Malawi Music Awards shuns general public
The general public should forget participating in the nomination of this year’s Malawi Music Awards (MMAs) and late alone patronizing the actual awards presentation ceremony, thus, according to the organizers.
During the inception of the awards last year, the general public was included in the nomination of winners through mobile phone Short Messages (SMSs) and was allowed to patronize the awards gala at a fee.
However, according to the organizers, Diversity Foundation, the general public will, this year, not be given a chance to nominate favourite artists and witness the presentation ceremony to take place on the evenings of October 13 and 14 this year at newly constructed Presidential Hotel in Lilongwe.
The organizers in a atatement emailed to Nyasa Times disclosed that this year’s event will only be hosted to corporate clients who will be given a privilege to own naming rights to the events.
“The awards will be awarded over 2 days. Nominations will be done by an Elite Nominations Council made up of Musicians Association of Malawi, Department of Arts and Culture, print (newspapers), digital (TV and radio) entertainment gurus plus representatives from the distributors.
“Modeled on the Grammy Awards, there will be no voting by the general public except for one category probably to be called the Peoples’ Choice Award. You also have the chance to claim the naming rights to the event for example The Group one Malawian Music Awards (MMAs),” reads the statement signed by Diversity Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Denis Mitole.
Apart from hosting awards, during the two-day event, the patronage will be treated to special corporate package, which includes mini golf tourney with mini prizes and 10 hotel rooms for couples per institution at Sunbird Capital, The President, Crossroads and Golden Peacock hotels.
The packages also include shuttle service for two day event between the venues, private cocktail and performance by a nominee on eve of arrival, entrance at event – VIP seating – floor seats not available for sale to general public only corporate clients.
The 2012 MMAs has 26 categories, which include Best R&B, Best Hip/Hop Rap, Best Acoustic, Best Local, Best Gospel – Male and Female, Best Producer, Best Session Artist, Best Afro Pop, Best New Comer – Male and female, , Best Vocalist, Best Reggae, Best Music Promoter, Lifetime Achiever and Best Group.
Diversity Foundation has also added new categories to the awards which are Best Choir, Best Dance Song, Best Collaboration, Best – Social Investor, Best Album, Best Cover Design, Best Stage Choreography, Best Jazz artist, Best Traditional Music and Best Video.
Last year’s event drew mixed reactions on the categories are some of the artists were placed in categories contrary to their brand of music. Some of the 2011 winners include Lucius Banda, Maskal, Theo Thomson, Dan Lu, Grace Chinga, Gides Chalamanda and Young K among others.
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