Category Definition
Explore the diverse award categories that celebrate talent, creativity, and musical excellence across the Eastern Region.
category definition
Award Categories Defined
The Eastern Music Awards celebrates diverse talents across the region through a wide range of award categories. From genre-based honors to special tributes, each category is designed to recognize creativity, dedication, and influence within Ghana’s vibrant music scene.
The Eastern Music Awards, a scheme which seeks to acknowledge, recognize and reward hardworking and deserving musicians from the Eastern Region of Ghana is here again.
To forfend this kind of discussions and make better well-versed decisions, the organizers are out with the various categories that can be filed for and the definitions so artistes, entertainment experts as well as the general public are well informed to make meaningful arguments.
Works that will be submitted must have been released between AUGUST 2024 and JULY 2025.
Check out the categories and their definitions.
EASTERN MUSIC AWARDS CATEGORY DEFINITIONS
- Artiste of the Year
The Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Board, Academy and the General Public as the artiste (s) who released a hit single or album in the year under review, got the highest audience appeal and staged the best performances and must be one of the artistes with the highest nominations in the year under review.
- Eastside Song of the Year
Eastside Song of the Year is the song affirmed 100% by the General Public in the region as the most popular song released in the year under review. The song must have enjoyed a lot of patronage in the Region.
- Gospel Song of the Year
The Gospel Song of the Year is the song declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Christian song released in the year under review. The song must be a hit song in the Region.
- Gospel Artiste Act of the Year
Gospel Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal in the region and popularity in the Gospel genre. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single (s) or album and must be a good performer.
- Highlife song of the Year
Highlife song of the Year is the song declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Highlife song released in the year under review.
- Highlife Act of the year
The Highlife Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal in the region and popularity in the Highlife genre. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit Highlife single(s), EP or album and must be adept with live band performances.
- Hip life Song of the Year
The Hip life Song of the Year is the song declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Hiplife song released in the year under review.
- Hiplife – Hip Hop Act
The Hip life/Hip Hop Act of the Year is the Artiste(s) declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal in the region and popularity in the Hiplife/Hip Hop Genre. The artiste must have released a hit single(s), EP or album in the year under review.
- Hip Hop Song of the Year
The Hip Hop song of the Year is the song declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Hip Hop song released in the year under review. The song must be a hit song in the Region.
- Rap Act of the Year
Rap Act of the year, is the rapper declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the rap Artiste with the best word arrangements, verses and rap deftness on a popular song released in the year under review.
- Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year
The Reggae song of the Year is the song declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Reggae song released in the year under review. The song must be a hit song in the Region
- Reggae/Dancehall Act of the Year
The Reggae/Dancehall Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal in the region and popularity in the Reggae/Dancehall genre. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single(s) or album in the year under review.
- Afropop Artiste of the Year
Afropop Artiste of the Year is adjudged by the Academy, Board, and General Public as the artiste who produced the most patronized Afropop song. He or she must have generated the most excitement and audience appeal in the year under review.
- Most Promising Act of the Year
The Most Promising Act of the Year is the Artiste(s) declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most talented emerging artiste (s) in the region. The award goes to new act(s) who released a single, EP, Album that first brought them into the limelight during the year under review. A previous nomination in any song, artiste categories, an artiste who breaks away from a group already nominated by the EMA, shall not be eligible.
- Best campus Act of the year
The Best Campus Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) declared by the Academy, Board, and the General Public as the artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal in the region, popularity in Tertiary institutions in the region. The artiste must have released a hit single, EP or album in the year under review. 16. Best Collaboration of the year The Best Collaboration of the year is the song declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the song released through the collaboration/featuring of two or more Eastern Region arts. The song must be a hit in the region in the year under review.
- Ghana Most Viral Song of the year
The Ghana Most Viral Song of the Year is the song affirmed 100% by the General Public as the most popular song released in the year under review. The song must have enjoyed a lot of patronage and generated the most excitement during the year in the country.
- Best Group of the Year
The Best Group of the Year is declared by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the group with the highest audience appeal and popularity. They must comprise at least 2 or more members and must have released a hit single, EP or Album in the year under review
- Most Influential Act in Ghana
The Most Influential Artiste in Ghana is the artiste declared by the general public, Academy and Board as the artiste(s) with highest audience appeal in the country and must have released a hit single under the year in review.
- Eastern International Act of the year
Eastern International Act of the Year is the Artiste(s) who lives outside the country and has released a song, EP or album in the year under review. The released song, EP or album must have enjoyed a lot of patronage and generated the most excitement during the year in the region.
- Eastern Pride of the Year
EasternPride of the year is the artiste(s) declared by the Academy, Board and General Public as the artiste(s) non-resident in the region, who has gained national and international recognition in the music industry. The artiste(s) must hail from the region and must have released a hit single or album in the year under review.
- Album/ EP of the Year
The Album of the Year is declared by the General Public, Academy and Board as the most exceptional compilation of hit songs on an album/EP that was released during the year under review with good production and number of hit songs
- Female Vocal Act of the Year
Best Female Vocal Artiste is declared by the Academy and Board as the Female artiste with the best vocal delivery on a song which was released during the year under review
- Best Music Promoter
Best Promoter of the Year award is declared by the General Public, Board and Academy based on the nominee’s impact, reach, and contribution to the growth of the region’s music industry, the best promoter must consistently promote Eastern Region art(s) music in the year under review.
- Best Pub/ Night Club of the year
The best pub/night club of the year is adjourned by the academy, board, and the general public as the most outstanding and exciting pub or night club that promoted, featured Eastern Region act(s) in their works during the year under review.
- Band of The Year (Newly Added)
Band of the Year is adjudged by the board, academy and the General Public as the outstanding live performance group in the region with dynamic stage craft, talented individuals with the highest audience appeal and outstanding creativity that performed at several recognized events in the year under review.
TECHNICAL VOTING CATEGORIES
- Music Video of the Year
The Music Video of the year is declared by the Academy and Board as the most creative and entertaining music video produced within the calendar year. This award goes to both the director and the artiste.
- Video Director of the Year
Video Director of the year is declared by the Academy and Board as the director with the most creative and pleasurable music video produced within the calendar year.
- Sound Engineer of the Year
The Sound Engineer of the Year award is declared by the Academy and the Board as the Sound Engineer directly responsible for the recording, mastering and technical treatment of a nominated song during the year under review.
- Producer of the year
Producer of the Year award is adjudged by Academy and the Board to be the producer(s) who is directly responsible for the production of the most award-winning songs in the year under review.
- Song Writer of the year
The Song Writer of the Year is pronounced by the Academy and Board as the Song Writer(s) responsible for the song with the most meaningful original lyrics and compositions for any released song during the year under review. This song may not have top chats, but must have good artistic value.
- Lifetime Achievement Award
The Lifetime Achievement Award is affirmed by the Board as a Living Legend from the region whose works must have spanned generations. The artiste may not have released in the year under review.
- Instrumentalist of the Year (New Added)
The Instrumentalist of the Year is the artiste adjudged by the Board and Academy as an individual musician who demonstrates unique skill, creativity and impact in playing a musical instrument in the year under review.