This year’s VGMA nominations reflect the industry’s growth -Kwesi Ernest

Nominations for this year’s Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs) have been released by organisers, Charterhouse and already, it is creating a lot of buzz with industry people giving their own interpretations of the nominations.

According to artiste manager/producer and CEO of Media Excel Productions, Kwesi Ernest, this year’s awards scheme is a reflection of the growth of Ghana’s music industry.

“Well, I think most of the nominations this year is a reflection of the growth of our industry, what is happening on our airplay so I commend the board for a job well done. Apart from one or two of the categories which I have issues with, all the others are okay.

“And that has to do with Awura Abena being nominated in the New Artiste of The Year category, I need answers from the board as to why an artiste who has released three albums is in the New Artiste of the Year category? I am hoping that the board will come out and explain to all of us.

“Does it mean that they are using the awards calendar to define the growth of an artiste in the industry? Does that mean that getting a nomination is the definition of one’s entry into the industry? Does that also mean that all the hard work the artiste has done over the years does not matter?

‘’I also think Kwabena Kwabena should have been nominated in more categories than he was this year. I stand to be corrected but I think he was nominated in only one category and even that was with a feature he did. He had a very good year in the year under review and certainly deserved more nominations.

“I chanced on some industry people who also questioned why Diana Hamilton didn’t get nominated in the Artiste of the Year category? Because she is still very relevant and performing across the globe and she satisfies all the requirements in the Artiste of the Year category. She has been very active all over the place so why was her name omitted?” Kwesi Ernest said.