Artists who belong to the National Artist Troupe will not be allowed to compete in the first Lao Music Awards and four artists have had to be excluded, according to the Ministry of Information and Culture.


Mr Xaysavath Singnamvong.
The artists were Kaisy Vangvernkhong, who was nominated for most popular artist, Vilayphone Vongsa, who was nominated for best female singer and two best group artist of the year nominees Vonvilai and Hongsamphard.

Ministry of Information and Culture's Fine Arts Department Acting Director General, Mr Xaysavath Singnamvong, made the announcement at a press conference this week.

Mr Xaysavath said the artists were excluded because they were under contract to the ministry and a second event had already been planned to showcase the talents of artists belonging to the National Artist Troupe.

“We are only allowing finalists from private recording companies to compete in each of the 14 categories, because we don't want to compare artists between private companies and the ministry,” Mr Xaysavath said.

“This event was organised with the aim of recognising successful songwriters, performers and producers who work behind the scenes of private companies. The Lao Music Awards is the first event that we are organising so there are naturally a few problems such as this that we will need to sort out.”

Mr Xaysavath said organisers had finalised the judging criteria for categories being adjudicated by organisers and were now awaiting results for the four categories being voted on by the public.

The 2008 Lao Music Awards ceremony will be held at the National Culture Hall this Saturday night and broadcast live on Lao TV channels. The show will include activities, games, prizes and music and dance competitions during the day, before the grand event in the evening which will feature performances by nominated artists.

Sengdara Communications is organising the event. Director Viroun Sengdara said there would be 400 to 500 seats open to the public. People wanting to attend the event can get tickets by buying a sponsor's product in front of the National Culture Hall between now and the event or by entering competitions on radio or TV programmes.

“People who want to vote for their favourite artist, song and album can still have their say in one of two ways,” Mr Viroun said.

“They can either send an SMS through the Tigo network, including the code of the finalist found in daily newspapers, to the number 7000 or they can complete a voting form on specially marked boxes of Close Up toothpaste from now until the night of the awards.”

Those who vote go in the draw to win prizes worth more than 50 million kip, including a Yamaha Fino motorbike, a Samsung 29 inch plasma TV, an Acer laptop, mobile phones and iPod mp3 players.

By PHOONSAB THEVONSA
(Latest Update July 24, 2008)