Amanda Black, Babes Wodumo and more lead the Metro FM Awards Nominations list.

Amanda Black has been on a winning streak of late! In addition to her debut effort, Amazulu, going platinum, she is in the nomination lead for the upcoming Metro FM Music Awards.  

The Afro Soul singer has a total of five nominations in categories such as Best Pop, Best Female, Best RnB, Best New Artist and Song of the Year.

Babes Wodumo, Kwesta and Nasty C are all hot on her heels with four nominations respectively.

The fact that there are only young musicians in the lead could be due to this year's theme: ‘What’s Next Is All That Matters,'  in addition to the immense talent the young stars all possess. The 2017 theme is a continuation of last year's theme, ‘Legends Don’t Stop, They Ask What’s Next,’ and it seems as though the youth really is the future. 

One of the night's most highly anticipated categories is the Song of the Year category. Musa & Robbie Malinga's 'Mthande', Kwesta's 'Ngud', Babes Wodumo's 'Wololo', Amanda Black's 'Amazulu', Dr Malinga's 'Akulaleki', Kind Monada's 'Ska Bhora Moreki', Nasty C's 'Hell Naw' and Black Motion's 'imali' are just some of the songs contending for the Song of the Year title.

Read: Radio stations won't play Musa's new song until January

The past 15 years has seen the growth of the MMA categories in line with the growth of the local music industry. The awards show's recently developed tradition of giving away R100,000 prize money with each award will return again this year. This means Amanda Black could match or beat her Ambitiouz Records labelmates (Emtee and Fifi Cooper) current record if she takes away 3 or more awards, as her nominations amount to a possible R500,000 at stake.

The 2017 Metro FM Music Awards Nominees are:

African Pop Album: Musa- Mr Serious, Amanda Black- Amazulu, Vusi Nova- Naninina, Soul Kulture- Ngeliny'langa, Sjava - Isina Muva

Best Collaboration: Ms Pru - Ameni, Bucie - Rejoice, DJ Speesta - Mayo, Kwesta - Mayibabo

Compilation Album: DJ Tokzen - Nnthi's Essential Selections 7, DJ Qness - Essential Selections, DJ Fresh

Dance Album: Babes Wodumo-  Dr Malinga Mobi Dixon Mpumi DJ Merlon

Female Album: Amanda Black, Babes, Wodumo, Kelly Khumalo, Lebo Sekgobela, Brenda Mntambo

Group Album: Jeziel Brothers, The Soil, Soul Kulture, Durbans Finest, Encore

Hit Single: Citi Lyts - Vura, Riky Rick - Sidlukotini, AKA - One Time, Ms Pru -Ameni, DJ Speedsta - Mayo

Hip Hop: Kwesta, A Reece, Anatii, Nasty C, DJ Slique

Kwaito: Mshoza - Abantu Bam, L'vovo - Amatin tin, Vetkoek and Mahoota - Sohamba ngo7, Sosha - Good Times

Male Album: Nasty C - Bad Hair extensions, Kwesta - Dakar 2, Sjava - Isina Muva, Mobi Dixon- Live the Music, A Reece - Paradise

Music Video: Duboiz - Dope Dream, Benchmarq- All on Me, Khuli Chana - One Source, Mafikizolo- Kucheza, Anatii - Jump

New Artist: Babes Wodumo, Nasty C, Amanda Black, Sjava, Soul Kulture

Urban Gospel Albums: Dr Tumi - Love & Grace, Lebo Sekgobela - Restored, Joyous Celebration - Joyous 20, We will Worship - Mmuso, Khaya Mthethwa- The Dawn

Urban Jazz Album: Jimmy Dludla, Brenda Mntambo, Thandiswa Mazwai, Hugh Masekela, Henry Philemon

R&B Single: Amanda Black, Floda, Charlie Mindgames, Zonke, Joocy

Remixes: DJ Ganyani - Talk to me, Prince Kaybee - Don't Give Up, Thee Legacy - Wena, Wedwa Bob"Ezy - Close To You, Thee Lagacy - Sthandwa Sami

One Africa Award: Tekno, Vee Mampeezy, Tiwa Savage, Kommanda Obbs, Patoranking

Song of the Year: Babes Wodumo - Wololo Musa ft Robbie Malinga - Mthande Kwesta - Ngudu Amanda Black - Amazulu Dr Malinga - Akulaleki Durban's Finest ft Professor- Unsindo King Monada - Ska Bhora Moreki Lebo Sekhobela - Lion of Juda Black Motion - Imali

According to the Metro FM website, the 16th annual MMA's are scheduled to take place on Saturday, the 25th of February 2017 at the iNkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban. 

It will be broadcast live on SABC 1 with live crossings to the public viewing area in Durban.

Main image credit: Instagram