The 19th Anugerah Industri Muzik returns with a much-awaited judging revision and eligibility criteria to boost homegrown artistes and the industry.

AFTER what seemed like a series of never-ending backlashes regarding its decision to drop the major album categories (pop, rock, hip-hop, etc) at last year’s Anugerah Muzik Industri (AIM), and an unforgettable boo-boo involving the retraction of the Best Song Award from singer Yuna, show organiser, Recording Industry Malaysia (RIM), seems to have pulled up its socks to ensure that this year’s awards will go on without a hitch.

In an effort to set things straight, RIM will introduce a new judging panel comprising eminent practitioners from within the local music industry. AIM organising committee co-chairman Rosmin Hashim explained that the updated judging criteria was the result of complaints from some of last year’s disgruntled nominees who were dissatisfied with the judges’ credentials.

“In the past, judges comprised professionals from various industries, including the media, composers as well as academicians from music schools. It became a point of contention as some nominees felt they ought to be judged by their peers instead of professionals from different industries.

Recognising the country’s best talents: Astro vice president of Malay language business Khairul Anwar Salleh (left) and Anugerah Industri Muzik 19 organising commitee cochairman Rosmin Hashim are working hand-in-hand to ensure the upcoming awards event will be memorable and glitch-free.

“With our adjustments, the new line-up of judges will comprise credible and experienced music practitioners ranging from lyricists, musicians and singers to sound engineers,” said Rosmin during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Submission of AIM nominations began on July 16 and will end Aug 15. This year’s AIM award nominations are open to songs/albums in Bahasa Malaysia and English released in Malaysia between July 1 last year and June 30 this year. There are 19 awards up for grabs including Best New Artiste, Song Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Best Hip-Hop Song and Best Local English Song.

The eligibility criteria for songwriters has been relaxed, allowing nominations for songs that were composed by foreign songwriters based in Malaysia, and who are signed to a homegrown music publisher.

“The competition is open to composers or lyricists who are Malaysian citizens. It is also open to those with permanent residency status and foreign composers/artistes who have stayed in the country for at least six months a year, for two consecutive years, prior to the awards,” explained Rosmin, who hopes the number of nominated songs will increase from last year’s 900.

And that’s not all. In the best hip-hop song category, nominations from English language repertoire are now allowed. The eligibility criteria is based on various factors, including song quality, musical arrangement and vocal presentation.

The management and administration of this year’s judging process will be handled by MACOMM Management Services, an independent professional firm which has overseen the administration of the Kancil Awards, Malaysia Effie Awards and Malaysian Media Awards. Meanwhile, Astro Ria (Astro Ch 104) and Era FM are the official TV and radio broadcast stations respectively for AIM 19.

Accounting firm KPMG has been appointed as new judging auditors, replacing external auditors Ernst & Young which had caused a stir for misinterpreting the winner for the Song Of The Year award at last year’s AIM.

The icing on the cake is RIM’s plans to organise two separate annual AIM award events to recognise and honour local music recordings and achievements in the Indian and Chinese language. Rosmin hopes to organise AIM (Indian) and AIM (Chinese) next April and June, respectively.

“Besides listeners who listen to Bahasa Malaysia songs, we have a large number of listeners who enjoy Chinese and Indian songs. We are giving a chance to Indian and Chinese artistes who excel in their respective fields to be recognised,” said Rosmin.

> The 19th Anugerah Industri Muzik will be held on Nov 17 at Stadium Malawati in Shah Alam, Selangor. For more details, call 03-6207 2800 or go to aim.org.my.

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