National Music Awards Celebrate Nepal’s Musical Legacy and Growth
Nepal’s National Music Awards have grown from a simple radio tradition into one of the country’s most prestigious celebrations of music, reflecting the remarkable evolution of the Nepali music industry. The journey began in 1995, when Kantipur FM broadcast for three hours daily through Radio Nepal before launching its own 96.1 MHz frequency in 1998.
That same year, Kantipur FM introduced a groundbreaking initiative by paying artists for every song aired on the station. Initially, artists received three rupees per broadcast, a figure that later increased to fifteen rupees, equally shared among the singer, composer, and musician. The initiative recognised the creative contributions of music professionals while encouraging the growth of the industry.
Between 1998 and 2004, the station organised an annual programme called Music Honours, where the most-played songs on the radio were recognised based solely on airtime. In 2018, the programme was transformed into the National Music Awards, introducing award categories, nominees, and an independent two-stage jury process to ensure fairness and transparency. A public voting system was also introduced for the People’s Choice Award through SMS.
The first National Music Awards ceremony was held in January 2019 at Soaltee Crowne Plaza in Kathmandu. Veteran singer and musician Manik Ratna Sthapit received the Lifetime Achievement Award, marking a milestone in an event that continues to honour excellence and celebrate the achievements of Nepal’s music community.
