongoing push to feature acts that reflect the increasingly global nature of the K-pop industry. Their participation in a broadcast of this scale marks a meaningful moment for Latin representation in one of the genre's most prestigious weekly formats.

DAYOUNG, presented in the teaser as "Solo Queen," adds polished solo artistry to the mix, while hrtz.wav (하츠웨이브) brings the fresh-faced energy that has made them one of the more exciting rising acts to follow right now. Their youthful momentum is exactly the kind of energy M Countdown loves to platform, and their fanbase has been steadily growing with every broadcast appearance.

Girl group KISS OF LIFE rounds out the lineup with what the teaser describes as "fatal charm." Known for their retro-influenced sound and theatrical visual identity — drawing freely from 1980s and 1990s pop and R&B — the group has carved out a genuinely distinctive lane in K-pop. Their music show stages are consistently among the most stylistically committed on any platform, and their presence at M Countdown EP.924 is guaranteed to generate significant online discussion.

And then there is KickFlip themselves, who are not just presenting the lineup but performing in it. The JYP Entertainment boy group are currently at a career-defining moment, and their place on this week's M Countdown stage is no coincidence.

KickFlip's Career-High Momentum Sets the Stage

KickFlip released their fourth mini album, My First Kick, on April 6, 2026 — and the response has been extraordinary. The title track "눈에 거슬리고 싶어" (Want to Stand Out in Your Eyes), which saw all members participate in the album's songwriting credits, debuted atop multiple charts including Bugs and Hanteo, where first-week physical sales surpassed 456,000 copies. That figure represents a new career high for the group, continuing their unbroken streak of setting new personal records with every release since debut.

The album's concept — exploring the clumsy excitement of being 20 for the very first time — has struck a deeply resonant chord with fans. My First Kick captures a particular quality of youthful longing and determination that feels authentic precisely because all of KickFlip's members are, in fact, turning 20 this year.

That authenticity extends to the way the group presented this week's M Countdown lineup. Rather than a simple graphic announcement, the teaser cast KickFlip as Cupids coaching a shy character through the art of first impressions — a conceit that playfully mapped onto each act's personality. It was smart content creation from a group that clearly understands how to engage fans beyond just the music itself.

What the M Countdown Stage Means Right Now

M Countdown has operated as one of South Korea's flagship weekly music chart programs since its launch, combining digital sales figures, physical album data, broadcast scores, and fan voting into a highly competitive ranking system. For groups in active promotion cycles, a first-place win carries both symbolic and practical weight — it demonstrates that a fandom is mobilized and engaged across every metric that counts.

With Episode 924 gathering acts who are all, to varying degrees, at high points in their current cycles — TXT continuing to expand their global reach, PLAVE sustaining their remarkable momentum, KISS OF LIFE deepening their industry footprint, and KickFlip riding what may be their biggest promotional push yet — the competition for this week's top position is expected to be intense. Fan communities across platforms have already begun coordinating streaming drives, voting pushes, and album purchase campaigns ahead of the Thursday broadcast.

M Countdown Episode 924 airs Thursday, April 16 at 6PM KST on Mnet. International viewers can stream it live via Tving. Full performance clips are typically uploaded to M Countdown's official YouTube channel in the days following each broadcast, giving global fans full access to every stage.

For K-pop fans looking for a reason to clear their Thursday evening schedule, Episode 924's lineup more than provides one.