Music fans from across the region will get a chance to see their favorite Arabic artists play live in Dubai at the region’s most spectacular and unique music awards ceremony — the Arabian Music Awards.
Under the patronage of Dubai Media City, the glittering ceremony will broadcast live for three hours to millions of fans across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia on the May 15, 2004. 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 12 live performances by leading Arab and Western artists.
“The first annual industry lead Arabian Music Awards is a promising new initiative to recognize genuine talent in the Arab music scene and encourage excellence,” said Mr. Abdulhamid Juma, CEO of Dubai Media City. “Dubai Media City is glad to support this initiative which seeks to foster the development of Arab music production and revitalize the tradition of Arab music,” he added.
The ceremony will be held at Dubai International Convention Centre and will become an annual event initiated by the Arabian Music Academy (AMA) and modeled on the world-renowned American Grammy Awards.
Commenting on this event, Mr. Shukri Bundakji, chairman of AMA said: “This initiative is a credit to leading record producers from the Arab countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa who have combined their efforts to create the Arabian Music Academy. By involving international companies and associations in this event, we are now able to promote Arab creativity and talent onto the international stage.”
“The Arabian Music Awards will be judged on artistic and technical achievements and not by sales figures or chart positions. Winners will be determined by votes from the people’s choice,” said Ziad Batal, Executive Producer of Arabian Music Awards. “In order for fans to cast their votes, they should log on to www.arabianmusicawards.com,” he continued.
Voters are invited to choose from the various nomination categories of each of the following regions: GCC, Egypt, Levant and Maghreb. The People’s Choice Awards Categories include: Best Song (Male/Female); Best Album; Best Artist Overall (Male/Female); Best New Artist (Male/Female); Best (Arabic) Video; Best (Arabic) Dance Act; Best Arabic Modern Act (New Style of Music); Best Collaboration Act; Best Western Artist (Male/Female); Best Western Group and Best Western Pop Act.
An exciting 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. “The Arabian Music Academy each year will also honor a country outside the region for the international category and for this we have selected India.
A Legend Award will be presented by a Pakistani music legend at the awards to the winning artist,” said Trevor Pearcy, director of International Federation of Phonogram Industries (IFPI).
Music fans can vote online for their favorites on www.arabianmusicawards.com until May 10th. Final voting will be via SMS. 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.
Headquartered in Dubai, with regional offices to open in Beirut and Cairo, the Arabian Music Academy (AMA) will operate under the guidance of the IFPI to develop and promote programmes and events designed to recognize the accomplishments of Arab artists who have made exceptional contributions to music in the Arab world. “The creation of the AMA is a milestone event in our industry.
For the first time, there will exist an institution fully supported by the Arab music industry to promote and protect the rights of those who produce music throughout the region. The promotion and protection of those rights will ultimately benefit producers and consumers alike by enhancing the quality and integrity of music produced in the Middle East and North Africa,” said Shuckri Bundakji.