The exclusion of King Paluta’s smash hit Makoma from the Popular Song of the Year category at the 2024 Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) sparked a wave of criticism.
The song’s absence from the nomination list raised many eyebrows, especially considering its massive popularity.
In an official statement, the TGMA Board addressed the controversy, revealing that the decision was influenced by a longstanding rule which restricts artists to only one nomination per category.
This policy aims to ensure fairness and prevent vote splitting. The only exceptions to this rule are categories like Best Collaboration, Best International Collaboration, and Best Music Video, which typically involve multiple contributors.
In the case of King Paluta, both Makoma and Aseda were potential candidates for the Popular Song of the Year nomination.
However, after a detailed review of data including streaming statistics and radio airplay from over 175 stations nationwide, Aseda was deemed to have outperformed Makoma in terms of reach and popularity.
Consequently, Aseda secured nominations in the Highlife Song of the Year and Most Popular Song of the Year categories, while Makoma was excluded.
The Board explained that this rule exists to safeguard against vote splitting, ensuring that an artist’s chances of winning are not divided across multiple songs in the same category.
While there have been instances in previous years where exceptions were made, this year, the one-song-per-category policy was strictly enforced.
King Paluta’s management had previously raised concerns about this decision, submitting a formal petition to the TGMA Board.
Despite the petition, the Board stood by its decision, citing the importance of maintaining transparency and fairness in the selection process.
The exclusion has sparked mixed reactions, with some of King Paluta’s fans expressing disappointment, while others acknowledge that the process is data-driven and ensures a level playing field.
Source: NewsandVibes.com
