Organizers of the annual Ghana Music Awards has released nominations for its 21st edition.
The Vodafone Music Awards scheme honour and appreciate musicians and other music industry players who released work(s) that generated the most public excitement within the calendar year of the scheme and also reward veteran musicians who have blazed the trail in the music industry.
- Artiste(s) of the Year
The Artiste of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the artiste who released a hit single/album during the year under review and: -Has a high audience appeal and popularity -Must be one of the artistes with the highest nominations in the year under review.
- Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste(s) of the Year
The Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as having with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Hiplife/Hip Hop Genre. They must have released a hit single/album during the year under review.
- Highlife Artiste(s) of the Year
The Highlife Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Highlife genre. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single/album during the year under review.
- Reggae/Dancehall Artiste(s) of the Year
The Reggae/Dancehall Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Reggae/Dancehall genre. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single/album in the year under review.
- Gospel Artiste(s) of the Year
The Gospel Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Gospel genre. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single/album during the year under review.
- New Artiste of the Year
The New Artiste of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most promising and talented emerging artiste (s). The award goes to a relatively new artiste(s) who released a single/album that establishes the public identity of the artiste.
- Best Collaboration of the year
The Best Collaboration of the year is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the song released through the collaboration/featuring of two or more Artistes. The song must have been released and generated the most excitement during the year under review.
- Hiplife Song of the Year
The Hiplife Song of the Year is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Hiplife song released in the year under review. The song must have generated the most excitement during the year.
- Highlife song of the Year
The Highlife song of the Year is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Highlife song released in the year under review and generated the most excitement during the year.
- Afrobeats Song of the Year
The Afrobeats Song of the Year is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular song that is a cross pollination of music genres. The song must have generated the most excitement during the year under review.
- Hip Hop Song of the Year
The Hip Hop song of the Year is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Hip Hop song released in the year under review. The song must have generated the most excitement during the year.
- Gospel Song of the year
The Gospel Song of the Year is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Gospel Song released in the year under review. The song must have generated the most excitement during the year.
- Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year
The Reggae song of the Year is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Reggae song released in the year under review. The song must have generated the most excitement during the year.
- Group of the Year
The Best Group of the Year is the Artistes adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the group with the highest audience appeal and popularity. They must comprise of at least 2 or more members and must have released a hit single/album during the year under review.
15. Rapper of the Year
The Best Rapper of the year is adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the rap Artiste with the best word compositions, rhymes and rap dexterity on a popular song released in the year under review.
- Vodafone Song of the Year
The Song of the Year is the song nominated solely by the public and adjudged by the Academy, Board and General Public as the most popular song released in the year under review. The song must have enjoyed a lot of patronage and generated the most excitement during the year.
- Artiste of the Decade
The Artiste of the Decade is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Board as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal and popularity over the last decade. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single/album within the last 10 years.
- Album of the Year
The Album of the Year is adjudged by the Academy and Board as the most outstanding compilation (either by the number of hit songs or the quality of production) of an album that was released during the year under review. It must have generated excitement during the year.
- Album of the Year
The Album of the Year is adjudged by the Academy and Board as the most outstanding compilation (either by the number of hit songs or the quality of production) of an album that was released during the year under review. It must have generated excitement during the year.
- Male Vocal Artiste of the Year
The Best Male Vocal Artiste is adjudged by the Academy and Board as the Male artiste (solo) with the best vocal delivery/Performance on any musical presentation which was released during the year under review
- Female Vocal Artist of the Year
The Best Female Act is adjudged by the Academy and Boards as the Female artiste (solo) with the best vocal delivery/Performance on any musical presentation which was released during the year under review.
- Music Video of the Year
The Music Video of the year is adjudged by the Academy and Board as the most creative and entertaining music video produced within the calendar year. The song for which the video has been produced, need not have been released in the year under review. The award goes to both Director and Artiste
- Songwriter of the Year
The Song Writer of the Year is adjudged by the Academy and Board as the Song Writer(s) responsible for the song with the most original lyrics and compositions for any released song during the year under review.
- Record of the Year
The Record of the Year is adjudged by the Academy and Board as the most outstanding original song that was released during the year under review. It may not have enjoyed huge commercial success, but has quality artistic and production values.
- Music Producer of the Year
The Music Producer of the Year is adjudged by the Board to be the Producer(s) directly responsible for the most nominated songs in the year under review.
- Sound Engineer of the Year
The Sound Engineer of the Year is adjudged by the Board to be the Sound Engineer(s) directly responsible for the recording, mixing and technical production of the song adjudged as the Record of the Year.
- Instrumentalist of the Year
The Instrumentalist of the Year is adjudged by the Board as the most outstanding live instrumental performance on a single/album that was released during the year under review. It may not have enjoyed huge commercial success, but has quality artistic values.
- African Artiste(s) of the Year
The African Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) (non-Ghanaian) adjudged solely by the Board as the act whose music crossed borders and made the most impact on the continent at large during the year under review.
- Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award is adjudged by the Board as a Living Legend of Ghanaian Music whose works must have spanned generations. The artiste may not have released in the year under review.
- Traditional Artiste(s) of the Year
The Best African Collaboration of the year is the song adjudged by the Academy and Board as the song released through the collaboration/featuring of two or more African Artistes, at least one Ghanaian and the other from any country on the African continent. The song must have been released within the year under review.
31.International Collaboration of the year
The International Collaboration of the year is the song adjudged by the Academy and Board as the song released through the collaboration/featuring of two or more International Artistes, at least one Ghanaian and the other from any country. The song must have been released within the year under review.
