Inside the Selection Process of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) Nominees

For 26 consecutive years, the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) has been a key pillar in celebrating and rewarding excellence in the Ghanaian music industry. With every edition, the announcement of nominations sparks discussions and, often, controversy. Fans and industry stakeholders alike voice their excitement, confusion, and sometimes disappointment over who made the cut and who didn’t. But how exactly are these nominees selected?

The TGMA Voting Process: Board, Academy, and the Public

1. The Board

At the core of the nomination process is the Telecel Ghana Music Awards Board. This group comprises industry professionals, including music producers, sound engineers, entertainment journalists, and veteran musicians. Their role is to assess and shortlist eligible works based on the set criteria. The board is responsible for determining the categories, defining nomination criteria, and overseeing the entire awards process to maintain credibility and industry standards.

2. The Academy

The Academy is a larger body made up of music industry players such as DJs, event promoters, artist managers, and other key stakeholders. Their primary role is to review the shortlisted nominees and cast their votes to help determine the final selections. Their input ensures that the nominations reflect industry-wide opinions rather than being solely controlled by a single panel.

3. The General Public

Once the final list of nominees is released, the general public is invited to participate in the voting process. Fans are given the opportunity to vote for their favorite artists through online platforms, SMS voting, and other designated channels. This stage of voting ensures that the awards reflect not only industry recognition but also the voice of music consumers in most of the song categories like “Most Popular Song of the Year.” However, the weight of public votes varies per category, with some awards relying more on the Board and Academy’s decision when it comes to technical categories like “Songwriter of the Year.”

Criteria for TGMA Nomination

To be considered for a nomination, an artist or work must meet specific criteria set by the awards board. These criteria often include:

• Release Period: The song, album, or music video must have been released within the eligibility period specified by the Board; which is the year under review (January 1 – December 31).
• Impact and Popularity: The commercial success, streaming numbers, radio airplay, and social influence of a song or artist are key considerations.
• Musical Excellence: Beyond popularity, the artistic and technical quality of the music is assessed, including production, songwriting, and originality.
• Industry Influence: Artists who have made significant contributions to the music industry in Ghana may receive nominations based on their overall impact.

Why the Controversies?

Despite the structured process, nominations often spark debates for various reasons:

• Snubs and Surprises: Some artists or songs that gained massive popularity may not be nominated due to technical reasons, genre classification issues, or lack of submissions from their management; a case in point being the music duo DopeNation.
• Category Confusion: The placement of certain artists in specific categories sometimes causes disagreements, especially when their music style cuts across multiple genres. For instance, the self-acclaimed “African Dancehall King” Shatta Wale winning the “Highlife Song of the Year” at a previous edition.
• Perceived Bias: Some fans and industry insiders believe that favouritism or politics play a role in the selection process, though the Board insists on impartiality.

The Telecel Ghana Music Awards remains one of the most prestigious platforms for recognizing musical excellence in the country. While controversies over nominations are inevitable, understanding the selection process helps to demystify the decisions made. As the 26th edition approaches, all eyes will be on the nominees—and the debates are sure to continue.