Awards concept vital for music industry

Caption:   Top PNG artists for the Keynote 10th YumiFM Music Awards.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, May 4, 2014 (PNG)

THE cream of the best performing artists in the PNG music scene for 2013 have all hailed the Keynote 10th YumiFM Music Awards as a pinnacle achievement for PNG music, last week at a media conference before the big event last night.      

With the awards already reaching a major milestone of a decade in existence, local artists like Dadiigii, Honz from Jokema and the only female artist at the awards and singing sensation Meriani Masani all had nothing but praise for the only event in the country that recognises local talent on a national.

Present at the conference were the likes of Trojan, Jokema, Tati, Daniel Bilip, Mokai, Dezine, Dadiigii, Mariani Masani, and Demas Saul, who was inducted in the awards hall of fame last night.

When asked by Sunday Chronicle on what the awards meant to them, artists like Honly Isaac from Jokema added that the main challenge for the industry was to show up and coming musicians that the industry was a thriving one that careers can be made out of.   

“I think the awards in Papua New Guinea are an opportunity for performing artists to realise that the music industry is a thriving industry,” Isaac said.

“It helps get the message across that being an artist can provide you with a living doing what you love.”

“We are very privileged to be a part of it, and in whatever ways we want to do it we want to take it to the next level.”

Sentiments that were shared by Armstrong Gomara (Dadiigii) who called for more recognition from the government towards the industry in order to take it into a new level and protect the intellectual rights of artists.

“Music is part and parcel of PNG culture, and over the years we transformed from the kundu and garamut to the stringband and electric guitar,” Gomara said.

“From that time till now- no one has look to much to the music industry in PNG, and these awards are very big for us in PNG and will push and drive us to do something more in our lives and careers.”

“If only the government would recognise the music industry more in the country.”

He added a big thanks on behalf of his fellow artist their sincere thankyou to PNGFM for the concept the sponsors for their support.

“We just want to say a big thankyou to PNGFM for their recognition of our talents,” he said.

“It is raw talent because a lot of us have not gone to any music school but through them we have stood out.”

“I’ve been in the industry for almost six years now and I have made a living out of it, from a metal fabricator- I left my job because music pays well.”

He urged younger artists coming through the ranks to push beyond himself to change the standard of music even further in the country.

“The year from now will bring in a new type of music just like we have this time so who knows you could be the next ones receiving PNG Music awards,” Gomara concluded.