Organizers of the annual Ghana Music Awards have redefined some categories in the upcoming 2018 Ghana Music Awards .

The categories amended include Record of the Year , Song of The Year, Instrumentalist of the Year,Music Producer of the Year, Sound Engineer of the Year etc.

Below are the new definitions:

The Song of the Year is the song nominated SOLELY BY THE PUBLIC and adjudged by the Academy, Board and General Public as the most popular song released in the year under review. The song must have enjoyed a lot of patronage and generated the most excitement during the year.

The Record of the Year is adjudged by the Academy and Board as the most outstanding original song that was released during the year under review. It may not have enjoyed huge commercial success, but has quality artistic and production values.

The Music Producer of the Year is adjudged to be the Producer(s) directly responsible for the production of the Song of the Year.

The Sound Engineer of the Year is adjudged by the Board to be the Sound Engineer(s) directly responsible for the recording, mixing and technical production of the song adjudged as the Record of the Year

The African Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) (non- Ghanaian) adjudged solely by the Board as the act whose music crossed borders and made the most impact on the continent at large during the year under review.

The New Artiste of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most promising and talented emerging artiste(s). The award goes to a relatively new artiste(s) who released a single/album that establishes the public identity of the artiste.

The Song Writer of the Year is adjudged by the Academy and Board as the Song Writer(s) responsible for the song with the most original lyrics and compositions for any released song during the year under review.

The Instrumentalist of the Year is adjudged by the Board as the most outstanding live instrumental performance on a single/album that was released during the year under review. It may not have enjoyed huge commercial success, but has quality artistic values.

2017 category definition

Artiste(s) Of The Year
The Artiste of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal and popularity. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single/album during the year under review.

Highlife Artiste(s) of the Year
The Highlife Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Highlife genre. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single/album during the year under review.

Gospel Artiste(s) of the Year
The Gospel Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Gospel genre. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single/album during the year under review.

Best Collaboration of the Year
The Best Collaboration of the year is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the song released through the collaboration/featuring of two or more Artistes. The song must have been released and generated the most excitement during the year under review.

Hiplife Song of the Year
The Hiplife Song of the Year is the song adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most popular Hiplife song released in the year under review. The song must have generated the most excitement during the year.
Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste(s) of the Year
The Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as having with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Hiplife/Hip Hop Genre. They must have released a hit single/album during the year under review.

Reggae/Dancehall Artiste(s) of the Year
The Reggae/Dancehall Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the Artiste(s) with the highest audience appeal and popularity in the Reggae/Dancehall genre. The Artiste(s) must have released a hit single/album in the year under review.

Best New Artiste of the Year
The Best New Artiste of the Year is the Artiste(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most promising and talented emerging artiste (s). The award goes to a relatively new artiste(s) who released a recording that FIRST shot the artiste (s) into the public limelight during the year under review

African Artiste(s) of the Year
The African Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) (non-Ghanaian) whose music crossed borders and made the most impact in Ghana and on the continent at large during the year under review.

African Artiste(s) of the Year
The African Artiste(s) of the Year is the Artiste(s) (non-Ghanaian) whose music crossed borders and made the most impact in Ghana and on the continent at large during the year under review.