Nominees for seven categories of the Cong hien (Devotion) Music Awards 2015 were announced on March 6 by the Vietnam News Agency’s daily The Thao and Van Hoa (Sport and Culture).

The annual award, the 10 th of its kind, is voted on by 100 culture and art journalists from different media agencies nationwide and based on various criteria, including creativity and the contributions of the singers and musicians to the diversity and development of the country’s music.

The seven award categories include best song of the year, best new artist, best new album, best series of music programmes, best show of the year, best musician, and best singer of the year.

This year’s nominee list is dominated by young faces including Thao Trang, Nguyen Tran Trung Quan, Nguyen Dinh Thanh Tam, Pham Anh Khoa and Ta Quang Thang.

Up for “Best song of the year” is “Bon chu lam” by composer Pham Toan Thang and “Trot yeu” by Ai Phuong, together with two songs on Vietnam’s sea and islands, “Noi dao xa” by The Song and “To quoc goi ten minh” by Dinh Trung Can, lyrics by Nguyen Phan Que Mai.

Nominees for “best new artist of the year” include Vu Thang Loi, Huyen Sambi, Nguyen Tran Trung Quang and Oplus band.

The “Giai dieu tu hao” (Melodies of Pride) TV series is one of five nominees for “best series of music programmes”.

Meanwhile, the “best musician” award competitors include Tran Lap, Ta Quang Thang, Pham Toan Thang, and Vu Cat Tuong, while My Tam, Ho Ngoc Ha and Tung Duong will vie for the “best singer”.

Nguyen Dinh Thanh Tam’s album titled “Gap toi mua rat dong” is one of the nominations for “best album”.

The award ceremony is expected to be held on April 6 at the Ho Chi Minh City opera house.-VNA