Legends Mohamed Abdu, Kazim El Saher, Amro Diab, Ahlam, Asala Nasri and Ragheb Alama amongst contenders hoping to scoop top awards
Abbas Ibrahim, Iwan, Cheb Jilani, Louay, Amal Hijazi and Ruby nominated as new artists
In anticipation of the glitziest and biggest ever showbiz party to hit the Arab world, the nominations for the first Arabian Music Awards have been announced today.
Fadel Shaker, Cheb Rizki, Nawal, Nancy Ajram, Latifah and Elham Madfai are amongst the contenders who will be waiting to see if on-line and SMS voters from across the world tap in their vote for them to win their categories.
“The Arabian Music Awards will rock the town this coming May with celebrity performers from across the world belting out their hits and some of the biggest names in show business lending their support to what will be the pioneering awards for the Arabian music industry!” said Shuckri Bundakji, Chairman of the Arabian Music Academy.
Hot contenders for Best Song Male from the GCC include: Mohammed Abdu, Hussein Al Jasmi, Abdullah Al Ruwaished and Abbas Ibrahim.
Female contenders from the GCC include the glamorous and ever-popular Nawal, hot favourite Aryam and the expectant Ahlam.
Best Album nominees include Abdul Majid Abdulla for ‘Aaz Alnass’ and Rashed Al Majed for ‘El Hadaya’. No surprises that Nabeel Shuail is in the list along with Ahlam and Eidha Al Menhali.
Even less surprise is that Abbas Ibrahim is also down for Best New Artist Overall along with Louay and Cheb Jilani. Haifa Wahbe and Shahinaz are amongst eight ladies fighting it out for Best New Female Artist Overall.
From the Levant, Best Song Male nominees include: Kazim El Saher and Fadel Shaker and from the female side, Elissa and Nancy Ajram lead the pack.
Best Album nominees from the Levant include Nancy Ajram, Elham Madfai and Wael Kafori.
The nominees from Egypt for Best Song Male were greeted with cheers and included: Amr Diab, Ehab Tawfiq and Mohammed Fouad. The ladies include Shayma Saeed, Shereen and Angham. Best album contenders include: Mustafa Amar for ‘Rohi Feek’ and Bahaa Sultan for ‘Oum Ouaf’.
The Best Song Males from Maghrabi are hotly contested between Saber El Robai and Cheb Mami while the ladies include Latifah and Samira Saeed. Best album contestants include: Cheb Jilani for ‘Oyouni Sahara’ and Hasna for her 2003 album.
Other nominees have been selected for Best Arabic Video, Best Arabic Dance Act, Best Arabic Modern Act, Best Western Artist (Male/Female), Best Western group, Best Western Pop Act and Best Collaboration Act.
And, in an exciting twist, a special category, the Peer Awards, has also been introduced for the artists to vote for each other and choose the Best Overall Artist (Male/Female). This category offers an opportunity for colleagues in the industry to share their admiration and professional opinions of other performers. Voting will take place at a special Gala Dinner and the winners will be announced on the night of the Awards.
“The Arabian Music Awards night will go down in Arabic history as one of the most exciting events ever to be held!” said Ziad Batal, Executive Producer of the Arabian Music Awards. “Some of the best-loved and well-known artists will be in Dubai for the awards….a real star-spotting opportunity!”
On-line and SMS voting for the artists will begin on April 15th. By logging onto: www.arabianmusicawards.com, voters can choose their favourite nominee from a regional list of the GCC, Egypt, Levant and Maghreb.
The winners will be determined by votes from the people’s choice, not by sales figures or chart positions. Each winner will be as a result of on-line and SMS voting and be a true choice of the people across the world. To ensure security, top accountancy firm, Ernst & Young will tally the votes. Neither the Academy nor the producers of the show will be aware of the outcome.
The winners of the Arabian Music Awards will be presented with their prizes at a glittering ceremony broadcast live by MBC, the Official Broadcaster, and terrestrial TVs from Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Senegal, for three hours to millions of fans across the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia on the 15th of May 2004. Many other global TV broadcasters have also requested to cover the event live to reach all Arabs across the world.
Under the patronage of Dubai Media City, the Arabian Music Awards will be the most exciting music event to ever happen in this part of the world, featuring international celebrity presenters and 10 live performances by leading Arab and Western artists.
The first annual Arabian Music Awards will be held this year at Dubai International Convention Centre.
-Ends-
About Arabian Music Academy (AMA)
The Arabian Music Academy was launched last month by the International Federation of Phonographic Industry (IFPI). The AMA is a regional, membership-driven, initiative endorsed by Dubai Media City to encourage and promote creativity in Arabic music across the Middle East and North Africa, and to spearhead campaigns on critical issues affecting Arab music producers, distributors, and consumers, such as labeling, legislation, protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), home taping, piracy, archive and preservation issues, artistic exchange programmes and censorship concerns.
For further media information, please contact:
Rawaj International
Sarah Walker Kerr / Zeina El-Dana
Dubai Media City,
Dubai,
U.A.E.
Tel: +971 (04) 3913560
Fax: +971 (04) 3913564
Email: rawajinternational@rawajinternational.com
© Press Release 2004
