The Board of Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) has introduced a new policy, known as the Swing Period policy, to give late-year releases a fair chance in the awards selection process.
Charterhouse, the organisers of the award event, released a statement on March 16, 2026, explaining that the policy will take effect from the 27th edition. This aims to address the challenge faced by songs released in December, which often struggle to gain traction before nomination deadlines.
The Swing Period allows December releases to be eligible for the following awards year, provided they meet specific criteria. To qualify, a song must:
– Be released in December of the eligibility year
– Have demonstrated measurable impact within the review year
– Not have received a nomination in the previous edition of the awards
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The statement from TGMA notes that two songs, Sarkodie’s “Messiah” and Kojo Black’s “Excellent”, which were released in December 2024, have already earned nominations under this policy. This move is expected to bring more songs into the mix, giving artists who release music late in the year a chance to compete with their peers.
The TGMA Board believes the new policy will strengthen the awards’ mission to recognize excellence and reflect industry realities as it evolves with changing release cycles, digital consumption patterns, and global audience dynamics.