GOSPEL MUSIC TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT METRO FM AWARDS 2025 – MEET THE NOMINEES!

The Metro FM Music Awards 2025 are officially upon us! The highly anticipated event is set to take place on May 3, 2025, at Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga, promising an evening of celebration, entertainment, and well-deserved recognition for some of South Africa’s most talented artists. As always, the gospel community is watching with excitement as our very own artists take their place among the country’s best.

This year, gospel artists have been nominated in three categories, a testament to the incredible work they continue to produce. However, while we celebrate these achievements, we also reflect on the categories where gospel music remains noticeably absent.

The heart of gospel music lies in its powerful messages, sweet melodies, and the ability to uplift and inspire. This year’s Best Gospel Album nominees reflect just that:

• Mmuso – Jesus To The City Volume 2

• Xolly – Unusual

• SbuNoah – Heavenly Psalms Level 2

• Ayanda Ntanzi – According To Grace, A One Man Show

• Nontokozo Mkhize – Lindiwe

Each of these albums has left a mark on listeners, whether through worship, praise, or deeply personal reflections on faith. It’s a category filled with undeniable talent, and we applaud all the nominees for their contributions to the gospel industry.

Best Female Artist

A moment of pride for gospel music comes as Xolly and Nontokozo Mkhize find themselves nominated in Best Female Artist, competing alongside DBN Gogo, Babalwa M, and Makhadzi. Their presence in this category speaks volumes about their impact not just in gospel but in the South African music industry as a whole.

For gospel artists to be recognized alongside mainstream acts is a win for the genre, showcasing that gospel music can compete on major platforms and command just as much influence as other styles.

Best Produced Album

Nontokozo Mkhize continues to shine, with her album Lindiwe earning a nomination for Best Produced Album, a category that places her among some of the best in the industry, including Dlala Thukzin, Emtee, Thandiswa Mazwai, and Kelvin Momo.

The production quality of gospel albums often goes unrecognized, but this nomination proves that the work put into gospel music is on par with other genres. It’s a nod not only to Nontokozo but to the entire production team behind Lindiwe, who ensured the album was a musical masterpiece.

While we celebrate the nominations received, a lingering question remains: Why are there no male gospel artists in the Best Male Artist category?

Year after year, gospel music continues to deliver outstanding work from both male and female artists. Yet, when it comes to broader categories like Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Collaboration, gospel music seems to be missing from the conversation.

Could it be that gospel artists did not submit for these categories? Or did they feel their music wouldn’t get the votes needed to compete? These are important discussions that the industry must have.

Nontokozo Mkhize’s viral success in the past year is one example of a missed opportunity. With multiple songs dominating social media and streaming platforms, she had a strong case for Song of the Year and Artist of the Year. Her impact was undeniable, and yet, her music did not secure a spot in these highly competitive categories.

Gospel artists and their teams must be intentional about submitting their work for all possible categories. More than that, we as fans need to show up and support gospel music across all platforms—stream the music, share it, and when the time comes, vote.

At the end of the day, these nominations are a win for gospel music. Xolly, Nontokozo Mkhize, SbuNoah, Ayanda Ntanzi, and Mmuso have made us proud, and now it’s our turn to show up for them.

Voting is in our hands, and if we want to see gospel artists walk away with these awards, we must rally together as a community. Gospel music has a strong and dedicated fanbase, and now is the time to use our collective voice to make a difference.

We congratulate all the nominees for their well-deserved recognition and encourage every gospel fan to vote, share, and celebrate these incredible artists. Let’s make sure that gospel music is not only represented but victorious at the Metro FM Music Awards 2025!

See you on May 3rd at Mbombela Stadium!