Latest news with #MetroFMAwards
TimesLIVE
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Mthandeni SK served with letter of demand after 'no-show' at Durban Music Fest
Popular maskandi star Mthandeni Sibusiso Manqele, better known as Mthandeni SK, is embroiled in a legal dispute with Blue Screen Entertainment, a prominent events company, after a no-show at the Durban Music Fest. The company issued a letter of demand to Mthandeni SK after he allegedly failed to perform on May 3 at the festival at Moses Mabhida stadium, at which American musician Rick Ross was the headliner, even though he was paid fully before the festival. According to the letter, a copy of which has been obtained by TshisaLIVE, dated May 16 and signed by Brian Steel, head of legal at Blue Screen Entertainment, Mthandeni SK was contracted to perform at the festival. The company claims he was paid R40,000 for his performance — a deposit of R20,000 when he signed the contract and the final balance of R20,000 on May 2. However, Mthandeni SK allegedly skipped his performance and performed instead at the 25th Metro FM Music Awards in Mbombela. 'Despite receiving the full payment of R40,000, you failed to attend or perform at the festival, and you did not contact Blue Screen Entertainment or any of its representatives to communicate your unavailability. Further, it has been brought to our attention and confirmed through public and social media footage that you were instead performing at the Metro FM Awards on the same date in another city,' the letter states. The organisation said Mthandeni SK's no-show had caused it significant reputational and potential commercial damage. It demanded the immediate return of the final R20,000 final payment made on May 2 for services not rendered no later than May 23, which was Friday. 'Failure to comply with the letter of demand will leave Blue Screen Entertainment with no alternative but to pursue legal action for breach of contract and damages without further notice,' it stated. Asked for comment by TshisaLIVE, Mthandeni SK's office said: 'Yes, he performed at the Metros because their money was better, Mthandeni is a very busy man and sometimes he gets more than five gigs per day and some gigs he can't make it. However, we've reached out to the Blue Screen Entertainment guys and arranged when they'll expect their refund.' In a statement on Sunday, Blue Screen Entertainment said: 'Our company compensated Mthandeni SK with R40,000 in accordance with a signed contract for the Durban Music Festival scheduled on May 3. Unfortunately, instead of honouring this commitment, Mthandeni SK chose to perform at the Metro FM Awards on the same evening without notifying us of his absence. 'Upon confronting Mthandeni SK management about this breach of contract, his manager explained that they were unable to return the funds immediately, attributing the situation to a supposed scheduling conflict. It was stated that they 'simply forgot' to communicate with us, despite Mthandeni SK manager confirming his attendance with our team the day prior to the festival. 'After several discussions, his manager indicated that Mthandeni SK has a separate fee structure for promotional postings and proposed returning only R20,000 of the initial payment. We agreed to this resolution; however, as of today, we have yet to receive the adjusted amount we had mutually consented upon.'
IOL News
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
eThekwini Municipality's investment in Metro FM Music Awards sparks debate
The eThekwini Municipality has announced that Durban will host the Metro FM Music Awards. Image: Willem Phungula The announcement that the eThekwini Municipality is to host the Metro FM Music Awards has drawn mixed reactions from city councillors and ratepayers. Some councillors felt the idea was not negative, as the City does need to be competitive. However, a ratepayers group said the city should not be involved in such sponsorships, suggesting that there are many businesspeople who could have been approached to fund the event. Last week, the City announced that it has committed to an agreement to be the host city of the popular Metro FM Music Awards, with an investment of R25 million over the next three financial years (2025/26, 2026/27, and 2027/28). This partnership positions Durban as a leading events destination, boosts tourism, creates jobs, and enhances the city's brand visibility, both nationally and internationally, it said. ActionSA councillor Zwakele Mncwango expressed concerns about the process followed in the approval of this deal. He stated that while the City needs to compete for events, the issue lies in how the funds are being spent. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 'We have not seen any report before council, and the fact that it is being announced before the council, which is the highest decision-making body, has a say, tells us that council is being used to rubber stamp this decision by the officials. This should have come to council first before they committed to hosting the Metro awards. The decision disregards the role of council. One wonders if the deal has been signed; that will be a concern for us as Action SA, that it is coming from which budget as we have not budgeted for the Metro,' he said. Ish Pradlah also expressed concerns, stating, 'Why does the City of eThekwini want to spend so much money on the Metro FM Awards when we have such big businessmen and companies that benefit and get awarded tenders from the City and rake in millions from the city coffers and ratepayers' money? 'They should be the ones to sponsor awards like this and make it less of a burden for the ratepayers. Rich businessmen and entrepreneurs should give back to the City of eThekwini and lessen the cost to the city.' THE MERCURY
IOL News
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Bassie claims triple victory at the 2025 Metro FM Awards with Kwelanga 2. 0
Bassie's stunning success at the Metro FM Awards highlights her rise as a key figure in the South African music scene and the power of relatable storytelling through music. Amapiano sensation Bassie lit up the 2025 Metro FM Awards with a triumphant sweep, claiming three of the night's top honours for her chart-topping anthem Kwelanga 2.0. Her powerful vocals and genre-defining sound not only dominated the airwaves but also reaffirmed her place at the forefront of South Africa's music scene. Basetsana Maluleka, known to fans as Bassie, is a vocal sensation who rose from the streets of Windmill Park, Boksburg, to the national spotlight. A born performer, she began singing at just six years old, became a cheerleader by 12, and led as a school conductor at Sunward Park High by 18. Her early talent and determination propelled her onto competitive stages such as Ekurhuleni's Got Talent, paving the way for her meteoric rise in South Africa's Amapiano scene. Bassie first gained attention in 2018 with her feature on DJ Sjijo's Qaphela. In 2019, she built her name with the hit Abafana Besgcoko by TPO and Monotone, which received strong TV airplay. After performing on MTV Base Amapiano Movement, she recorded her breakthrough single Bathandwa with MFR Souls in 2020. This success led to her signing with the independent label Aurora Black. In December 2024, the songstress dropped her hit single Kwelanga 2.0 featuring TMan Xpress and Lee McKrazy, which quickly topped charts across all major platforms and racked up over 14 million YouTube views in just a month. This breakout track secured multiple nominations at the 2025 Metro FM Awards, with Bassie winning three major accolades. Bassie said that winning these awards felt incredible, especially since the song holds a special place in her heart. She added that she's grateful everyone involved feels acknowledged and appreciated for their hard work. Bassie also shared that her hit single, Kwelanga 2.0, was inspired by her journey, created as a way to express her feelings and experiences. She explained, 'I wanted to tell my story, but it was challenging to bring all the artists together because everyone, including Yabo, had busy schedules. Despite that, we managed to feature everyone in the music video while staying true to my story.' She further stated that what distinguishes her as an artist is her smooth vocal flow and the relatable simplicity of her lyrics. She also revealed that fans can anticipate exciting collaborations as she continues to develop her sound and reach. 'I'm planning on doing more features and working with more artists to be on their projects more. I think that is what I want to do this year.' Bassie shared a heartfelt message for upcoming artists, encouraging them to "keep pushing, collaborate with those around you, and never stop praying." Reflecting on her hit single Kwelanga 2.0, she expressed how deeply personal the track is, saying it's touching to see a song born from a place of struggle and doubt now offering hope and healing to others. 'It means a lot that a song I didn't think would make it, one about losing hope, is now helping people get through their challenges,' she said. Bassie's triumph with Kwelanga 2.0 is more than just a personal victory, it's a powerful testament to resilience, creativity, and storytelling through music. The smash hit earned her three major accolades at the 2025 Metro FM Awards: Best Amapiano Song, Best Collaboration, and Best Music Video. With over 20 million streams and a message that resonates deeply with fans, Kwelanga 2.0 has become a national anthem of hope and empowerment. Bassie's rise is proof that even songs born from pain can light the way to greatness. Watch the video here: The Star
News24
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Emtee celebrates rising like a phoenix after MetroFM award win - ‘I have no regrets'
He makes music that resonates deeply, weaving together poignant lyrics and captivating storytelling. For him, the microphone serves as a powerful instrument of healing. For the first time in years, he was nominated at the MetroFM awards. Back in 2015, Emtee gave us Roll Up, We Up and Pearl Thusi in his debut album which were all hits, marking him as the Hip Hop superstar to look out for in the game. After leaving Ambitiouz Entertainment in 2019 to launch Emtee Records, Emtee faced a decline in his music career, plagued by controversies. However, he recently celebrated a comeback by winning Best Album at the Metro FM Awards for his 2024 project, DIY 3. Proudly, he accepted the award on stage with his kids, who he calls his biggest motivation. 'I do not consider this a comeback but if that's what people want to call it, then cool. I can run with that. In any situation, I always feel the need to be in the studio as much as I can, so I've been doing what I've been doing almost my whole life which is making music no matter what happens,' he tells Drum. Speaking about how it feels to take an award again for the first time in years, he says it feels like a genuine victory this time around. Read more | Emtee speaks out on alleged abuse: "While she was holding me by my neck, I could see evil in her eyes" 'It feels good to take an award home. I'm not new to winning but this one feels really genuine because at least this time around nobody said anything about me buying an award and most people were genuinely happy for me so it's great.' Talking about the making of the award-winning album, he says he learned of the beauty of working hard in silence and seeking his purpose. 'Making this album was cool because it was during a time where I was being scrutinised by people who mostly don't even know me like that so I had to be in studio. While a lot of negative things were said about me and I love that because working hard in silence can be so rewarding especially because I didn't have anyone to push me to wake me up regardless of how I felt about what was being said about me.' Despite the tough few years, this affirmed him that he still has superstar potential. To him, it wasn't just an award. It was an inspiration to others to never give up on their dreams. 'Never give up on your dreams and people can have opinions, judge us as creatives and forget that we are human but what matters most is what one thinks of themselves. I think I'm meant to beat odds and overcome any challenge God grants me. Giving up on anything is the last thing on my mind,' he imparts some advice. Despite facing tough times without support, he continued to work in the studio and pursue his passion, even when many in the industry had written him off. 'I never left the industry at all. I can understand why people would think that. One of the reasons is because there's people who feel like they have the right to declare someone's career over and the beauty of it all is that while everyone talks like they always do, I'm in the studio so they don't know the tricks I have up my sleeves to shock them and I don't fault anyone for thinking or feeling that way because I have had a roller coaster of a life.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hustle (@emteethehustla) He shares with Drum how glad he is to have his hard-work shows. 'The past few years of my life have not been the best but I'm grateful because I'm able to pick who I surround myself with, who I share what with and how I move going forward because I have learnt that it's easy to shift the blame on me because I'm the face, the brand and to a lot of people it just sounds juicy to associate my name with negative things because everyone assumes that they know what it takes to become the guy in the front line leading a generation of artists and creatives.' Through it all though, he says his three kids kept him grounded and focused on the bull's eye – his musical success. 'Unlike a lot of my peers, I'm a parent of three and my responsibilities differ from a lot of my peers. Like every other album of mine, I take on a new journey and this time around it's for my well-being and to be more realistic about life in general and to become the mogul or idol I've always wanted to be and lead the next generation the right way.' Read more | Emtee mourns the death of his manager and childhood friend Earlier this year, he celebrated 10 years of his musical career with a one-man show that boasted the performances of Sjava and Big Zulu. 'The one-man show was not me taking a chance or rolling a dice. It was mainly to celebrate a decade of my commercial career. It was also to show that I'm dedicated and loyal to what I do and to remind those who truly support me that I'm a real musician and to set the tone as I go full on as the professional that I truly am in essence,' he elaborates on it. Looking back on his journey, the rapper says he has no regrets, but he does wish that he had never met certain people in his life. 'I sometimes wish I never met certain people because I don't think I have it in me to sabotage myself regardless of what happens. My intentions have always been pure and whole. Whether I'm helping someone or receiving help and sometimes that gets misunderstood or taken the wrong way.' 'I wouldn't change anything about my journey. If not me then who? At the same time, I wouldn't wish this journey on my worst enemy and it's my story, my journey and legacy to embrace otherwise how will I inspire the kid who's losing hope?, he adds' Emtee promises that more music, visuals and shows are yet to come from the superstar as he rises like a phoenix while raising his kids and 'carrying on with the fight to live and grow'.
News24
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Metro FM's youngest winner Naledi Aphiwe reflects on her stardom - ‘I wish my mom was here'
She has come a long way, from singing in a classroom to singing on stages. She broke the record as being the youngest star in South Africa to win a Metro FM Awards this year. This was a testament to singer and songwriter Naledi Aphiwe (18) that she is heading in the right direction in her musical career. 'Being recognised by the metros means a lot to me. It's proof that people acknowledge me for my achievements and talents,' she tells Drum. 'It also shows me that I'm appreciated as a young artist and rising star.' She celebrated the milestone with family and close friends who have been her pillars through the start of her career. She plans to host a mammoth party to celebrate her award. 'I haven't celebrated it yet but I'm planning on making a big thing for my supporters to show them how much I appreciate them.' Rooted in Inanda, KwaZulu-Nala, Naledi Aphiwe gained fame when a video of her singing with her classmates from Khethokuhle Secondary School circulated on social media, and she was spotted as 'the next big thing' by US artist, Chris Brown. Soon after, he reached out to her and used her voice in the single 'Shooter.' which opened doors for the singer. She has soared since and went on to do collaborations with artists including Mawelele, Ntencane, Major League, Child Dadj, Lwandakhulu, Black Diamond, Cici, and Qwabe Twins topping radio charts. In the early years of her teens, Naledi lost her mom Gugu Khumalo. The third born out of seven siblings was raised by their supportive father, Musa Myongwana who is also a musician. Her sister, Nontokozo Mkhize, is a sensational Gospel star. 'Oh I love my siblings a lot, the relationship between them is normal, a mix of companionship, support, and also conflict but mostly support each other and with the regular siblings fights,' she says. They inherited their musical gene from both her parents. 'Both of my parents gave us the gift of music but the best singer was my mom. My dad used to play the guitar for us and my mom would sing.' Naledi wishes her mom was around to see her success. 'I wish my mom was here,' she smiles. 'But I also believe that she is with me all the way. I would have not been here today, making something out of myself if she hadn't been there for me. I know she is watching over me.' When times get tough, she recalls the advice her parents gave her before leaving home and reaching fame. 'My family told me to remain humble and be respectful. They said to never forget where I come from and to always put myself first.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Naledi Aphiwe (@naledi_aphiwe_) Besides her siblings who are her support structure, she has women in the music business who have taken the role of being big sisters and mother figures in her life. 'I look up to Cici, she's such an amazing singer and she's my inspiration,' Naledi says. 'I wanna grow up to become her best version. I love her so much.' Young, fun, and at times foolishly playful on social media, it's either you love her or hate her. However the 1.9 followers on TikTok, 800k+ on Instagram and 1.5 million on Facebook are proof, that she receives more love than hate. She tells Drum, she is not phased by the negative criticism and tries to let it blow over. 'Most times, I don't care too much about what people say and sometimes I ignore comments and stay calm. But sometimes when I ignore them and do not reply to the negativity, I make situations worse. So I choose to stand up for myself and fight. I've made multiple mistakes, but I believe there's always room for improvement.' One award down, several to go. This year she wants to see herself driving a massive car. 'I want to buy a business car which is a V class for my travels and tours. I also want to buy my family a beautiful home. That is my wish for this year,' she says.
