The nominations for the 18th Music Awards of Nagaland (MAN) organised by the Native Trax Society (NTS) and supported by TaFMA were announced on Saturday with 69 nominations across several categories
DIMAPUR — The nominations for the 18th Music Awards of Nagaland (MAN) organised by the Native Trax Society (NTS) and supported by TaFMA were announced on Saturday with 69 nominations across several categories.
Addressing a press conference by the President of NTS Imli Lee and members Aghato Swu and Kenei Sekhose at the Barcode Restro in Dimapur, the team said that this year's award ceremony will be held at Switch Music Arena (formerly Hillstar cinema) in Dimapur on November 22 from 6 pm onwards.
A minimal entry fee will be charged for the public which will be lower than the regular charges fixed at Switch, while entry will be free for nominees.
The organisers said that they received around 90 entries this year, out of which 69 nominations were selected across 14 categories.
Categories include Rock, Hip-Hop, R&B, Gospel, Regional, Folk Fusion, Pop, Song of the Year, Best Music Video, Best Producer, Best Upcoming Artist/Band, Best Lyricist/Songwriter, Best Sound Engineer and Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Best Cover Song category has been omitted this year due to low entries, the organisers informed. While the Pop category are said to be divided into solo and group due to high number of entries.
On the rock category and Hornbill performance slots, the organisers clarified that they had already conducted a separate band contest where two winning bands were selected to perform at the Hornbill Festival while another band was added on request. Hence, the rock category winners of MAN will not be given Hornbill slots as the slots are already full, the team informed.
Sending a message to musicians and the public, Imli Lee said Naga musicians should be supported and not trolled.
He urged upcoming artistes to be prepared for opportunities. "As an artiste, if you are serious about your music, make sure you have at least 10 songs ready, have your passport ready for any opportunities. If you are not prepared, you won't be able to grab the opportunity," he said.
Highlighting the importance of the platform, he said the awards started in 2009, has helped artistes climb the ladder. "If you get nominated, it is your story. It is not just an award, it is where you get discovered. More opportunities open for you," he encouraged.