Soundcity MVP Awards

The Soundcity MVP Awards Festival (TheMVPs) is a Pan-African music awards ceremony presented by Soundcity TV, Soundcity Radio Network, and Soundcity Digital, honoring the hardest working talents in African music across the continent. Established in 2016 and held annually in Lagos, Nigeria, the awards combine fan voting with industry committee selection to recognize artists from across Africa in 16 categories.

How the Soundcity MVP Awards Work

The Soundcity MVP Awards follow a fan-driven selection process:

1. Nominations: A selection committee of industry stakeholders from across Africa nominates artists based on Soundcity TV programming, chart performance, streaming data, and cultural impact. Nominees span multiple African countries including Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya.
2. Voting: Winners are chosen through a combination of public fan voting on TheMVPs website and a select committee of industry stakeholders. Fan voting carries significant weight in most categories, making the awards highly responsive to audience engagement.
3. Ceremony: The awards ceremony is held annually, typically in February at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos. The event is broadcast on Soundcity TV and Soundcity Radio Network across Africa.

The awards recognize artists across 16 categories covering Artiste of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Male MVP, Best Female MVP, Best Hip-Hop, Best Pop, Best Collaboration, Best New Artiste, Digital Artiste of the Year, Best African DJ, Legend of the Year, Producer of the Year, Video of the Year, Listener's Choice, Viewer's Choice, and Best Group.

Past winners include some of Africa's biggest stars: Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Diamond Platnumz, Tiwa Savage, Asake, Tems, Rema, and Black Sherif. The Legend of the Year award has honored established figures including Akon.

Real-World Example: The 2023 Soundcity MVP Awards

The 2023 Soundcity MVP Awards returned to the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos. Burna Boy won Artiste of the Year for his remarkable year that included the release of the album "Love, Damini" and the global hit "Last Last."

Kizz Daniel and Tekno won Song of the Year for "Buga (Lo Lo Lo)," which also ended as the number one song of 2022 in Nigeria on the TurnTable Year-End Charts. Asake took home Best Male MVP for his breakout year, while Tems won Best Female MVP.

Black Sherif won Best Hip-Hop for "Kwaku The Traveller," a cross-border hit from Ghana. Pheelz and BNXN won Best Collaboration for "Finesse." Rema won Digital Artiste of the Year. Ruger won Best New Artiste. DJ Maphorisa won Best African DJ. Magicsticks won Producer of the Year, and TG Omori won Video of the Year for "Bandana."

Akon received the Legend of the Year award. Fireboy DML won Best Pop for "Peru." Oxlade won Listener's Choice for "Ku Lo Sa," and Costa Titch won Viewer's Choice for "Big Flexa."

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

The Soundcity MVP Awards are one of the few major awards ceremonies dedicated exclusively to African music. Independent African artists who build strong streaming numbers and fan engagement can compete directly with major label acts in fan-voted categories.

The Best New Artiste category has launched careers. Ruger won in 2023 and went on to sign international distribution deals. The Digital Artiste of the Year category specifically recognizes artists who excel on streaming and social media platforms, which is where independent artists typically build their audience.

If you are an African artist, focus on building streaming numbers and social media engagement during the eligibility period. Soundcity TV programming heavily influences nominations, so getting your music played on Soundcity Radio Network and submitted to Soundcity TV playlists can increase your visibility. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to track your performance across platforms. Check the Soundcity MVP Awards website for eligibility windows and voting dates.

Related Resources

• Streaming Royalty Calculator - Track streaming performance that feeds into MVP nominations
• Target Streams Calculator - Set streaming goals for awards eligibility
• 21 Ways Musicians Can Earn Income - Build revenue alongside awards strategy
• When and How to Hire a Music Manager - A manager can help coordinate African market outreach
• Performance Rights Organizations - African PROs like SAMRO and COMPASS collect royalties for nominated songwriters