ASHANTI MUSIC AWARDS CATEGORY DEFINITIONS
1. Hip Hop-hiplife Act: The Hip life/Hip Hop Act of the Year is the Artiste(s) declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal in the region and popularity in the Hiplife/Hip Hop Genre. The artiste must have released a hit single(s) or album in the year under review.
2. Highlife Act of the year: The Highlife Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal in the region and popularity in the Highlife genre. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single(s) or album and must be adept with live band performances.
3. Reggae/Dancehall Act of the Year: The Reggae/Dancehall Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal in the region and popularity in the Reggae/Dancehall genre. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single(s) or album in the year under review. 4. Gospel Artiste of the Year
4. Gospel Artiste Act of the Year: Gospel Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal in the region and popularity in the Gospel genre. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single (s) or album and must be a good performer.
5. Most Promising Act of the Year: The Most Promising Act of the Year is the Artiste(s) declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most talented emerging artiste (s) in the region. The award goes to new act(s) who released a single(s) that first brought them into the limelight during the year under review.
6. Best Collaboration of the year: The Best Collaboration of the year is the song declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the song released through the collaboration/featuring of two or more Artistes. The song must be a hit in the region.
7. Artiste of the Year: The Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Board, Academy and the General Public as one who released a hit single or album in the year under review, got the highest audience appeal and staged the best performances.
8. Ghana Most Viral Song: The Ghana Most Viral Song of the Year is the song affirmed 100% by the General Public as the most popular song released in the year under review. The song must have enjoyed a lot of patronage and generated the most excitement during the year in the country.
9. Best Group: The Best Group of the Year is the Artistes declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the group with the highest audience appeal and popularity. They must comprise at least 2 or more members and must have released a hit single(s)
10 . ASHANTI International Act: ASHANTI International Act of the Year is the Artiste(s) who lives outside the country and has made the most impact in the Region and Ghana at large during the year under review.
11. Vocal Act: Best Male or female Vocal Artiste is declared by the Academy, Board and the General public as the Male artiste with the best vocal delivery on a song which was released during the year under review.
11. Rap Act : Rap Act of the year, is the rapper declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the rap Artiste with the best word arrangements, verses and rap deftness on a popular song released in the year under review.
12. Best Music Promoter: Promoter of the Year award is declared by the Board, Academy and the General public to be the best promoter who assiduously promoted Ashanti based act(s) under the year under review.
13. Afropop Artiste: Afropop Artiste of the Year is adjudged by the Academy, Board, and General Public as the artiste who produced the most patronized Afropop song. He or she must have generated the most excitement and audience appeal in the year under review.
14. Best campus Act: The Best Campus Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) declared by the Academy, Board, and the General Public (Votes & social media) as the artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal in the region and popularity in our Tertiary institutions. The artiste must have released a hit single(s) or album in the year under review.
15. Best Pub/ Night Club of the year: The best pub/ night club of the year is adjourned by the academy, board, and the general public as the most outstanding and exciting pub or night club of the year
16. Hypeman of the Year: Hypeman of the Year award is declared by the Board, Academy and the General public to be the best promoter who assiduously promoted Ashanti based act(s) under the year under review at various events and night club/pubs.
17.Music Video of the Year: The Music Video of the year is declared by the Academy and Board as the most creative and entertaining music video produced within the calendar year.
18. Sound Engineer of the Year: The Sound Engineer of the Year award is declared by the Academy and the Board as the Sound Engineer directly responsible for the recording, mastering and technical treatment of a nominated song during the year under review.
19. Video Director of the Year: Video Director of the year is declared by the Academy and Board as the director with the most creative and pleasurable music video produced within the calendar year.
20. Song Writer of the year: The Song Writer of the Year is pronounced by the Academy and Board as the Song Writer(s) responsible for the song with the most meaningful original lyrics and compositions for any released song during the year under review.
21: Album/ EP of the Year: The Album of the Year is declared by the Academy and Board as the most exceptional compilation of hit songs on an album that was released during the year under review.
22. Most Popular Song: the most popular song of the Year is the song declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular song released in the year under review. The song must be a hit song in the Region.
23.Traditional Artiste/Group: The Traditional Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal in the region and popularity in the traditional song and also performs the popular traditional dance called “adowa” at events. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single(s) or album and must be adept with live band performances.
24. Artiste Manager/Management: An individual, group or company whose artiste management skills made way for the artiste (s) under his/her management to have a hit song or brought to limelight in the year under review.
25. New Artiste of the year: The New Artiste(s) of the Year is the upcoming Artiste(s) adjudged by the Board, Academy and the General Public as one who released a hit single or album in the year under review, got the highest audience appeal and staged the best performances
TECHNICAL VOTING CATEGORIES
Lifetime Achievement Award: The Lifetime Achievement Award is affirmed by the Board as a Living Legend from the region whose works must have spanned generations. The artiste may not have released in the year under review.
Most Influential Act in Ghana: The Most Influential Artiste in Ghana is the artiste declared by the Academy and Board as the artiste(s) with highest audience appeal in the country and must have released a hit single under the year in review.
Pride of ASHANTI Act: ASHANTI Pride of the year is the artiste(s) declared by the Academy and Board as the artiste(s) non-resident in the region, who has gained national and international recognition in the music industry. The artiste(s) must hail from the region and must have released a hit single or album in the year under review.