Today many Ghanaian musicians are financially dry because very few people buy their works. Music lovers get free music from the numerous radio stations and the internet, while others pirate their songs with impunity. Big spending, award winning music executive producer, Nana Kwasi Asah a.k.a. Agiecoat, who led hiplife singer, Kontihene to glory during the 2003 Ghana Music Awards told The Mirror that, "now there is no money in the music industry". Artiste manager and promoter, Kofi Okyere Darko a. k. a. KOD, who is also a presenter at Radio Gold said fortunes of artistes are dipping. So really, a few of the things that encourage musicians to stay in the industry are the moral support they get from their fans and the honour they receive at awards ceremonies in and outside Ghana. The organisers of the Ghana Music Awards, Charterhouse, have released the list of nominees for this year's awards. For those who did not make much money, their selection for the awards should be a source of inspiration, which is needed, for the survival of the local industry. According to the organisers, Ghana's golden jubilee edition of the GMA would be hotter than ever. And the expected excitement is quite evident in the quality of the four front runners for the top prizes - Artiste of the Year and Song of the Year - highlife star, Ofori Amponsah, gospel smooth singer, Kwaku Gyasi, hiplife icon, Obrafour and the man who has made a strong showing after a lull, hiplife rap heavyweight champion, Lord Kenya. The nominations for the Most Popular Song Of The Year award are Nyame Aseda, Kwaku Gyasi; Heavy, Obrafuor; Emmanuella, Ofori Amponsah; I want to see my father, King Ayisoba; Samini Music, Batman Samini; Makoma (Run Run Some things), Praye; Born Again, Lord Kenya and Esikyire (Change your style) by Wutah. Those who responded to the call for the Artiste Of The Year award were Kwaku: Gyasi, Obrafuor, Ofori Amponsah, King Ayisoba, Batman Samini, Lord Kenya and Wutah. There is a new addition to the award categories, African Pop Song of The Year (Ghana), which is for Ghanaian songs that have "borrowed" melodies and rhythms from around the world. Samini Music by Batman Samini; Ehi na meti ye, Kojo Antwi; Mirror Mirror, A plus; Kangaroo, TicTac; and Etoile (Monica) by Slim Busterr are the songs in contention for that ward. Other categories are Hiplife Song of the Year, Gospel Song of the Year, Highlife Song, Discovery of the Year, Best male and Female Vocal Performance, Hiplife Artiste, Highlife Artiste, Gospel Artiste, Reggae Song of the Year and Best Collaboration of the Year. Culled from The Mirror and Written by William A. Asiedu