No Gospel Album, Industry awards at VGMA 2016
The race for the crown of this year’s Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) Artiste of the Year begins tomorrow when the organisers, Charter House releases the nominations list.
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This was announced by the Board Chairman of the 2016 VGMA Selection Committee, Nii Ayittey Hammond at a press briefing held at the World Trade Centre in Accra on Tuesday.
The announcement was however not without a few surprises. There will be no Gospel Album of the Year, No Industry Awards night and Lifetime Achievement award and MUSIGA Merit award will be merged this year.
According to Nii Ayittey Hammond, the Gospel Album of the Year has been scrapped since there were not enough entries to earn a spot.
Also, in its quest to give all the industry players some attention and recognition, there won’t be Industry Awards as well.
“Lifetime Achievement award and MUSIGA Merit award will be merged this year. Making music with positive lyrics is not enough. It must be backed by viable projects that support the message.
“Again, it was difficult filling up the nominations for this year so it will not be awarded. The Board is contemplating making it an honorary award in the next years,” Mr. Hammond disclosed.
One exciting twist that the organisers have added to this year’s awards is that nominees will be announced throughout the day from tomorrow, Friday, February 26 on the various EIB Networks- Starr FM, Live FM, Kasapa FM, Gh One TV, Empire, Ultimate FM and Agoo FM after which voting lines will officially open.
The unveiling of the nominations list will later be climaxed in the evening with a party at the Kempinsky Hotel Gold Coast tomorrow.
Currently, there are 28 categories covering Highlife, Hiphop, Reggae, Dancehall, Gospel, Afro pop, Song writer, Music producer and other special honours to recognise deserving artistes for their works in the year under review.
Also, Charter House also disclosed that this year’s Nominees Jam to celebrate Ghanaian music and culture will take place at Ho.
The annual Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) which is in its 17th year has celebrated Ghanaian music and artistes and this year’s theme, “Let The Music Play Live” is to encourage the artistes to nurture their skills of playing live band music.
Some artistes who have won the VGMA Artiste of the Year are Daddy Lumba, Okyeame Kwame, Lord Kenya, Kwaw Kese, Obour, Sarkodie, Shatta Wale, VIP and Stonebwoy.