A record number of 449 entries poured in this year from the Afrikaans music industry for the 2023 Aitsa Afrikaans Music Awards.
The Aitsa Music Awards, presented by Pretoria FM, will take place on Tuesday 19 September at the Choose Life Auditorium in Moreleta Park, Pretoria. Artists who will perform during this event are Jo Black, Herman Kleinhans, Samantha Leonard, Bernice West, Scheppel, Rooksein, Zaan Sonnekus, Eloff, Brendon Peyper and Dodo Nyoka.
Since 2019, the Aitsas has been a platform to honor African artists, songwriters, producers, managers and record companies for their contributions to the local music industry.
Celebrities such as Elandré, Eloff, Riana Nel, Corlea Botha and Irene-Louise van Wyk have already been rewarded with an Aitsa figurine.
In 2019 there were 288 entries and in 2021 there were 503 entries received because they spanned a two-year period due to the Covid pandemic.
Last year, the music prizes received a total of 389 entries.
This year’s 449 entries therefore represent a 55% growth compared to the first Aitsa awards event in 2019. Only tracks that were issued from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 could be entered for this year’s awards event.
Willie Spies, chairman of the Aitsa Trust, previously said that this year’s growing number of entries proves that Afrikaans music is experiencing a boom and is continuously producing new talent.
According to Spies, the categories for pop song of the year, songwriter of the year, listenable song of the year and newcomer of the year are once again extremely popular among this year’s entries.
RNews reported earlier that this year’s new category, classic track of the year, also provides good competition.
A panel of independent judges judged all the clips on 7 and 8 June 2023. The independent judges are appointed annually based on their relevant experience and expertise. This year’s panel consists of Carlé van Deventer, AJ Opperman, Rian Swanepoel, Rèvan Lüus and Anza-Annaretha Naude.
The Aitsa Trust’s auditors, who have already been involved with the Aitsas from the beginning in 2019, verify the judges’ results.
From Friday 23 June each category will be introduced to the public weekly during a program that will be broadcast on Friday evenings under the direction of Riaan Grobler on Pretoria FM.
The public can listen to it on 104.2 FM, DSTV channel 887, www.pretoriafm.co.za or on Pretoria FM’s app.
Tickets for the Aitsa awards are already available at R250 at https://itickets.co.za/events/472390.
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