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| D6bels Music Awards | |
|---|---|
| Name | D6bels Music Awards |
| Awarded for | Excellence in music and popular culture |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Presenter | D6bels Media |
| First awarded | 2018 |
D6bels Music Awards are annual Nigerian music awards recognizing achievements across popular music, songwriting, production, performance, and media. Established in 2018 by D6bels Media, the awards aim to honor artists, producers, managers, radio personalities, and music industry professionals from Nigeria and the wider West African region. The ceremony has attracted participation from major figures and institutions across the Nigerian music and entertainment ecosystem.
The awards were launched by D6bels Media, a Lagos-based media company founded by [, engaging stakeholders including Nigerian Entertainment Today, The Guardian (Nigeria), Vanguard (Nigeria), ThisDay, Punch (Nigeria), Channels Television, AIT, Silverbird Television, Multichoice Nigeria, IrokoTV, MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, and GLO Mobile. Early editions featured collaborations with industry bodies such as Nigerian Copyright Commission, Nigerian Performing Rights Association, Music Copyright Society of Nigeria, Association of Music Producers, and Copyright Society of Nigeria. The inaugural ceremonies showcased artists represented by labels like Mavin Records, Chocolate City, YBNL Nation, Made Men Music Group, Empire Mates Entertainment, D'Prince's Jonzing World, Starboy Entertainment, and MouthPiece Entertainment. Hosts and performers have included personalities from Tiwa Savage, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, Simi, Yemi Alade, Olamide, Teni, Mr Eazi, Rema, and Mayorkun.
Categories span genres and roles, reflecting the structure used by award bodies such as The Headies, Nigeria Entertainment Awards, BET Awards, MTV Africa Music Awards, and Grammy Awards. Major categories include Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Best Collaboration, alongside genre-specific awards for Afrobeats, Afropop, Highlife, JuJu, Fuji, Gospel music, Hip hop, R&B, and Reggae. Technical awards honor Mixing Engineer, Mastering Engineer, Music Video Director, and Sound Designer. Media and industry awards recognize Radio Personality, DJ of the Year, Music Manager of the Year, and Label of the Year. Special honors follow precedents set by Ivor Novello Awards and Polar Music Prize, including Lifetime Achievement and Humanitarian Awards.
Nomination protocols combine peer review and public participation, similar to systems used by BRIT Awards, American Music Awards, and Billboard Music Awards. An editorial committee comprising executives from D6bels Media, representatives from Nigerian Music Forum, Nigerian Association of Musicians, and members of the Writers’ Guild of Nigeria compile initial nominee lists. Eligibility mirrors standards from Recording Academy, requiring release dates within the calendar year and registration with collecting societies like Society of Nigerian Authors for songwriting credits. Voting rounds include industry juries with members from record labels such as Universal Music Nigeria, Sony Music West Africa, Warner Music South Africa, and public voting phases via telecom partners like MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria.
Ceremonies have been staged in venues associated with major Nigerian events, including Eko Hotels and Suites, Muson Center, Teslim Balogun Stadium, and occasionally hosted in international locations linked to diasporic engagements such as London, Accra, and Dubai. Broadcast partners have included Silverbird Television, AIT, Channels Television, and streaming collaborations with YouTube, Facebook, and platforms akin to Showmax. Production teams frequently recruit directors and technical crews with credits on productions for Nigerian Idol, Project Fame West Africa, and The Voice Nigeria. Red carpet coverage attracts fashion houses and stylists connected to House of Tara, Zizi Cardow, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi, and Deola Sagoe.
Recipients have included major artists from the contemporary Nigerian scene and cross-border collaborators linked to labels such as Mavin Records, Starboy Entertainment, YBNL Nation, and Chocolate City. Notable winners have also been producers and songwriters associated with Don Jazzy, Sarz, Pheelz, Killertunes, and Masterkraft. Awards have highlighted breakout acts who later signed with international companies like EMI Music, Island Records, and Roc Nation affiliates. Records cited in coverage include multiple wins by artists who also dominated Apple Music Nigeria and Spotify Nigeria charts, mirroring chart success documented by Billboard and Nielsen Music.
The awards have influenced careers through increased radio play on stations like Cool FM Lagos, Beat FM, Rhythm FM, and Wazobia FM, and playlist placement on streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Boomplay. Industry commentators from TheCable, Premium Times, Leadership (Nigeria), and BusinessDay have debated the awards' role in artist branding and market access. Academic observers from institutions like University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, and Lagos State University have referenced the awards in studies of Nigerian popular music and cultural policy. Critics compare the ceremony's governance models to those of The Headies and Nigeria Entertainment Awards when assessing transparency and impact on intellectual property practices.
Organizationally, the awards are administered by a professional events team within D6bels Media, working with partners including telecom firms (MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, GLO Mobile), banks such as Guaranty Trust Bank, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, major beverage companies like Guinness Nigeria and Nigerian Breweries, and global brands engaged in African markets. Sponsorship models mirror arrangements seen with Headies sponsors and international festivals supported by Coca-Cola and Heineken. Logistics draw on event services from Silverbird Group, Octopus Events, and talent management firms including Temple Management Company and Chocolate City Music Group affiliates. Award governance engages advisory input from cultural institutions like National Theatre, Lagos and regulatory touchpoints with Nigerian Copyright Commission.
Category:Nigerian music awards