I agree with D when he says that there's no need for judges if the awards are based on popularity.
Just would like to tell you something:
During Orientation week at Wits there was a Hip Hop show organised by the SRC which had Slikour, Shugasmakx, Jozi and Tuks. i didn't go to the show coz the line up was not interesting to me but a friend of mine who's not a Hip Hop head went there and he told me when he came back that he could have counted the number of people there and they would not exceed 30!!!
My analysis of this was that had they orginised Thabz, Sharpa or any "underground" (used in the general sense) artist there could have been more attendance. The "mainstream" artists appeal to house and other genres listeners who don't really like them. But "undeground" artists have cult followings, I went to the Sharpa launch at Carfax even though I had an exam the next day, I would kill to see Thabz, Sharpa, The federation, Driemanskaap to a** kiss a few
on stage which is why I go to Back to the city. And i know plenty of people who would do that here as well...
But there SRC and the sama whatevers do the mistake of thinking that someone played on Radio (which may be due to contacts and nothing more) is worthy an award.
Now if we were to have Urban Fashion awards Amakip kip would take it hands down if they would be based on popularity even though in terms of creativity brands like Ididit, Butan wear are way better. Perhaps Da les is more known than Sharpa but any judge (attributing to this word the most suitable sense) would see that Sharpa is more of an artist.
The problem is that most people especially those who listen to radio are forcefed their musical taste so their decision is not fully a conscious one, that's why we need judges, to look beyond this.
Yo thixo andaxela, ndawanqa
