Gospel artiste Cwesi Oteng had six nominations including Album of the Year and Nicholas Omane Acheampong of Zapenath Paneah Fame had five including Producer of the Year as part of his nominations which has already strating drawing controversies.

Also talked about by patrons as controversial wasthe absence of Guru’s “Lapaz Toyota” in the nominations.

Speaking on this year’s theme, “the next level”, the Executive Director of Charter House, Theresa Ayoade said VGMA is evolving  along with the Ghanaian music industry which has seen a lot of rising stars and noted that there are a lot more promising talents in the country who need guidance to succeed.

Mrs. Ayoade disclosed that this year’s music festival will include a series of what she termed as “next level” industry seminars which will create a platform for seasoned professional and international artistes to give local artistes guidance on marketing themselves and their music globally.

“We need our artistes to understand what it takes to be successful so that they can channel their efforts into the right activities. I’m sure many of them have realized that it takes more than talent and a lot of hardwork but doing the right things is necessary” she stated.

The Chief Marketing Officer of Vodafone, Uche Ofodile in her contribution to the theme said it reflects on her company’s desire to help existing and new talents in the industry to the next level.

Full list of nominations:

Artiste of the Year

R2Bees

D-Black

VIP

Kwaw Kese

Cwesi Oteng

4X4

Vodafone Song Of The Year

Bye-Bye – Asem Ft. Kwabena Kwabena

Life (Walahi) – R2Bees

Vera – D-Black

Ole Seke – Dr. Slim & Dobble

Aluguntugui – Keche

Azonto Fiesta – Appietus, Sarkodie & Kesse

Zaphanat Panea – Nicholas Omane Acheampong

Antenna – Fuse ODG

Best Collaboration Of The Year

Bye-Bye – Asem & Kwabena Kwabena

Ka No Seyaa – Herty Bongreat & Trigmatic

Ole Seke – Dr Slim & Dobble

Azonto Fiesta – Appietus, Sarkodie & Kesse

Sika – Okyeame Kwame & Kesse

No Away – Becca & MI

Hip Hop Song Of The Year

Falling – D-Black Ft. Mo’Chedda

Heyba – Edem

Pizza & Burger – Sarkodie & Jayso

Makaa Maka – M.Anifest

Bayla – R2Bees

Hip Life Song Of The Year

Kaalu – E.L.

Life (Walahi) – R2Bees

Ole Seke – Dr Slim & Dobble

Aluguntugui- Keche

Vera – D-Black Ft Joey B

Azonto Fiesta – Appietus, Sarkodie & Kesse

Mokoni – 4X4

Bye-Bye – Asem Ft Kwabena Kwabena

Azonto Ghost – Bisa

Pampanaa – VIP

Gospel Artiste Of The Year

Herty Bongreat

Nicholas Omane Acheampong

Cwesi Oteng

Cynthia Mccauley

Obaapa Christy

Afro Pop Song Of The Year

Antenna – Fuse ODG

No Away – Becca & MI

So High – Fatural Face

Best In Me – Efya

Papa – Jay Ghartey

Stone Bwoy Ft Irene Logan – Ghetto Love

Hip Life/Hip Hop Artiste Of The Year

R2Bees

D-Black

Keche

4X4

VIP

E.L.

Gospel Song Of The Year

Ka No Seyaa – Herty Bongreat Ft Trigmatic

Nkomhye – Cynthia Mccauley

Zaphanat Panea – Nicholas Omane Acheampong

Se Me Wo Nkwa Daa – Joe Dee Owusu Ft Amy Newman

God Dey Bless Me – Cwesi Oteng

African Artiste Of The Year

Iyanya

P-Square

Davido

Flavour

D-Banj

Wizkid

Best Group Of The Year

R2Bees

Keche

VIP

4X4

Highlife Song Of The Year

Odo – R2Bees

Love Of My Life – Afriyie Wutah

Lovi Dovi – Raquel

Paradise – D-Flex

Treat Her Royal – Kesse Ft Sarkodie

Highlife Artiste Of The Year

Afriyie

D-Flex

Kesse

New Artiste Of The Year

Lousika

Cynthia Mccauley

Natural Face

Kaakie

Reggae/ Dance Hall Song Of The Year

Shatta City – Bandana

Our Africa – Blakk Rasta Ft Jay Anber

Go Go Wild – Eazzy Ft Jupiter

House Of Pain – Knii Lante

Toffee Pon Tongue – Kaakie

Time Bomb – Samini Ft Wizkid

Album Of The Year

Something Else – E.L.

Mercy Project – Cwesi Oteng

Mr. Versatile – Okyeame Kwame

The Revelation – D-Black

Solid Ground – Asem

Gospel Album Of The Year

Back To The Sender – Obaa Christy

Wait – Cynthia Maccauley

Zaphanat Panea – Nicholas Omane Acheampong

Mercy Project – Cwesi Oteng

Christian Life – Joe Dee Owusu

Best Male Vocal Performance

Muggez (R2Bees) – Odo

Chase – Lonely

Kwabena Kwabena – Bye-Bye

Knii Lante – House Of Pain

Afriyie – Love Of My Life

Best Female Vocal Performance

Becca – No Away

Raquel – Lovi Dovi

Efya – Best In Me

Yaa Yaa – Kae

Celestine Donkor – Me Nim Nguase

Adina – Let Me Go

Song Writer Of The Year

Mugeez Abdul Rashid – Odo

Nana Wiafe Asante-Mensah & George Kwabena Adu – Bye-Bye

Kwame Nsiah Apau – Sika

Akwaboah – Best In Me

Frank Osei Afriyie – Love Of My Life

Kwame Tsikata –Makaa Maka

Nana Yaw Oduro – Not Alone

Record Of The Year

Bye-Bye – Asem

Lonely – Chase

Best In Me – Efya

No Away – Becca

Sika – Okyeame Kwame

House Of Pain – Knii Lante

Not Alone – Trigmatic

Best Rapper

Sarkodie – Azonto Fiesta

E.L. – Kaalu

Asem – Bye-Bye

M.Anifest – Makaa Maka

Edem – Heyba

Okyeame Kwame – Mr. Versatile

Producer Of The Year

Kaywa

Killbeatz

Nshorna Music

Eyoh

E.L.

Appietus

Nicholas Omane Acheampong

Story by Gifty Owusu-Amoah/Graphic Showbiz