This year, no Angèle, Stromae or Orelsan to dominate the awards, but Zaho de Sagazan at the top of the nominations and rap and R&B artists, among the most listened to in France today, finally represented. The Victoires de la musique have undergone their transformation, under the aegis of Vincent Frèrebeau, founder of the independent label Tôt ou tard, and president for the third time of the association which manages the event. “For a few editions, we were starting to hear unpleasant things about the Victories, and rightly so. I myself felt things that were not right”, he assured. Will the 39th edition, which is being held on Friday February 9 at the Seine Musicale, in Boulogne-Billancourt (Hauts-de-Seine), hosted by Lea Salamé and Cyril Féraud, confirm this development? Follow and comment on the ceremony live on franceinfo.
Zaho de Sagazan, at the top of the nominations. Driven by her first album, The symphony of lightning, the singer is cited in five categories: female revelation, stage revelation, album, original song and audiovisual creation (clip). The artist came first in the nominations ahead of Louane, Vianney, Etienne Daho and Pierre de Maere, twice nominated.
Rap and R&B well represented. Rap and R&B, genres generally snubbed in the past, have never received so many major nominations at the Victoires de la Musique: Gazo in the category of male artist of the year, Aya Nakamura for female artist, Josman for the album, Meryl for the female revelation and the stage revelation, Yamê for the male revelation, Damso and Bigflo & Oli for the concert, Shay for the audiovisual creation (clip).
Change in the selection process. The process for nominating nominees has changed. The electoral body of the Victoires Academy (882 voters, now all professionals) only participates in the first round. The second is reserved for a jury of 32 professionals from which record companies (major and independent) as well as show producers are excluded. Eight artists, not affected by the prizes of the year in question, appear there, on the other hand, as do journalists, radio programmers, editorialists for musical platforms, and even festivals and venues in the provinces.