CATEGORY DEFINITIONS
Artiste(s) of the Year
The Artiste of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the artiste with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the year under review. The artiste(s) must have released a hit single/album and must be one of the artistes with the highest nominations in the year under review.
Hip Hop Act of the Year
The Hip Hop Act of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as having with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Hip Hop Genre. They must have released a hit single/album during the year under review.
Highlife Act of the Year
The Highlife Act of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Highlife genre. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single/album during the year under review.
Reggae/Dancehall Act of the Year
The Reggae/Dancehall Act of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Reggae/Dancehall genre. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single/album in the year under review.
Gospel Act of the Year
The Gospel Act of the Year is the Artiste adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Gospel genre. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single/album during the year under review.
New Artiste of the Year
The New Artiste of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most promising and talented emerging artiste (s). The award goes to a relatively new artiste(s) who released a single/album that establishes the public identity of the artiste within the year under review.
Best Collaboration of the year
The Best Collaboration of the year is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the song released through the collaboration of two or more Artistes, or the featuring of one or more artistes. The song must have been released and generated the most excitement during the year under review.
Afrobeats Act of the Year
The Afrobeats Act of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Afrobeats genre. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single/album during the year under review.
Group of the Year
The Best Group of the Year is the Artistes adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the group with the highest audience appeal and popularity. They must comprise of at least 2 or more members and must have released a hit single/album during the year under review.
Rapper of the Year
The Best Rapper of the year is adjudged by the Academy, Board and the general public as the rap Artiste with the best word compositions, rhymes and rap dexterity on a popular song released in the year under review.
Album of the Year
The Album of the Year is adjudged by the Academy, Board and the general public as the most outstanding compilation (either by the number of hit songs or the quality of production) of an album that was released during the year under review. It must have generated excitement during the year.
Vocalist of the Year
The Best Vocal Artiste is adjudged by the Academy, Board and the general public as the Male artiste (solo) with the best vocal delivery/Performance on any musical presentation which was released during the year under review.
Music Video of the Year
The Music Video of the year is adjudged by the Academy and Board as the most creative and entertaining music video produced within the calendar year. The song for which the video has been produced, need not have been released in the year under review. The award goes to Artiste.
Songwriter of the Year
The Song Writer of the Year is adjudged by the Academy and Board as the Song Writer(s) responsible for the song with the most original lyrics and compositions for any released song during the year under review.
Music Producer of the Year
The Music Producer of the Year is adjudged by the Board to be the Producer(s) directly responsible for the most nominated songs in the year under review.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award is adjudged by the Board as a Living Legend of Ghanaian Music whose works must have spanned generations. The artiste may not have released in the year under review.
Traditional Artiste/Group of the Year
The Traditional Artiste/Group of the year is adjudged by the Boards as the most popular performing Traditional or Folkloric Artiste(s) in the year under review.
Hiplife Act of the Year
The Hiplife Act of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as having with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Hiplife Genre. They must have released a hit single/album during the year under review.
DJ of the year
The most outstanding/dominant, DJ of the year on the basis of his/her work as a radio/Club/Artiste DJ.
DIASPORA ACT OF THE YEAR
Diaspora Artiste is a Ghanaian from Ashanti Region, mainstream, underground and up and coming Artiste (s) based outside Ghana, who has never been nominated by Vodafone Ghana Music Awards and 3Music adjudged by the board academy and the general public as the Artiste whose music crossed boarders and made the most impact internationally and on the continent at large during the year under review.
MOST PROMSING ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Most promising Artiste of the Year is the artiste(s) adjudged by the board, academy and the general public as the most promising and talented young artiste(s), below the age of sixteen years who has released a single/album during the year under review.