THE 26th ANNUAL SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC AWARDS GENERAL RULES 2019 RiSA Unit 1 l 152 Bram Fischer Drive l Randburg 2196 T +27 (11) 886 1342 l F +27 (11) 886 4169 www.samusicawards.co.za CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION A The sequence of Key Events in the Awards process B How to enter 2. GENERAL RULES A Eligibility for Entry B Prizes C Broadcast and Exploitation rights D Entry Fees E General 3. CATEGORIES RULES AND REGULATIONS 3.1 TOP 5 CATEGORIES A Album of the Year B Duo or Group of the Year C Female Artist of the Year D Male Artist of the Year E Newcomer of the Year 3.2 ALBUM GENRE SUPER CATEGORIES A Best Rock Album B Best Pop Album C Beste Pop Album D Best Adult Contemporary Album E Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album F Best African Adult Contemporary Album G Best Alternative Album H Best R&B / Soul Album I Best Hip Hop Album J Best Kwaito Album K Best Dance Album L Best Traditional Faith Music Album M Best Contemporary Faith Music Album N Best African Indigenous Faith Music Album 2 RiSA Unit 1 l 152 Bram Fischer Drive l Randburg 2196 T +27 (11) 886 1342 l F +27 (11) 886 4169 www.samusicawards.co.za O Best Traditional Album 3.2 ALBUM GENRE SUPER CATEGORIES (CONTINUED) P Best Maskandi Album Q Best Jazz Album R Best Classical Album S Best Afro Pop Album T Best Reggae Album 3.3 SPECIAL AWARDS A Lifetime Achievement Award B International Achievement Award C Best Selling Awards C1 Best Selling Artist C2 Best Selling Live Audio Visual D Rest Of Africa Award 3.4 TECHNICAL CATEGORIES A Best Produced Music Video B Best Produced Album of the Year C Best Engineered Album of the Year D Remix of the Year E Best Live Audio-Visual Recording of the Year F Best Collaboration 3.5 PUBLIC VOTE CATEGORY Record of the Year Music Video of the Year 3 RiSA Unit 1 l 152 Bram Fischer Drive l Randburg 2196 T +27 (11) 886 1342 l F +27 (11) 886 4169 www.samusicawards.co.za 1. INTRODUCTION The South African Music Awards (SAMAs) exist to recognize accomplishments in the South African recording industry, by honouring and celebrating those groups and individuals who have excelled in the relevant entry or qualifying period. The Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) is the organizer and host of the SAMAs. A. THE SEQUENCE OF KEY EVENTS IN THE AWARDS PROCESS 1) The 26th Annual South African Music Awards (“SAMA26”) will open for entry on 01st November 2019, and close on 31 January 2020. An official announcement will be made prior to the opening date through direct communication to the members of the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA), as well as public announcements through various media platforms including the SAMA and RiSA websites. 2) Record companies and individual artists are required to submit entries in accordance with the published rules of the South African Music Awards (SAMA Rules). 3) The entries received are then screened for compliance with the SAMA Rules in order to ensure that they are eligible and that they were submitted into the correct award categories. Vetting Committee members overseen by designated SAMA officials, carry out this screening process, known as vetting. 4) No artistic or technical judgments are made during vetting, and all ineligible entries that do not comply with the SAMA Rules are disqualified subject to the RiSA office informing the relevant entrants and providing them with reasons. Entries that are found to be in the incorrect categories do not get disqualified but the Vetting Committee may move them to more appropriate places in consultation with the entrants, who shall have the final say on the location of their entries. 5) A panel of judges adjudicates all SAMA categories with the exception of the Public Vote, Lifetime Achievement, International Achievement and Best Selling awards. Generally, there is a different judging panel for each category and its composition gets reviewed annually. Members of the Steering Committees select the judges and members of the Supervisory Committee confirm them, taking into account their level of expertise in the relevant category, and their general knowledge of the music industry. 6) After the vetting process has concluded, all eligible SAMA entries are forwarded to the judges who adjudicate using the SAMA electronic judging system, in accordance with defined guidelines and by applying the assessment criteria for each category. The SAMA electronic judging system configured with a weighting criterion for each category, which is not visible to the judges. The weighting criterion is pre- determined by the members of various Steering Committees and it contributes to the final ranking of the judges’ choices in each category. 7) In the interest of uniformity, independent auditors collate the results returned by judges into auditable sets. The auditors then calculate the results on which the list of five nominees per category is based and they ensure that the choices of the judges have been arrived at in accordance with all the relevant rules of each category. 8) Once the nominees for all categories have been collated, they are announced at RiSA’s discretion. 9) Finally, the winners are announced at the Awards Ceremony. B. HOW TO ENTER RiSA provides entrants with forms that must be completed and submitted online. On completion of the online entries, the following assets are required to have reached the RiSA office by no later than the published closing date of the competition, failing which the entry is disqualified: 4 RiSA Unit 1 l 152 Bram Fischer Drive l Randburg 2196 T +27 (11) 886 1342 l F +27 (11) 886 4169 www.samusicawards.co.za 1) If an entry is by a member of RiSA, the proof of payment of the prescribed RiSA levies up to the date of entry and RiSA membership fee. 2) The proof of payment of the entry fees for each category entered. 3) The prescribed number of copies of the entered album, single or DVD, in the specified format. 4) A declaration of all licenced recordings on any album entered, in particular for the Best Dance, Best Hip Hop and Best Kwaito album genre categories. 5) In the Best Collaboration category, written approval by a collaborating artist who is not signed to the entrant, 6) In the Best Remix category, the original recording must be submitted and the original repertoire owner must authorize the entry in writing 7) The prescribed publicity materials of groups or individuals entered into the SAMAs. A help desk with designated SAMA officials will be made available at the RiSA offices for those who are unable to enter online. 2. GENERAL RULES A. ELIGIBILITY FOR ENTRY 1. Entries are open to RiSA members and non-RiSA members alike. Entries are open in respect of any qualifying groups or individuals being a person who: 1.1 except for the Rest Of Africa Award category, is a South African citizen or someone who has been granted a permanent resident status in South Africa for a minimum period of six (6) months prior to the date of entry; and: 1.2 is a South African entity and owns or controls the master recording relating to the entry in question. 1.3 being in a duo or group formation, not less than fifty percent (50%) of the members of the duo/group must comply with the citizenship or permanent residency criteria set out in Clause 2, above. 2. RiSA reserves the right to request documented/written proof that all groups or individuals qualify as set out in 2A1 above. The documents which may be requested include, amongst others, the following documents issued by the Department of Home Affairs: 2.1 South African identity document. 2.2 Permanent Residence Permit. 3. Unless the category states otherwise, the entries of collaborations between qualifying South African groups or individuals and their international counterparts are allowed; provided that the participation of the South African groups or individuals is given a star or equal billing. 4. The entry period for the 26th Annual SA Music Awards is as follows: 4.1 All recordings (singles and albums) submitted for the 26th Annual SA Music Awards must have been commercially released (in other words first made available for purchase) in South Africa during the period 01 February 2019 to 31 January 2020 (“the entry period”). 4.2 All music videos submitted for the 26th Annual SA Music Awards in the category "Best Produced Music Video must have been shown by a television broadcaster or published on any digital platform during the period 01 February 2019 to 31 January 2020 (“the entry period”). 4.3 All songs short-listed for the 26th Annual SA Music Awards in the Record of the Year category will be adjudicated based on cumulative airplay over the period 01 March 2019 to the 28 February 2020 (“the qualifying period”). The method employed by the independent auditors in determining the shortlist will take into consideration the number of plays (“spins”) achieved 5 RiSA Unit 1 l 152 Bram Fischer Drive l Randburg 2196 T +27 (11) 886 1342 l F +27 (11) 886 4169 www.samusicawards.co.za during the qualifying period. A single tracking source, (e.g. Radiomonitor), will be used in determining the shortlist for Record of the Year for SAMA26. 4.4 All music videos short-listed for the 26th Annual SA Music Awards in the Music Video of the year category will be adjudicated based the most played music videos sourced from RiSA Audio Visual Licensing NPC over the period 01 March 2019 to the 28th February 2020 (“the qualifying period”).