Before the Award Ceremony, we had an interview with Associate Professor, Dr. Do Hong Quan - Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations :

- Dear Associate Professor, Dr. Do Hong Quan, this year's Vietnam Musicians Association Awards have had some fundamental changes in terms of organization. Could you please tell us your thoughts on this?

This year, the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Musicians Association has had a policy from the beginning to reform and upgrade the Association's music awards. Continuing the tradition, the Vietnam Music Awards with the members being the awardees are respectfully awarded, with performances and staging of new works. But not only stopping at the goal of selecting good works, the Association also focuses on widely promoting those works to the public so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy and evaluate. This is a very correct policy.

- For the first time, the Vietnam Music Awards Ceremony was broadcast live on Vietnam Television. Can that mean that the position of the award in particular, and the Vietnam Musicians Association in general, has been more firmly consolidated, sir?

Yes, this is an award with the contribution and enthusiasm of media agencies, especially Vietnam Television. Through the national broadcasting system, the award and the creative values of the artists are spread more widely. The elevation of the award's status is a good thing, creating excitement for not only members of the Vietnam Musicians' Association but all musicians.

- Instead of taking place in Hanoi like before, this year the Vietnam Music Awards Ceremony was held in Hai Phong City. What do you think about this new change?

Hai Phong has a long tradition of music, with many veteran musicians born and raised. We have always cherished the idea of turning Hai Phong into a musical destination, a music center of the whole country. Choosing Hai Phong as the place to announce the Vietnam Music Awards 2024 is very meaningful, with careful preparation. In particular, the enthusiastic support of the city's leaders, the Department of Culture, Sports, and the Hai Phong Literature and Arts Association has helped us to carry out the plan completely and thoughtfully.

- As the President of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations, and a musician who has led the Vietnam Musicians Association for many years, what changes do you expect from 2024? Can this be considered the starting point of a new journey?

The Vietnam Music Awards 2024 is the beginning of a new journey - a journey to expand the number of participants. In addition to the category for professional musicians who are members, this year's award also has a Golden Sol category for those who are not members but have the ability, talent and passion to contribute to the music industry. The expansion has attracted many more musicians and music lovers to participate. This is the highlight, the newest point of this award ceremony.

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Associate Professor, Dr. Do Hong Quan - President of Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations.

- It has long been a fact that many award-winning works, including high prizes of the Vietnam Music Awards, are still unfamiliar to the public, one reason being that the opportunity to reach the audience is still limited. Do you think that promoting communication with the participation of VTV and many prestigious press agencies will be a good sign?

The Vietnam Musicians Association Awards select works that have passed the very strict and demanding Art Council, and those are really works of high artistic and content value. However, widespread promotion is limited, because the media is not connected and strong. Therefore, although the works are of good quality, they are only known internally among the members. From this year, thanks to the media, I think that those works will be more widely known and have more public opinions.

- In your opinion, what kind of year will 2025 be for Vietnamese music activities?

2024 is a very memorable year, and at the same time a pivotal year to enter 2025 to welcome many political and social events, and especially with the atmosphere as the General Secretary said: We will enter a new era, the era of national growth. We really hope that this award ceremony will be an event marking a new turning point for Vietnamese music, responding to and thoroughly implementing the spirit of the General Secretary, bringing literature, art and culture to a new level.

The highlight of the Vietnam Music Awards 2024 is the Sol Vang Award category to honor musical products with high artistic value, with many outstanding contributions to the development of advanced Vietnamese music, imbued with national identity. The award is given to Liveshows, Live concerts, MVs, Albums... and special awards for producers, directors, recordings, excellent songs, singers, typical artists...

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