Entries open for 2013 MTN South African Music Awards

"The event was simplified and streamlined last year and it proved to be successful," says SAMA CEO Nlanhla Sibisi. "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 talented creative people involved in it."

Category changes

The Best Sokkie Dans Album becomes Best Kontemporêre Musiek Album; the Best Smooth Urban Album has changed to Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album and the Best Street Urban Album name has been converted to Best Rap Album.

The definition of the rule for Best Newcomer has been adjusted from the last awards to ensure that those competing in the category are new arrivals to the SA music scene. Previously for Best Live DVD, only the producer would receive an award; this has been adjusted to reward both the producer and the artist involved. There will now be one award for the Remix of the Year instead of two.

These changes have been made after extensive consultation and feedback from key stakeholders, including record companies, artists and the media to best reflect the current realities of the music landscape.

Categories

Top five 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

For more, go to www.samusicawards.co.za.