New categories have been added to the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMAs) and old ones refreshed for the 26th edition of the ultimate music awards scheme in the country.

"Please note that the categories of the TGMAs have been revised," a statement from organisers Charterhouse Ghana dated Tuesday, January 21, 2025, signed by Head, Public Events & Communications, Robert Klah, said.

"The revision affects definitions and additions." 

See the revised categories below:

1. Artiste of the Year

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 must have released a hit Single/EP/Album, and must be one of the artistes with the highest nominations in the year under review.

2. Most Popular Song of the Year

Most Popular Song of the Year is a song adjudged by the Academy, board and the General Public as the most popular song commercially released in the year under review. The song must have generated the most excitement and enjoyed a lot of patronage from the general public.

3. Album/EP of the Year

Album/EP of the year is the body of work adjudged by the Academy and Board as the most outstanding compilation, (either by the number of hit songs, and or quality of production) commercially released in the year under review.

4.  Best New Artiste

The Best New Artiste is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, the Board, and General Public as the most promising emerging artiste with the highest audience appeal and popularity. The award goes to a relatively new artiste who released a hit Single/EP/Album that established the public identity of the artiste within the year under review. A previous nomination in any of the song performance/artiste categories would render the artiste ineligible. An artiste who breaks away from a group already nominated by the scheme, shall not be eligible.

5. Record of the Year

Record of the year is adjudged by the Academy and the Board as the most outstanding artistic song commercially released in the year under review. The record may not have enjoyed commercial success, but must have quality production values.  

6. Audio Engineer of the Year

Audio Engineer of the Year award is presented to the Engineer(s) directly responsible for the song adjudged by the Board as the Record of the Year, in the year under review. 

7. Producer of the Year  

The Music Producer of the Year award is presented to the Producer(s) directly responsible for the most award winning songs in the year under review.

8. Best Rap Performance

The Best Rap Performance on a solo or collaborative song is adjudged by the Academy and the Board as the best word compositions or lyrical content, structure, rhymes, dexterity, and or musical presentation reflecting the broad spectrum of rap music style and culture on a song, commercially released in the year under review. The song many not have enjoyed commercial success but must have good artistic value.

9. Best Hiplife/Hiphop Artiste

The Best Hiplife/Hiphop Artiste is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, the Board and the General Public, as the Artiste with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Hiplife/Hiphop music genre. The artiste must have commercially released a Hiplife/Hiphop hit Single/EP/Album during the year under review.

10. Best Hiplife Song

The Best Hiplife Song is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Hiplife song (fusion of Hiphop and Ghanaian rhythms), commercially released in the year under review. The song must have generated the most public excitement and enjoyed a lot of patronage from the general public.

11. Best Hiphop Song

The Best Hiphop Song is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Hiphop song (rap, trap, melodic rap, and all the other subgenres), commercially released in the year under review. The song must have generated the most public excitement and enjoyed a lot of patronage from the general public.

12. Best Highlife Artiste

The Best Highlife Artiste is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, the Board and the General Public, as the Artiste with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Highlife music genre. The artiste must have commercially released a Highlife hit Single/EP/Album during the year under review.

13. Best Highlife Song

The Best Highlife Song is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Highlife song (traditional/contemporary), commercially released in the year under review. The song must have generated the most public excitement and enjoyed a lot of patronage from the general public.

14. Best Afrobeats/Afropop Artiste

The Best Afrobeats/Afropop Artiste is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, the Board and the General Public, as the Artiste with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Afrobeats/Afropop music genre. The artiste must have commercially released an Afrobeats/Afropop hit Singe/EP/Album during the year under review.

15. Best Afropop Song

The Best Afropop Song is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Afropop song (fusion of African rhythms, and or a blend with western music) commercially released in the year under review. The son must have generated the most public excitement and enjoyed a lot of patronage from the general public.

16. Best Afrobeats Song

The Best Afrobeats Song is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Afrobeats song (fusion of Western music and West African rhythms such as Highlfie, Juju music, etc.), commercially released in the year under review. The song must have generated the most public excitement and enjoyed a lot of patronage from the general public.

17. Best Reggae/Dancehall Artiste

The Best Reggae/Dancehall Artiste is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, the Board and the General Public, as the Artiste with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Reggae/Dancehall genre. The artiste must have commercially released a Reggae/Dancehall hit Single/EP/Album during the year under review.

18. Best Reggae/Dancehall Song

The Best Reggae/Dancehall Song is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Reggae/Dancehall song (including its related forms such as Roots Reggae, Ragga, Ska, Dub, Afro-Dancehall), commercially released in the year under review. The song must have generated the most public excitement and enjoyed a lot of patronage from the general public.

19. Best Gospel Artiste

The Best Gospel Artiste is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, the Board and the General Public as the Artiste with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Gospel music genre. The artiste must have commercially released a Gospel hit Single/EP/Album during the year under review.

20. Best Gospel Song

The Best Gospel Song is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Christian song, commercially released in the year under review. The song must have generated the most public excitement and enjoyed a lot of patronage from the general public. Only songs performed by Gospel artistes are eligible for this category.

21. Best Urban/Contemporary Gospel Song

The Best Urban/Contemporary Gospel Song is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular urban/contemporary Gospel song (music that combines Gospel with elements of R&B, Hiphop, and other pop genres), commercially released in the year under review. The song must have generated the most public excitement and enjoyed a lot of patronage from the general public. Only songs performed by Gospel artistes are eligible for this category.

22. Collaboration of the Year

The Collaboration of the Year is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular song commercially released in the year under review through the collaboration/featuring of two or more Ghanaian artistes. The song must have generated public excitement and enjoyed a lot patronage from the general public.

23. International Collaboration of the Year

The International Collaboration of the Year is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular song commercially released in the year under review through the collaboration/featuring of Ghanaian and non-Ghanaian artistes. The song must have generated public excitement and enjoyed a lot of patronage from the general public.

24. Best African Song

The Best African Song is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board, and General Public as the most popular song of a non-Ghanaian African Act, commercially released in the year under review. The song must have generated the most public excitement and enjoyed a lot of patronage from the Ghanaian general public.

25. Songwriter of the Year

The Songwriter of the Year is adjudged by the Academy and Board as the Songwriter(s) (authors, composers) responsible for the best written song with lyrics, content, compositions (arrangement, and song structure), commercially released in the year under review the song may not have enjoyed commercial success, but must have good artistic value.

26. Best Music Video

The Best Music Video is adjudged by the Academy and Board as the most creative and entertaining official music video, professionally produced and published in the year under review. The song for which the video has been produced is neither required to be commercially successful, nor released in the year under review. The music video must be publicly accessible on TV and Video Streaming Platforms. This awards goes to both the director and the artiste(s).

27. Traditional Artiste of the Year

The Traditional Artiste of the Year is the artiste(s) adjudged solely by the Board as the most outstanding Traditional or Folkloric Artiste in the year under review.

28. Instrumentalist of the Year

The Instrumentalist of the Year is the artiste adjudged solely by the board as the most outstanding live performing instrumentalist during the year under review.

29. Best Female Vocal Performance

The Best Female Vocal Performance on a solo or collaborative song is adjudged by the Academy and Boards as the best vocal delivery/performance by a female artiste, on any musical presentation which was commercially released during the year under review. The song may not have enjoyed commercial success but must have good artistic value.

30. Best Male Vocal Performance

The Best Male Vocal Performance on a solo or collaborative song is adjudged by the Academy and Boards as the best vocal delivery/performance by a male artiste, on any musical presentation which was commercially released during the year under review. The song may not have enjoyed commercial success but must have good artistic value.

31. Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award is an honorary award presented to an artiste (a living legend) to celebrate their expansive outstanding works over generations. The artiste may not have released a song in the year under review. This is adjudged solely by the Board.

32. Titan Award

The Titan Award is an honorary award presented to music industry contributors (personalities, institutions) who have made immense contributions to the growth and development of the music industry. This is adjudged solely by the Board.

33. Music for Good Award

The Music for Good Award is presented to an artiste(s) who has used the power of music and their brand for the good of society. The artiste must have released a related song in the year under review.

Read: TGMAs officially open for nominations for 26th edition, deadline Sun. Feb 16