Months after a successful SAMA 18, the preparations for SAMA 19 are well underway. Dates have been confirmed for the most prestigious music award ceremony in SA, 10 and 11 May 2013 have been set with the main show on the 11th.
The SAMA’s newly appointed CEO Nlanhla Sibisi says “The event was simplified and streamlined last year to create the best awards ceremony on the continent and it proved to be a huge success. Winning a SAMA is the highest award a musician or producer can win in South African music. Although we have tweaked it slightly and changed some categories from the last awards, we are keeping a similar format while once again paying tribute to the best in the local music industry and the most talented creative people involved in it.”
Talking about changes, I am to announce that the SAMA Committee listened to the SA Hip Hop community over the issue of the BEST STREET URBAN ALBUM name. Everyone will be happy to know it’s been changed back to BEST RAP ALBUM, thank the pope for that change. Other category changes including: the Best Sokkie Dans Album becomes Best Kontemporêre Musiek Album; the Best Smooth Urban Album has changed to Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album .
The full list of categories for the 19th annual MTN SAMAs are:
TOP 5 CATEGORIES
- Album of the Year
- Duo or Group of the Year
- Female Artist of the Year
- Male Artist of the Year
- Newcomer of the Year
ALBUM GENRE SUPER CATEGORIES
- Best Rock Album
- Best Pop Album
- Best Adult Contemporary Album
- Best Kontemporêre Musiek Album
- Best African Adult Album
- Best Alternative Album
- Best Kiddies Album
- Best R&B / Soul / Reggae Album
- Best Rap Album
- Best Kwaito Album
- Best Dance Album
- Best Traditional Faith Music Album
- Best Contemporary Faith Music Album
- Best Traditional Album
- Best Maskandi Album
- Best Jazz Album
- Best Classic & Instrumental Album
OTHER
- Best Live DVD
SPECIAL AWARDS
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- International Achievement Awards
- Best Selling Album
- Best Selling DVD
- Best Collaboration
MTN BEST SELLING MOBILE MUSIC DOWNLOAD
- Best Selling True-Tone
- Best Selling Ring-Back-Tone
- Best Selling Full-Track Download
TECHNICAL CATEGORIES
- Best Music Video of the Year
- Best Producer
- Best Engineer
- Remix of the Year
PUBLIC VOTE CATEGORY
- Record of the Year
SAMPRA AWARD
- Highest Airplay of the Year
Entries opened on the 1st of November and close on the 30th of November. The rules and entry process is available on the MTN SAMA website, www.samusicawards.co.za. Oh it’s gonna be another hot SAMA!
Ndimakazi Mabala