adminM-Net has pulled the plug on this year’s Channel O Africa Music Video Awards.
Lack of sponsorship for the event aimed at celebrating African talent tanked it.
The awards, which discovered Buffalo Souljah and are voted for by the public, have been running since 2005 and have never been postponed or cancelled. Over the 10 years, they had become a social calendar highlight as part of the big music award ceremonies in South Africa along with the SA Music Awards, MTV Africa and MetroFM Music Awards.
In a short statement, Nondumiso Mabece, M-Net Local Entertainment Channels public relations manager said: “As one can imagine, putting together an awards ceremony of that magnitude every year relies on sponsors coming on board.
“If we can secure funding then there’s no reason why the Channel O Awards shouldn’t continue.”
Industry insiders who spoke on condition of anonymity said the music station was in the middle of restructuring. The changes included cutting the feed to the rest of the continent and restricting it to SADC countries only.
Lance Stehr of Ghetto Ruff label said it was “unbelievable” that the Channel O Awards were not happening this year.
“That’s so sad. We knew every year that the industry would gather at the Channel O Awards to honour and celebrate.
“I would’ve thought that with their budget, DStv would keep the awards as part of their ongoing strategy.”
Kentridge Tlale, senior product manager at Gallo Records Company, lamented: “It’s unfortunate because it’ll affect African music as a whole. It was a platform where we were introduced to other styles and cultures from the continent and the diaspora.”
Bunjiwe Mkwananzi