SAMAs technical excellence winners announcedThe 18th Annual MTN South African Music Awards first awards night focusing on technical excellence has been held, prior to the main ceremony tonight, Monday, 30 April, 2012, which will be broadcast live from the Superbowl at 8.30pm on SABC1. Basking in the spotlight on the night - and deservedly so - were local treasures Ray Phiri and Vusi Mahlasela, who were presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards for their service and contribution to South African music. Johan van der Colff scooped the MTN SAMA for Best Engineer for Zahara's album "Loliwe". The track Loliwe was also named Best-Selling Full Track Download of the Year, having been legally downloaded 32 441 times during 2011. More than 250 000 downloadsHouse and kwaito producer DJ Cleo notched up two trophies for his hit single Facebook, winning the category for Best-Selling True-Tone Download of the Year (having sold 3520 downloads) and Best-Selling Ring-Back Tone of the Year (with 252 184 downloads). The winners of the MTN Best-Selling Mobile Music Download of the Year and Best-Selling Album of the Year are due to be revealed at the Monday night awards. Ryan Peimer, creator of The Parlotones' It's Magic Music Video won the MTN SAMA for Best Video of the Year and Dan Roberts was named Best Producer for his work on Laurie Levin's album "Six Winters". DJ Sbu won a SAMA for Remix of the Year for Lengoma, featuring songbird Zahara. The Best Live DVD award went to Simphiwe Dana for "An Evening with Simphiwe Dana (Live in Concert)". The Award for the SAMPRA Most Played Song on South African Radio in 2011 went to Liquideep for Alone. WinnersBest ProducerDan Roberts - Six Winters by Laurie Levine Best EngineerJohan van der Colff - Loliwe by Zahara Best Video of the YearRyan Peimer - It's Magic by The Parlotones Best Live DVDSimphiwe Dana - An Evening with Simphiwe Dana (Live in Concert) Remix of the YearDJ Sbu - Lengoma featuring Zahara Lifetime Achievement AwardsRay Phiri and Vusi Mahlasela Best Selling True-Tone Download of the YearFacebook by DJ Cleo Best Selling Ring-Back-Tone of the YearFacebook by DJ Cleo Best Selling Full-Track Download of the YearLoliwe by Zahara SAMPRA Most Played Song on South African Radio in 2011Alone by Liquiddeep For all the MTN SAMA 18 action at the main awards ceremony tonight, watch SABC1 at 8.30pm or go to the official SAMA 18 digital platforms for live streaming, highlights and news: |