The hotly awaited Amstel Record of the Year Top 20 has been released – and the power is now squarely in the public’s hands to decide who walks away with the local music industry’s ultimate accolade at the 22nd Annual South African Music Awards.
The Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA), which presents the annual awards, unveiled the #AmstelROTY Top 20 amid great hype during Live Amp on SABC1 on Friday, 22 April 2016.
Now, it’s up to South Africans to vote for the song they think defined the 2015 music year – the track that turned heads or filled dancefloors; the single that made them swoon, sway, celebrate, fall in love, make up or break up.
There is a once off adjustment to the adjudication window that will see the SAMA 22 #AmstelROTY adjudication period for this year’s awards run from the 1st December 2014 to the 29th February 2016 as opposed to 1st December 2014 to 30th November 2015 like all the other categories of the SAMA’s.
The reason for the once off extended adjudication window in SAMA 22 is so that the adjudication window for Record of the Year going forward (i.e. From SAMA 23 onwards) will be from the 1st November in one year to 28 February the following year. This adjustment has been made to ensure that in any given year, the Record of the Year category nominations will include the most recent December radio hits.
“We’re proud to once again be associated with the SAMA’s, the most prestigious show in the South African music landscape” says Lance Dodgen, Amstel Brand Manager.
Voting opened at 8pm immediately after the conclusion of the Live Amp #AmstelROTY show on Friday 22nd April that revealed the top 20 songs in the running. Fans and music lovers have until 9pm on Thursday 26th May 2016 to vote their favourite song into the final Top 10 that is going to be revealed on Live Amp on Friday 27th June. Fans will then vote for their favourite song in the final Top 10 until Saturday 4th June when the 22nd Annual South African Music Awards take place, to have their democratic say in which sensational local artist or act wins this coveted award.
The #AmstelROTY winner will be announced during the awards ceremony at the Durban International Convention Centre, which will be broadcast live on SABC1. Matters are sure to go down to the wire on the night as the voting lines go bonkers ahead of the cut-off time of 9pm.
To vote dial *120*72221# on your phone and follow the menu to select the number of your favourite song and/or artist. The cost 20 cents per 20 seconds. A maximum of 50 votes per cellphone number per song on the list will be permitted.
The Amstel Record of the Year nominees are:
1. AKA All Eyes On Me (w/ Burna Boy, Da Les & JR)
2. Shekhinah & Kyle Deutsch Back To The Beach
3. AKA Baddest
4. Prince Kaybee Better Days (w/ Audrey)
5. Riky Rick Boss Zonke
6. DJ Fisherman & Naak Musiq Call Out (w/ Dream Team, Danger & DJ SK)
7. Mobi Dixon City Rains
8. DJ Kent Don’t Let Go (w/ Mo-T)
9. Four7 J’Adore (w/ Tiffany)
10. DJ Merlon Koze Kuse (w/ Mondli Ngcobo)
11. Nathi Nomvula
12. eMtee Roll Up
13. TiMO ODV Save Me
14. Dbn Nyts Shumaya(w/ Zinhle Ngidi & Trade Mark)
15. K.O Skhanda Love (w/ Nandi Mngoma)
16. Heavy K Sweetie (w Nokwazi)
17. Anatii The Saga (w/ AKA)
18. DJ Dimplez Way Up (w/ Cassper Nyovest & JR)
19. Black Coffee We Dance Again (w/ Nakhane Toure)
20. Mi Casa Your Body
Limited early bird tickets for the 22nd Annual South African Music Awards live broadcast tv show, taking place at the Durban ICC on 4 June 2016, will be available at Computicket from Tuesday, 26 April at R350. Don’t miss this chance to be part of the electrifying live action, rubbing shoulders with A-listers, witnessing some monster performances and bearing witness to SA music history in the making!
Notes to Editor:
The South African Music Awards are organised by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA). The City of Durban is the hosting partner for the 22nd Annual South African Music Awards; the SABC is the official broadcast partner; Amstel is the Official Sponsor for the Record of the Year Category; Apple Music and iTunes is the digital music partner; and PRASA is the transport partner. The new SAMA 22 app is available to download for all Android devices via the Google Play Store and will soon be available on iOS.
Follow the South African Music Awards on the following digital platforms:
Twitter: @TheSAMAs (https://twitter.com/TheSAMAs)
Amstel Record of the Year hashtag: #AmstelROTY
Website: www.samusicawards.co.za
Facebook: South African Music Awards (www.facebook.com/SAMusicAwards)
Apple/iTunes Music: www.applemusic.com/SAMA22
Mobisite: www.samatv.mobi
Instagram: @thesAMAs_
YouTube channel: samusicawards (www.youtube.com/samusicawards)
Flickr: samusicawards (www.flickr.com/samusicawards)
