Ebony, Shatta Wale, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy and Joe Mettle have been nominated in the Artiste of the Year category.

See the full list of nominees below:

Artiste of the Year

Joe Mettle

Ebony

Shatta Wale

Sarkodie

Stonebwoy

Song of the Year

Sponsor – Ebony

Odo – Kidi

Angela – Kuami Eugene

Taking Over- Shatta Wale ft. SM Militants

Total Cheat – Fancy Gadam ft. Sarkodie

Bronya – Wutah

One Corner – Patapaa ft. Ras Cann

Bo Noo Ni – Joe Mettle ft. Luigi Maclean

Obi Agye Obi Girl – Captain Planet ft. Kofi Kinaata

My Baby – Magnom ft. Joey B

Oh Yea – King Promise

Pain Killer – Sarkodie ft. Runtown

Highlife Song Of the year

Dream – Kumi Guitar

Bronya – Wutah

Odo – Kidi

Angela – Kuami Eugene

Over – R2bees

Hustle – Ebony

Gospel Song Of The Year

Boot 4 Boot – Joyce Blessing

Obi Nyanime – Patience Nyarko

Efatawo – Nacee

Adom – Gifty Osei

Jehovah – Ceccy Twum

Hiplife song of the year

Total Cheat – Fancy Gadam ft. Sarkodie

Boys Boys – Nacee F. Guru

Obi Agye Obi Girl – Captain Planet ft. Kofi Kinataa

Ayoo – Shatta Walle

One Corner – Patapaa

Hip Pop Song of the Year:

State Of The Art – Teephlow

Light It Up – Sarkodie

Grind Day Remix – Kwesi Arthur

Pen and Paper – Kojo Cue & Shaker

Dear God—B4Bonah

Reggae/Dancehall Song of The Year

Until The Dawn – Efya

My Own – Samini

My Name – Stonebwoy

Maya Burn Dem – Article Wan

Rewind – Mzvee

Dem Confuse – Shatta Wale

Afro Pop Song of the Year

Makoma – Adina

Oh Yeah – King Promise

Say You Love Me – Kidi

Sing My Name – Mzvee

Jennifer Lomotey – Kurl Songz

Sponsor – Ebony

My Baby – Magnom

Come From Afar – Stonebwoy

Gospel Artiste of the Year

Joyce Blessing

Patience Nyarko

Joe Mettle

Celestine Donkor

Nacee

Gifty Osei

HighLife Artiste of the Year

Wutah

Kidi

Kuami Eugene

Becca

Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year

Shatta Wale

Ebony

Stonebwoy

Mzvee

Songwriter of the Year

Kumi Guitar – Dream

Joe Mettle – Bo Noo Ni

Bullet – Maame Hwe

Kofi Kinaata – Last Show

Samini – My Own

Stonebwoy – My Name

Best Music Video of the Year

Dream (Kumi Guitar) – Abass

Selfish (King Promise) – Vertex

My Girl (B4Bonah) – Nicol Sey

Wedding Car (Opanka) – Bra Shizzle

Obi Agyi Obi Girl(Captain Planet) – Gyo

Pen & Paper-Kojo Cue & Shaker – E Kumodzi

Record of the Year

Dream – Kumi Guitar

My Own – Samini

Glory – Sarkodie

State Of The Art – Teephlow

Hiplife/hiphop Artiste of the Year

Ponobiom

R2bees

Captain Planet

Kwesi Arthur

Sarkodie

VVIP

Best Male Vocal Performance

Joe Mettle – Bo Noo Ni

King Promise – Selfish

Kidi – Odo

Kuami Eugene – Angela

Mugeez – Over

Samini – My Own

Best Female Vocal Performance

Adina-Makoma

Nana Yaa-Don’t Leave Me Alone

Efya- Love

Mzvee-Bright Lights

Becca-Summuye

Best Group of the Year

VVIP

R2bees

Wutah

Best Rapper of the year

Eno Barony- Fear No Man

Teflon—Phlowducation

Sarkodie— Light It Up

Shaker— Pen and Paper

Ko-jo Cue-Pen and Paper

Strongman — Transformer

Best collaboration of the year

Bo Noo Ni— Joe Mettle Ft Luigi Maclean

Sing My Name Remix— Mzvee Ft Patoranking

Jennifer Lomotey— Kurl Songs ft Sarkodie

Pain Killer— Sarkodie ft Runtown

Taking Over— Shatta Wale Ft S.M Militants

Obi Agye Obi Girl— Captain Planet ft Kofi Kinata

Na Wash— Becca ft Patoranking

African Artiste of the year

Davido

Wizkid

Too Fan

Cassper Nyovest

Nasty C

Tiwa Savage

Olamide

Best New Artiste of the year

King Promise

Kurl Songz

Kidi

Kuami Eugege

Magnom

Kwesi Arthur

B4Bonah

There shall also be honorary awards for Traditional Artiste of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award and Instrumentalist of the Year.

Vodafone Music Awards will be held on 14th April, 2018 at the Accra International Conference Centre.

–

By: Kwame Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 2018 VGMAs: Ebony, Shatta Wale, others race for Artiste of the Year award appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah popularly known as Shatta Wale has pleaded with Charter House, the organizers of Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) to reinstate him into the award scheme.

According to Citi Showbiz’s report, he made this humble request when he was hosted by George Quaye on GH One television’s ‘Pundit’ last night.

When asked if he wanted to be part of the award scheme again, he said his inclusion to the VGMA was time overdue.

“I have to be there. VGMA is like National Anthem. It is God bless our homeland Ghana erhh. I have apologised so many times and don’t know how people want this thing to be done but you know me I wish we take this case from court because it is entertainment,” he said.

When asked if he was ready to go through the processes to get the issue with Charter House resolved, he answered in the affirmative.

“I am ready to do that anytime soon my brother. My fans are always worried. ‘Oh Shatta this year you have to go to VGMA,’” he quipped.

He added that he had matured from certain things he did in the past and had learnt to work harder to make it on the international music market.

“Right now I’m mature enough to say sorry when I have to say sorry,” he added.

Shatta Wale was ‘banned’ from the VGMA in 2014 after making disparaging statements about the organisers of the award. Currently, the issue is still in court.

Listen to the interview in the audio below:

–
By: Kwame Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Shatta Wale begs to be reinstated into VGMAs [Audio] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

SP Kofi Sarpong, in an interview with citifmonline.com said he was not surprised by Shatta Wale’s statement because they had been very good friends. However, he stated that he was honoured by the kind words from Shatta Wale.

“I was very happy. Shatta Wale is one of the few secular artistes I like so much. My favourite of his songs is ‘Kakai,’” he quipped.

“We have met several times and anytime we have met, we discussed how we will come together to do a song together. So who knows? One day we may do a song together,” he added.

SP Kofi Sarpong added that secular musicians are not evil so they must not be discriminated against.

On the back of this, some have speculated that the dance hall king might pull a surprise at SP’s forthcoming concert scheduled for 28^th May, 2017 at the National Theatre.

On 28^th May, 2017, the self – acclaimed King of African Borborbor will be holding his own concert at the National Theatre.

The programme dubbed ‘SP Live In Concert’ features gospel giants like Ohemaa Mercy, Abena Ruthy, Francis Amo and Nacee.

Others include Joyce Blessing, Kingzkid, Gifty Osei, Koda and a surprise gospel artiste from the United Kingdom.

SP Kofi Sarpong came into the music industry with his first album ‘Sacrifice’ in 2012. He also has songs like ‘African Borborbor,’ ‘Adom Bi,’ ‘Abotre,’ ‘Agyenkwa’ and ‘Aseda.’

Kofi Sarpong has won several awards in the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, Ghana Music Awards UK and other internationally recognised award schemes.

–

By: Kwame Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post I like Shatta Wale’s ‘Kakai’ – SP Kofi Sarpong appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He is the first gospel artiste to win the award since the inception of the VGMAs in 2000.

Joe Mettle was nominated alongside Medikal, Stonebwoy, MzVee, Sarkodie and reigning Artiste of the Year, E.L, but managed to beat all 5 contenders to make history at the event.

The ‘Onwanwani’ hitmaker, had earlier told citifmonline.com that he was hopeful he would win the award.

In the interview, he said, a lot of people have shown love and support to him by soliciting votes for him and judging from that, his hard work and the grace of God, he was confident he would win.

“By God’s grace I have had people, some of whom I don’t even know, campaign for votes for me. We have done our best. It’s left with the Academy and Board to decide but I am 100% hopeful of winning,” he said in the interview.

Joe Mettle on the night also won the Gospel artiste of the year award and Male vocalist of the year award.

Joe Mettle, a former lead singer of the Soul Winners gospel music group, has since he went solo produced mega hits like ‘Medo Wo,’ ‘Ayeyi Nnwom,’ ‘Jehovah Praise,’ the current banger ‘Onwanwani,’ among others.

He’s in the past won awards like Best Male Vocalist, Best Songwriter, Best Video at 2012 Gospel Industry Awards; Alternative Song of the Year at 2012 Bass Awards; Best Male Artiste at 2016 RIGA Awards in South Africa, Best Vocal Performance at the 2015 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards and has also earned multiple nominations in both local and international award schemes.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

The post VGMAs: Joe Mettle makes history, named ‘Artiste of the Year’ appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The closest they have ever come to winning the prize, is to get nominated and, as usual, there is one Gospel artiste nominated in this year’s Artiste of the Year category for the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards – Joe Mettle.

This year, I have seen fans and supporters of Joe Mettle do some serious campaigning for him to win the category in which he has been nominated alongside EL, Sarkodie, Medikal, Stonebwoy and MzVee. It appears that the supporters are bent on breaking the jinx this year, but there is a problem; There is much more to winning any award, than ‘last minute’ vote begging.

Before I touch on the crux of this subject, I invite you to read an excerpt of an article which I wrote in 2016, about why Ghanaian Gospel musicians can’t rub shoulders with their secular counterparts. It is titled ‘The Ghanaian Gospel Artiste is Confused.’

“…I was analysing on my entertainment show Arts and People on Vision FM the [apparent] gulf between Gospel musicians and their secular counterparts when it comes to image branding, promotional strategies and ambassadorial deals.

So I called celebrated musician and recording engineer Nacee, the leader of the No Tribe Gospel music group. One thing he told me that still remains fresh in my mind is that Gospel music is a ministry and that Gospel musicians cannot and should not do everything that the secular artistes do. He told me that they were not in competition with the secular artistes. To an extent, he had a point – yes but to what extent is going to be the fulcrum of my subject.

For so many years, the Ghanaian Gospel musician has been compared to the secular musician on various pedestals; from their dressing, to music videos, lyrical content, management efficiency, promotional strategies, among other factors.

Ghanaian Gospel music lovers and their critics have bashed Gospel musicians for always standing by flowers and cars and using prosaic concepts for their music videos. You listen to radio and television entertainment discussion programmes and our Gospel musicians are always being criticised.

Even today, these same Ghanaians mock some of our Gospel musicians for displaying a fashion sense that is below par. They would say they lack swag and do not make Gospel music appealing. Again, the Ghanaian Gospel musician has been lashed for not employing the right people to manage him or her. Most of the time, it is their husbands or wives that have either been their managers and/ or producers. Most of these husbands and wives, however, have little or no knowledge of music and artiste management.

A corollary of this has been weak promotional links. They lack the right avenues to promote their brands. They lack internet, and for that matter, social media presence. They also lack knowledge of how to market their songs and brands online. It is all about recording their songs, releasing few copies of CDs and getting a few ‘God bless you’ gigs to play at some rural Churches; after all they say it is a ministry.

Because of this, the Gospel musicians usually don’t get to enjoy some of the opportunities that the secular people do. There have been times when some Gospel musicians have complained that their secular counterparts had been paid better and had been given better treatment at shows, which they both performed at. A case in point is one that Gifty Osei made during the first Ghana Music Week, where she thought the Gospel acts were not treated fairly.

Corporate institutions sign secular artistes and other celebrities as their brand ambassadors and you hardly see a Gospel act, in this respect. Secular musicians get nominated in international award schemes and you usually see a Gospel act nominated if it is primarily a Gospel awards scheme. This happens because the Ghanaian Gospel musician wants to be seen as a mere evangelist; well at least the people want them to.

Sadly, these same fans of the Gospel musicians who even wish that he or she would play shows for free, because the Bible is free and their music talent was given freely by God, criticise them, saying that they are not making great strides.

In fact, the Ghanaian Gospel music lover, enthusiast, pundit and analyst have confused our Gospel musicians.
Firstly, the new generation of Gospel musicians who have learnt from the criticism against their older folks, have decided to do things differently. Some are waxing very fashionable and again the typical Ghanaian is complaining. So what should they do now? Gifty Osei customised her car and people were insulting her. What kind of behaviour is that? Yet we want them to be at par with their secular colleagues.

Number two – the same people who had said gospel music videos were raw and unattractive are describing the new and improved ones of modern times as worldly. We say they are not visible on social media; so a few of them have started making themselves visible. Some have adopted some strategies used by their secular friends, and again we say “Gospel musicians should not do that.” So what should a Gospel musician do?

I remember some years ago, some people were encouraging Gospel – secular collaborations. A few people like Lady Prempeh and Herty Borngreat started. Even though their songs were accepted, there were people who thought ‘light’ and ‘darkness’ had no relationship. But they were the same people who had suggested that a bit of rap could make Gospel music more appealing to the youth.

I know there are extremities in life and I know such situations when I see them. The Ghanaian Gospel artiste is in a quandary of what to do, lest they are mauled by the general public. In fact, this is killing creativity and the promotion of the Gospel music genre…”

The article above is a reflection of how the average Ghanaian sees the Gospel artiste. Recently, Gospel musician Joe Mettle was quoted to have said that Gospel musicians don’t canvass votes for awards, because they see it as materialistic. Even though this was his opinion, it is a view widely held by the Ghanaian populace.

The notion that Gospel musicians are ‘holy’ and must not worry themselves of certain ‘worldly’ acts is the reason they can never have certain opportunities in the music industry. So you see why Gospel musicians can’t win Artiste of the Year at the VGMAs? You see why Joe Mettle can’t beat Sarkodie, EL, Stonebwoy, Mzvee, Medikal to win the slot?

The category definition of VGMA Artiste of the Year states that: “Artiste 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. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single/album during the year under review.”

This definition has three basic components: audience appeal, popularity and hit single/album. There are a lot of things that secular musicians do to pass these requirements that most Gospel musicians do not do. For example, we have very few Gospel musicians who would organise their own concerts. Most of them are only interested in ‘shabo.’ It is not wrong to perform in Churches because that is what your ministry entails, but you must also be easily identified with something, so why don’t you create a formidable brand and that makes your popularity solid! That is a major platform, upon which to measure your audience appeal.

There are a lot of Gospel musicians who have very low presence and interactivity on social media. Some Gospel musicians have smash hit songs but nobody knows them. Their image visibility ebbs low.

Unlike the secular world where an artiste can create stunts to stay relevant in the system, Gospel music is quite restrictive. Last year, hell nearly broke loose on Brother Sammy when he was alleged to have feigned an accident, for publicity. While secular artistes are ‘dissing’ each other to court attention, the only stunt the Gospel artiste can pull is perhaps to say “Jesus is coming tomorrow.”

Lastly, since the Board has a 30% stake in determining who wins what, we can’t rule them out in the equation. My research has revealed that a majority of the members on the VGMA Board are not Gospel lovers. In fact, most of them are not even fans of Gospel music. There is therefore a justification to their proclivity for rooting for a secular song at the expense of Gospel songs and their artistes (in this wise).

These, among a blizzard of factors have contributed to the imbalance in the brand visibility between Gospel and secular artistes, hence the slimmer chance for a Gospel artiste to win Artiste of the Year at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.

This, however, does not mean Gospel musicians are not good. It rather means that the Gospel musicians find themselves in a secularised environment where anything done the secular way sells faster. It is either to conform or to play second fiddle to secularism.

–

By: Kwame Dadzie – [email protected]

The post Why a Gospel musician may never win VGMA Artiste of the Year award [Article] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The awards event is one of the country’s biggest, dedicated to recognize artistes who have made significant impact in their respective music genres.

This year’s list has among the top nominees Nacee, Sarkodie, Medikal and M.ainfest who are up for various awards in different categories.

Find the list of nominees below:

GOSPEL SONG OF THE YEAR
Yewo Nyame A Yewo Adze – Nacee ft. Ernest Opoku
Change Over – Mary Agyemang
Mewo Jesus – Mabel Okyere
Still You Reign – Sonnie Badu
Healing Stream – Jeshrun Okyere ft. Nathaniel Bassey
Agye Won Nsam – Piesie Esther

HIGHLIFE SONG OF THE YEAR
Jwe – Bisa K’dei
Confession – Kofi Kinaata
Beshiwo – Becca ft. Bisa K’dei
Mintse Bo – Wisa Greid
Christy – Dobble
Bokor Bokor – Kill Beatz ft. Mugeez & Fuse ODG

HIPLIFE SONG OF THE YEAR
Samba – Guru ft. Singlet
Club – Donzy ft. Piesie & Sarkodie
Go Low – Flowking Stone
RNS – Sarkodie
Bie Gya – Criss Waddle ft. Stonebwoy
Sweetie Pie – Kofi Kinaata
Alhaji – VVIP ft. Patoranking

HIP-HOP SONG OF THE YEAR
God MC – M.anifest
Trumpet – Sarkodie ft. Teephlow, Koo Ntakra, Strongman, Donzy, Medikal & Pappy Kojo
Lalafalama – EL
Confirm (remix) – Medikal ft. Sarkodie
Egboame (remix) – Edem ft. Cabum, Teephlow, Ayat, Gemini, Medikal, Mac M, Darko & Bebelino
Tension – Okyeame Kwame ft. Cabum, Medikal & Sister Debbie

BEST REGGAE/DANCEHALL SONG OF THE YEAR
People Dey – Stonebwoy
Nwansina – Ras Kuuku ft. Luther
Gborgborvor – Gallaxy ft. Stonebwoy
Kupe – Ebony
Yonnah – Samini ft. Luther
Pain Dem – Rudebwoy Ranking
Arostor – Kaakie ft. Yaa Pono

AFRO POP SONG OF THE YEAR
Kaabuame – EL
Dance For Me – Eugy ft. Mr. Eazi
Solo – Article Wan
U x Me – Joey B
Too Risky – Medikal ft. Sister Debbie
Too Late – Adina
Grind – Vision DJ ft. A.I

GOSPEL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Joe Mettle
Piesie Esther
Sonnnie Badu
Jeshrun Okyere
Nacee

HIGHLIFE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Bis K’dei
Becca
Kofi Kinaata

REGGAE/DANCEHALL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Stonebwoy
Ras Kuuku
Samini
Ebony
Rudebwoy
MzVee

HIPLIFE/HIP-HOP ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Guru
EL
Flowking Stone
Medikal
Sarkodie
M.anifest
Joey B

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Joe Mettle – Onwanwani
Kill Beatz – Too Late
Kofi Kinaata – Confession
Nacee – Yewo Nyame A Yewo Adze

BEST MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Leno by Wiyaala – Charlotte Appleton
Small Small by Okyeame Kwame ft. MzVee – Phamous Philms
Yewo Nyame A Yewo Adze by Nacee ft. Ernest Opoku – Mcwillies
Rapping Drums by Flowking Stone – Xbills Ebenezer
W’ani Aba by M.anifest ft. Bisa K’dei – Solomon Director
Nyedzilo by Edem ft. Rekaado Banks – Phamous Philms

RECORD OF THE YEAR
Me Ne Wo Aa – Nacee
Hello – Akwaboah ft. Sarkodie
Too Late – Adina
U x Me – Joey B
Motromodwo – Trigmatic ft. A.I

BEST MALE VOCALIST
Ogya Mensah – Get Serious
Afriyie – Here To Stay
Joe Mettle – Onwanwani
Akwaboah – Hello
Sonnie badu – Still You Reign
Ernest Opoku – Yewo Nyame A Yewo Adze

BEST FEMALE VOCALIST
Adina – Too Late
Becca – Beshiwo
MzVee – Nobody Else
Piesie Esther – Agye Won Nsam
Petrah – My Man

BEST GROUP OF THE YEAR
VVIP
R2bees
Dunsin
Gallaxy

BEST RAPPER OF THE YEAR
Flowking Stone – Fire Bon Dem (remix)
EL – Love God
Medikal – Connect
Yaa Pono (Ponobiom) – Mind on Money
M.anifest – 100%
Sarkodie – Fire Born Dem (remix)

BEST COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Alhaji – VVIP ft. Patoranking
Yewo Nyame A Yewo Adze – Nacee ft. Ernest Opoku
Confirm (remix) – Medikal ft. Sarkodie
Bie Gya – Criss Waddle ft. Stonebwoy
Nwansina – Ras Kuuku ft. Luther
Samba – Guru ft. Singlet

BEST NEW ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Medikal
Nii Funny
Fancy Gadam
Article Wan
Feli Nuna
Ebony
Rudebwoy Ranking
Eugy

OVERALL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
EL
Sarkodie
Stonebwoy
Joe Mettle
MzVee
Medikal

AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Patoranking
Mr. Eazi
Runtown
Tekno
Nathaniel Bassey

UNSUNG ARTISTE
AJ Lyricx
Afezi Perry
CJ Biggerman
Cina Soul
Deon Boakye
eShun
Kuami Eugene

The 2017 Ghana Music Awards, the 18th edition is organized in partnership with the Musicians the Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) and under the auspices of and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.

It has Vodafone Ghana as headline sponsor.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nominees for 2017 VGMAs named [Full list] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.